Concrete Rose holds big advantage over Saratoga Oaks rivals

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Rusty Arnold has been around Saratoga long enough to know that no matter how good a horse looks on paper, it doesn’t always translate to how things play out on the track.

On paper, Concrete Rose looks like an overwhelming favorite in Friday’s inaugural running of the $750,000 Saratoga Oaks, a 1 3/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies that drew only six runners. The Saratoga Oaks is the second leg of the Triple Tiara turf series the New York Racing Association devised this year that began with the Belmont Oaks on July 6 and concludes with the Jockey Club Oaks on Sept. 7.

Concrete Rose, a daughter of Twirling Candy owned by Ashbrook Farm and BBC Racing, won the Belmont Oaks by 2 3/4 lengths, beating two of the five rivals she faces here Friday.

“I’ve watched a lot of good horses get beat here in races they should win,” Arnold said. “American Pharoah. Conquistador Cielo. A lot of them. All you can do is get them over there the best you can and hope for a good trip.”

Concrete Rose has won five of six career starts, including three graded stakes this year. In the Belmont Oaks, Concrete Rose got a great trip, stalking the pacesetting Jodie until upper stretch before she cruised to the lead in midstretch and won going away.”

Though she stalked the pace that day, Concrete Rose could find herself on the lead in what, on paper, looks like a paceless race.

“Can’t keep her off the lead, can you, just handicapping,” Arnold said. “That won’t be a problem, I wouldn’t think.”

Concrete Rose will be running back 27 days after the Belmont Oaks. Her previous races have been spaced out two months or more. The shorter turnaround doesn’t concern Arnold.

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“You don’t know the answer until they run, but I’m going to tell you right now I have no concerns the way she’s acting,” Arnold said. “I’m having trouble holding her on the ground right now.”

Concrete Rose seemed sharp Wednesday morning as she visited the starting gate and reared up coming off the track.

Julien Leparoux rides Concrete Rose from post 5.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien has shipped in Happen and Coral Beach for the Saratoga Oaks. Happen, a Kentucky-bred daughter of War Front, showed an impressive late turn of foot to win a Group 3 at The Curragh on May 6. She didn’t show nearly as strong a kick when sixth, beaten 6 1/4 lengths, in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 21.

“She was our second string that day,” said T.J. Comerford, an assistant to O’Brien. “She’s always progressing.”

This will be Happen’s first start beyond a mile.

“She’ll stay no problem,” Comerford said.

Coral Beach finished seventh in the Belmont Oaks, but she was bumped going into the first turn by Newspaperofrecord and again by that same rival down the backside. She ran fifth in a Group 2 at The Curragh on July 21.

“When she ran at Belmont she got knocked down and maybe it ruined her confidence a little bit,” Comerford said. “She’ll be better having a nice run the last time. She’s a filly that you need to take your time with and produce her late.”

Wayne Lordan, who was named on Coral Beach, will now replace Ryan Moore on Happen. John Velazquez has picked up the mount on Coral Beach as Moore will not be able make it to Saratoga.

Olendon finished eighth in the Belmont Oaks, but she did get knocked off stride by Cambier Parc in upper stretch after saving ground under Velazquez. Trained by Pascal Bary then, Olendon has remained in this country and will run for Chad Brown on Friday. Olendon will get Lasix, blinkers, and Irad Ortiz Jr. for this race.

Her Royal Highness, second in the Open Mind Stakes at Monmouth on June 30, and Kelsey’s Cross, third in a couple of stakes after winning a maiden race at Gulfstream, complete the field.

The Saratoga Oaks goes as race 9 on a 10-race card that begins at 1:02 p.m. and includes the Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes and the $100,000 Alydar Stakes for dirt runners.