Far From Over puts perfect record on line in Alydar Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Far From Over looks to remain undefeated for his career, while Honorable Duty looks to keep his perfect dirt record intact when the two 4-year-olds head a field of eight older horses entered to run in Sunday’s $100,000 Alydar Stakes at Saratoga.
The Alydar, run at 1 1/8 miles over the main track, is restricted to horses who have not won a graded stakes in 2016. But it would not have been a surprise if horses like Far From Over, Honorable Duty, or even Mylute, second in this race last year, had taken a shot in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Stakes.
Far From Over is 3 for 3 in his career, but the wins have come over a 17-month period. Far From Over, a son of Blame trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Grade 3 Withers last year in his second start, overcoming a severe stumble to rally from last and beat El Kabeir, who was entered in the Whitney.
Far From Over suffered a hind-leg fracture training up to the 2015 Wood Memorial and didn’t return to the races until this June. He won an allowance race at Belmont by 1 1/2 lengths, tiring a bit late after chasing a quick early pace.
“I was concerned as the race unfolded how fast the early fractions were, and he was pretty close to them,” said Pletcher, referring to the fractions of 22.71 seconds, 44.89, and 1:08.65 set by It’s All Relevant. “So, you’re naturally concerned off that type of layoff, laying that close to blistering fractions, is he going to get tired? And I think he got tired, but he showed some determination and guts.”
Pletcher said Far From Over has trained well since that win but noted that the Alydar “was the more logical progression for his fourth lifetime start” than the Whitney.
John Velazquez rides from post 2.
Honorable Duty, trained by Brendan Walsh, seeks his fourth consecutive win. Honorable Duty began his career with Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bill Mott, going winless in three turf tries. He was purchased by David Ross for $130,000 at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. After running second in a turf race at Gulfstream in February, Honorable Duty has won three straight on dirt.
“It was the owner’s intention to always run him on the dirt,” Walsh said. “He hasn’t done anything wrong. I think he’s improving if anything. We’re very high on him. He’s done super since he’s been up to Saratoga, put in a couple of really nice works there. We’re excited about him.”
Julien Leparoux rides from post 7.
Key Contenders
Far From Over, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 104-96-79
◗ His wins have come in varying styles: on the pace in his debut, rallying from last in the Withers, and stalking a strong pace last out.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Far From Over. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 18-8-2-2 with a $2.94 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes at Saratoga following a career-best Beyer Speed Figure in the second start after a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Touchofstarquality, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-88
◗ Has earned back-to-back triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures since being gelded.
◗ Finished second in his most recent start behind Comfort, who was scheduled to run in Saturday’s Whitney.
◗ Has finished second to four different Pletcher-trained horses.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Touchofstarquality. Trainer Michelle Nevin is 22-1-5-1 with a $0.54 ROI over the past five years in routes at Saratoga (and 8-0-3-0 in dirt routes). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Honorable Duty, by Distorted Humor
Last 3 Beyers: 93-82-80
◗ Two starts back, he won a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs that produced two next-out winners at this meet – Flash Trading and Tale of Verve.