Brothers to Orb, Rachel Alexandra clash in Wednesday allowance

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Emancipation, a full brother to 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, and Fayeq, a half-brother to 2009 Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, are part of a six-horse field entered in Wednesday’s fourth race, a first-level allowance race at 1 1/8 miles.

Emancipation and Fayeq lack the necessary experience to run in Friday’s $100,000 Curlin or Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy, said their respective trainers, Shug McGaughey and Kiaran McLaughlin.

Emancipation has run only twice. He won a seven-furlong maiden race on June 9 and then finished third, beaten just a half-length, in this same condition on July 4 at Belmont.

“I thought it was a good race,” McGaughey said. “He seemed to come out of it really well. I thought this would be an easier spot and wanted to try and win another race with him and get him a little more experience.”

Fayeq has a history of gate trouble and wears a blanket when loaded into the starting gate. He ran third behind Timeline when he debuted in March at Gulfstream and then finished fifth in his second start. On June 11 at Belmont, he won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race by 2 3/4 lengths. The horse he beat, Uncle Mojo, won a maiden race at Saratoga on Sunday.

“It’s the right spot to get more experience,” McLaughlin said. “He was a real project. I think he’s over all those issues.”

The 5-year-old gelding Battle Midway has made more starts (29) than the rest of the field combined. He is coming off a third-place finish in a listed stakes at Parx on June 24.