Dakota Gold gets chance to make up for short-odds loss in NYSS Cab Calloway

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Dakota Gold was upset as the prohibitive favorite in the Rick Violette Stakes here earlier in the meet, and he figures to be the odds-on choice again when he attempts to make amends for that surprising setback against nine other 3-year-olds in Wednesday’s $150,000 Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Stakes series at Saratoga. The restricted Cab Calloway is run at one mile on the turf.

The New York-bred Dakota Gold began his career with a pair of victories against open company before completing his abbreviated 2-year-old campaign finishing fifth as the betting favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Trainer Danny Gargan has kept Dakota Gold with restricted company in his two starts this year. He launched his 3-year-old season in June with a game triumph in the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid division of the Stallion Stakes prior to finishing a head behind Practice Squad in the 1 1/16-mile Rick Violette.

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“I really can’t fault anything he’s done in his career so far,” Gargan said. “He shows up every time. Last time he just didn’t get the best of trips. The winner slipped up the rail and kind of got away from him, and when he got running again he couldn’t quite get there. He’s trained really, really well since the race, and we’re going to be a little more aggressive with him this time. I think the distance will be a plus for him. I really feel he’s a pure miler. He has a bigger explosion at a mile.”

Gargan trains Dakota Gold for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing of Dean and Patti Reeves, who have been familiar faces in the winner’s circle over the first four weeks of the meet. Reeves Thoroughbred Racing has won with 4 of 6 starters with one second this meet, according to Daily Racing Form statistics.

“Dean has had a spectacular meet so far,” said Gargan, who has four horses for the Reeveses. “He and his wife, Patti, have been with me now for five years, and we’ve had a lot of success together. I won the Jim Dandy for them [with Tax] and have been to the Derby and Pegasus. They treat me like family, and I love nothing more than when I can win a race for them.”

Marinara Sauced, who finished third in the Spectacular Bid, four lengths behind Dakota Gold after a bit of an eventful trip, will likely go postward a distant second choice in the wagering in the Cab Calloway. Trained by Chad Brown, Marinara Sauced returns against his own age group after finishing an even fifth taking on older New York-bred allowance company stretching around two turns for the first time four weeks ago here.

Shinsun has run only twice but showed plenty of potential in his most recent start, finishing third against open $50,000 starter-allowance competition here July 23. Shinsun rallied from the rear of the field to win his debut, which came under a $40,000 claiming tag against New York-breds on June 17 at Belmont Park.

Tetragrammaton will attempt to return quick dividends for his new connections after being claimed out of a win going a mile on turf for $16,000 claiming 18 days earlier at Monmouth Park. Tetragrammaton, a Kentucky-bred by War Dancer, breaks from the rail and figures to force the early pace along with Silent Running and Stop the Spread.