Fourstardave suits Grand Arch

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Saturday’s Grade 1 Fourstardave may not have Tepin or Ironicus, but it will have its defending champion in Grand Arch, who will head a field of six to eight for the one-mile turf race.

Grand Arch was beaten a neck by Seek Again in this race in 2014 and came back a year later to beat Ironicus by a neck. The Fourstardave was a Grade 2 in those years. Ironicus came back to set a course record in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch on closing day of this meet last year. Grand Arch came out of last year’s Fourstardave to win the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

In two starts this year, Grand Arch has finished third over “good” ground at Pimlico in the Grade 2 Dixie and last of six to Obviously in the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont on June 18.

Trainer Brian Lynch said Grand Arch may have bounced in the Poker off his tough effort in the Dixie. Also, Lynch believes Grand Arch prefers races run around two turns, such as the Fourstardave, and the Poker was run at a one-turn mile.

“He’s had a nice gap between that last race and now, and I am looking forward to getting him back out around two turns,” Lynch said. “He’s always run good here.”

Last Thursday, Lynch worked Grand Arch six furlongs in 1:14.55 over the main track, eschewing a turf work.

“I feel like I get a little more out of a dirt work than a turf work,” said Lynch, who also noted the congestion on the turf course last Friday, with more than 90 turf workers in a 45-minute period, as a reason for working on dirt.

Entries for the Fourstardave were to be taken Wednesday. Others pointing to the race include A Lot, Force the Pass, King Kreesa, Ring Weekend, and Tourist. Reporting Star and Takeover Target were possible as of Monday.