Daredevil to try turf Friday

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Daredevil, the Grade 1 Champagne winner on dirt at age 2, will make his turf debut in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga.

For the third straight week, Daredevil worked on turf Saturday, breezing a sharp half-mile 47.75 seconds in company with Charming Kitten. He shaded 23 seconds for his final quarter.

Daredevil has not raced since finishing fourth, beaten 12 lengths by Frosted, in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in April. Pletcher felt the Amsterdam Stakes came up too soon for Daredevil and that he didn’t want the 1 1/8 miles that the Jim Dandy or Curlin offered this weekend.

“We’re kind of looking for a good spot to come back in,” Pletcher said. “Being a More than Ready, I think he’s the kind of horse that could probably handle all three surfaces. Timing-wise, it’s really good.”

Also working on turf for Pletcher on Saturday was Jack Milton, who went a half-mile in 49.11 seconds in company with Blame Dixie. Jack Milton is pointing to the Grade 2 Fourstardave here Aug. 15, as is Mshawish, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 over the main track.