Colebrook eyes Saratoga baby stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Ben Colebrook has gotten off to a good start with his 2-year-olds this year, winning four baby races. He plans to send two of those winners to Saratoga for the opening weekend stakes.

Colebrook will run Blame the Frog in Friday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes for fillies, and then send out debut winner Knicks Go in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford Stakes. Neither horse has raced on Lasix or will race on Lasix next week.

Blame the Frog, a daughter of Blame owned and bred by Hugh Bishop, finished second in her first two starts before breaking through to a 3 1/2-length victory in a June 22 race originally scheduled for Churchill Downs turf but rained off to the dirt.

“Each race has been a little better,” Colebrook said Friday. “We ran into the Wesley Ward juggernaut first-time out – he’s unbeatable in April – and then I thought we were a little unlucky not to win her second start. Lady Lucy pressed us the whole way and we gave it up the last sixteenth and were nailed by a Bret Calhoun filly.”

That filly, Shanghai Rain, came back to finish a distant second in the $100,000 Debutante at Churchill Downs.

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Colebrook said he was going to run Blame the Frog on turf, but when the race came off the grass that was fine with him. Colebrook said he’s hoping Blame the Frog’s experience will be an edge in the Schuylerville.

Others expected to run in the Schuylerville are Catherinethegreat, Congrats Gal, Eyeinthesky Fightress, Lady Apple, Lonely Road, Nonna Madeline, and possibly Tapping Pearl and Wonder Stone.

Knicks Go, a debut winner on July 4 at Ellis Park, will be running back on relatively short rest in the Sanford, which is also at six furlongs.

Knicks Go is a son of Paynter and won his debut by 3 1/2 lengths, beating World, a 4-5 shot trained by Steve Asmussen.

“He’s really fast,” Colebrook said. “He showed a lot of speed in his works. I thought we had him ready to go. I thought five [furlongs] was going to be a little shorter than he wanted to go. He was still a little green in the stretch, but it’s something where he’ll get better as he runs.”

Colebrook said Saez will ride Knicks Go.

Others pointing to the Sanford include Dream Maker and Silver Sky from the barn of Mark Casse, Lexintonian and Sombeyay from the barn of Todd Pletcher, and two from trainer Steve Asmussen, who nominated five to the race. Mr Chocolate Chip is possible.

Colebrook said his horses would van from Keeneland to Saratoga on Monday or Tuesday.

The Schuylerville and Sanford are two of six stakes that will be run the first four days of the meet.

Friday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Lake George will feature the return of Rushing Fall. Others likely to enter include Andina Del Sur, Cash Out, Daddy Is a Legend, Going Out, Goodthingstaketime, Heavenly Love, and possibly Romantic Moment.

The Diana, on Saturday, is the first Grade 1 of the meet and will be dominated by Chad Brown, who nominated seven to the race, which he has won each of the last two years. A Raving Beauty and Sistercharlie are definite to run. New Money Honey and Fourstar Crook are possible. Scheduled to face them are Hawksmoor and Proctor’s Ledge.

Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks is scheduled to be a showdown between Grade 1 winners Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou. Eskimo Kisses and Gio Game also are expected. Chocolate Martini and My Miss Lilly are possible.

Opening week ends with the $200,000 Caress Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf Monday. Expected to run are Brielle’s Appeal, Faypien, Fire Key, Girls Know Best, Just Talkin, Lull, Morticia, Ruby Notion, and Triple Chelsea.