Doc Sullivan back sprinting against statebreds in John Morrissey
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Doc Sullivan returns to New York-bred company and sprinting Thursday at Saratoga but will have much to overcome as he seeks a repeat victory in the $200,000 John Morrissey Stakes, which drew a bulky field of 13.
Doc Sullivan hasn’t run since March 21 when his connections tried him in the Grade 3 Essex Stakes at Oaklawn Park going 1 1/8 miles and he finished last, 9 1/2 lengths behind Skippylongstocking. His owners, Glenn Lostritto’s Tri-Star Farm, have moved the horse from trainer John Ortiz to Amelia Green.
Ortiz is facing possible sanctions from the Horse Racing Integrity and Welfare Unit for six positives for the corticosteroid Dexamethasone found in horses who raced last fall at Aqueduct. Doc Sullivan tested positive after his 5 1/2-length victory in the Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series last Nov. 22. He came back to win the Alex Robb on Dec. 26.
Green, who has just one win but eight seconds from 29 starts at this meet, has gotten eight works into Doc Sullivan for the since June 6.
“We’ve managed to get a lot of foundation into him, he was probably ready a couple of weeks ago, but yeah I’m excited to get to the races,” Green said. “With a horse like that, you’re limited to where you can run. If we ran him a month ago, we would have been a little bit short, I definitely think he’s fit enough now. Irad [Ortiz Jr.] has come in and breezed him twice now, I’m confident they know each other well enough.”
Trainer Linda Rice entered three in the seven-furlong Morrissey. She said she definitely plans to run El Grande O and Sacrosanct but is not sure about Acoustic Ave.
El Grande O is coming off a fast-rated allowance win at Aqueduct on June 28 where he was the pace-pressing winner of a six-furlong race that went in 1:08.80. El Grande O is 1 for 2 at seven furlongs.
“That was a great effort,” Rice said. “He kind of ebbs and flows a little bit. In the past, we felt maybe he didn’t run quite as well off of Lasix, but off of that effort I think we have to go ahead and give it another try.”
Flavien Prat rides El Grande O from post 3.
Sacrosanct is wheeling back just 11 days after he finished third behind the streaking Senior Officer in a conditioned allowance going 6 1/2 furlongs. At 2, when in the barn of Brad Cox, Sacrosanct went 4 for 4 versus New York-breds – including three stakes wins – and was crowned champion New York-bred 2-year-old male. His lone try against statebreds for Rice came in the Ashley T. Cole Stakes on turf where he finished second.
“He had kind of a troubled trip last time, he didn’t break well but he certainly didn’t give it up,” Rice said. “It’s back a little bit quick, but he’s a pretty hearty horse. I think he can handle it.”
Manny Franco rides Sacrosanct from post 6.
Acoustic Ave finished fifth in the same race in which Sacrosanct was third and is likely to point for a different spot.
Donegal Surges, like El Grande O, seems to run better on Lasix than without it. In a stakes race, Lasix is not permitted to be used.
Bold Journey, who won the Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct in February, returns to the dirt after two tries on turf. Trainer Bill Mott said the seven furlongs on dirt, while not ideal, is a better option than a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint at Saratoga.
Buttah has run two big races for trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci, who took over the care of the horse following the retirement of Gary Sciacca. Buttah came from just off the pace to win a first-level open-company allowance at 29-1 here on June 6.
Kantarmaci also sends out Dr. Kraft, who finished second, beaten a half-length, at 32-1 in the Commentator Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on June 3. Dr. Kraft is 0-4-3 from nine starts at seven furlongs.
Light Man was third in the 2024 Morrissey, when it was run at six furlongs. He is winless in six starts since he won the Hudson Stakes at Aqueduct in October 2024.
Yo Banana Boy, winner of the Leon Reed Memorial at Finger Lakes last out, Hit the Post, Drake’s Passage, and Radio Red complete the field.
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