Dutrow trying to choose right path for Embellish the Lace

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Tony Dutrow has always done well at Saratoga, and though he’s started fewer horses at this meet than in years past, he has maintained his high success rate.

Through Monday, Dutrow had a record of 5-4-4 from 14 starters at the meet and scored what he called the “most prestigious” win of his career last Saturday when Embellish the Lace posted a front-running score in the Grade 1 Alabama.

“You need to win, but every horse I’ve run here has run good,” Dutrow said. “Even though it took us a while to win a race, I felt like every one of them ran a super race.”

Embellish the Lace left Saratoga on Monday to return to the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, where she will enjoy a little break while Dutrow and owner Alex Lieblong figure out where to run her next. The options are the Cotillion at Parx on Sept 19, the Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 4, or train up to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 30.

Dutrow believes the Cotillion is too close back and said the Spinster is too close to the Distaff. Then again, he’s not sure he would want to run in the Distaff if Beholder, who beat males in Saturday’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar, runs in that race.

“The Spinster is an obvious point of interest, and going right into the Breeders’ Cup is also a point of interest,” Dutrow said Monday.

Meanwhile, Dutrow has two contenders for Grade 1 races this weekend at Saratoga. The Big Beast, last year’s King’s Bishop winner and the runner-up in this year’s Alfred G. Vanderbilt, is scheduled to run in the Grade 1 Forego. Tekton, second in the Curlin Stakes, will cut back in distance and run in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop.

The Big Beast likely will be the second choice behind Private Zone in the Forego. Tekton could be a live longshot in the seven-furlong King’s Bishop, and he certainly looked good working a half-mile in 48.21 seconds over the Oklahoma training track Monday.

“I think he will run his best,” Dutrow said. “I think seven-eighths is absolutely fine. I think he’s got some quality to him. I know it’s a big step. I feel good about it. They might get carried away with their speed, and we could finish up and run good. I’ve seen it before.”

Dutrow hasn’t sent out many 2-year-olds at the meet, but he did send out the Scat Daddy colt Get Jets to a good-looking 4 1/2-length score against New York-breds on Aug. 19. Sixth early, Get Jets made a sustained three-furlong bid and won going away. He ran six furlongs in 1:10.22 and earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure.

Dutrow believes Get Jets has a big future, but he plans to take it easy with him and run him in the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 27.

“If I had reservations about him, then I would go for something good,” Dutrow said. “I think this horse has got time to get the bigger races done. He’s got a big pedigree for distance.”