Clement has plenty options for Drake's Passage

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Drake’s Passage earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for the third straight race following his four-length victory in Sunday’s Commentator Stakes at Saratoga.

Trainer Christophe Clement has a bevy of options for Drake’s Passage’s next start, including the $125,000 Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga on Aug 9. Should Clement want to try open company, options include the $175,000 Battery Park Stakes at Delaware Park on July 7 and the Grade 3, $400,000 Monmouth Cup on July 20.

“We’ll keep him eligible to everything at a mile or more on dirt,” Clement said. “I thought he ran a good race and we’ll let him tell us when he’s ready.”

Clement also won Sunday’s off-the-turf Mount Vernon Stakes with Silver Skillet, who earned a 91 Beyer for her four-length victory. Clement said he would point Silver Skillet to the Port Washington, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf at Aqueduct on July 7.

Clement said Roses for Debra, beaten a head in the Grade 2 Intercontinental Stakes on June 7, would be pointed to the Grade 3, $200,000 Caress Stakes on July 25 at Saratoga.

Clement said that Champagne Juan, second in the Belmont Gold Cup, has a suspensory injury. While it is not life-threatening, his prognosis for a return to racing is guarded, Clement said.

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