Cinderella's Dream looks tough in Saratoga Oaks for Appleby-Godolphin team
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The juggernaut that is the Charlie Appleby-Godolphin team is expected to continue its successful 2024 stint in the United States on Friday when Cinderella’s Dream heads the field entered in the Grade 2, $400,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational scheduled for 1 3/16 miles over the outer turf course.
Seven were entered in the Oaks, but on Wednesday trainer Chad Brown said Segesta, runner-up to Cinderella’s Dream in the Belmont Oaks held July 6 at Aqueduct, is going to scratch due to a bruised foot.
From April through July, Appleby has won 10 of 29 starts in American graded stakes races. Cinderella’s Dream accounted for one of those graded wins when she rallied from next to last under William Buick to win the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks by three-quarters of a length over Segesta.
Buick mentioned after the race that the wide draw and his desire to save ground early was why Cinderella’s Dream was farther back than he had wanted to be early on.
Friday, Cinderella’s Dream breaks from the inside post and the rails on the outer, or Mellon turf course, were down this week for the first time all meet.
Chris Connett, assistant to Appleby, said the performance Cinderella’s Dream put forth in the Belmont Oaks was in line with expectations.
“To be honest, yes,” he said. “She had been very impressive in Dubai. She’s only been beaten once, in the English 1000 Guineas, so she’s a filly held in high regard. It was pleasing to see her do what we all think she can do.”
Connett said Cinderella’s Dream shipped to Saratoga the day after her Belmont Oaks win and believes the filly has done extremely well here.
“She’s been showing all the signs that she’s thriving and doing well for being here,” Connett said. “She’s been working nicely in company on the Oklahoma turf so we’re very happy the way she’s going.”
One of Cinderella’s Dream’s in-company workouts was with Eternal Hope, who won two stakes in America last year and was entered in Thursday’s Grade 2 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga.
Ireland-based trainer Aidan O’Brien has shipped Greenfinch to the U.S. for the Saratoga Oaks. She is coming off a front-running, dominant victory in the listed Cairn Rouge Stakes at Killarney just two weeks ago. In her race prior to that, the Irish Oaks Trial, Greenfinch was a late-running third, beaten three-quarters of a length.
The scratch of Segesta may actually benefit Greenfinch if jockey Ryan Moore elects to use the tactics employed in the Cairn Rouge.
“She showed that she has speed winning the last time and she’s in good order,” said T.J. Comerford, an assistant to O’Brien.
Greenfinch, by Justify, is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag as well as the U.S-campaigned Grade 3 winner Cover Song.
Trainer Mark Casse has had an exceptional start to the meet with seven wins from 22 starts. Friday, Casse sends out Dancing N Dixie, who is coming off a victory in the one-mile Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 29 and will now try to stretch out from a mile to 1 3/16 miles.
“That’s what she’s been wanting,” Casse said of the added distance. “The biggest thing for her is she needs a little pace because she’ll go all day. She doesn’t go until you ask her to go and those are the ones that run all day.”
Kathynmarissa was third in the Tepin following a two-length first-level allowance win going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill on May 11. Kathynmarissa is trained by Rick Dutrow. He also sends out Macagna, who looks like she adds to the pace dynamic.
Saffie Joseph Jr. entered Movin’ On Up, who goes off a first-level allowance win going 1 1/8 miles at Churchill June 13.
The Saratoga Oaks will be run as race 8 on a 10-race card that begins at 1:10 p.m. and includes the Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes for 3-year-olds also scheduled for turf.
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