Flintshire among workers trying to beat the rain

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With rain canceling the majority of workouts scheduled here for the past two days and even heavier precipitation in the forecast for the weekend, there was action aplenty over all three Saratoga racetracks on Friday morning.

While just about every horseman on the grounds helped swell the number of works Friday to around 500 in their attempt to beat the rain predicted to begin later that evening, it was leading trainers Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown who provided a good part of the action. They sent out more than 30 workers apiece, most on the main track, including some of the biggest names in their barns.

Brown’s contingent included Travers hopefuls Gift Box and Connect, turf stars Flintshire and Dacita, along with his exciting 2-year-old debut winner Bobby On Fleek and the multiple graded stakes winner Economic Model.

Flintshire went an easy half-mile inside the dogs in 49.40 seconds on the turf training course.

“He was awesome even though it was just a maintenance work for him,” Brown said. “Everything looked fine.”

Flintshire has won both of his starts this year, kicking off his 2016 campaign at midseason with a victory in the Grade 1 Manhattan and overcoming an eventful trip to capture the Grade 2 Bowling Green here on July 30. Flintshire was in a pocket behind horses for much of the race and raced wide in the stretch. He is being pointed for a defense of his title in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer here on Aug. 27, Travers Day.

“Everything went wrong as far as his trip was concerned in his last race, and he still overcame it,” said Brown. “He’s just a very special horse.”

Dacita, the winner of the Grade 1 Diana in exciting last-to-first fashion nearly three weeks ago, went an easy half-mile over the training track in 49.

“It was her first work back since the Diana, just a maintenance breeze, and I thought she went well,” said Brown, who added that the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on Oct. 8 at Belmont likely would be next on Dacita’s itinerary.

Bobby On Fleek, who drew off to an impressive six-length victory to launch his career last month at Belmont Park, worked for the first time over the local strip, with Brown showing enough confidence in the New York-bred juvenile to put him in company with the older and more experienced Economic Model. They went a half-mile on even terms in 48.35 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.31.

“They were a real good matchup,” said Brown, who plans to bring Bobby On Fleek back in the $200,000 Funny Cide for statebreds here on Aug. 26 and Economic Model the following afternoon in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop.

Destin, Anchor Down go together

The marquee set among the Pletcher workers on Friday was the team of Belmont Stakes runner-up Destin and Grade 3 Westchester winner Anchor Down. The two grays went four furlongs in 48.90.

In his last start, Anchor Down finished a tiring sixth in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt after encountering trouble shortly after the start from the rail.

Pletcher said Anchor Down will run next in the Grade 1 Forego here on Aug. 27.

One of Pletcher’s top juvenile prospects, Theory, was back on the work tab Friday for the first time since his 5 1/2-length debut victory, breezing four furlongs in 49.60.

“He went an easy half-mile by himself,” said Pletcher. “I just wanted to get a work in before the rain hit. Everything went fine, although he did catch some traffic and got a little dirt in his face, which was probably a good education for him since he won with kind of an uneventful trip the first time.”

Theory will be among the favorites in the Grade 1 Hopeful on closing day, Sept. 5.