Free as a Bird looks set to fire once again
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Five furlongs, six furlongs, seven furlongs – as long as she’s on the grass, it just doesn’t seem to matter to Free as a Bird. On Friday, the turf-sprint specialist will attempt to add 5 1/2 furlongs to that list when she is favored against nine other fillies and mares in the $100,000 Caress Stakes at Saratoga.
Free as a Bird has won three of her last four starts at distances ranging from five to seven furlongs. Her only setback during that streak came at 5 1/2 furlongs when she was beaten three-quarters of a length in Keeneland’s Giant’s Causeway Stakes on April 19. Free as a Bird has not started since winning the seven-furlong Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8.
“I ran her in the six- and seven-furlong races at Belmont, which she won, then skipped the next one at a mile to freshen her up a little for this meet, and I’m really pleased with how she’s been training up here since her last start,” said trainer Ian Wilkes.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Free as a Bird. Trainer Ian Wilkes has not had a runner finish in the money (in seven starts) over the past five years in turf sprints at Saratoga.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Madame Giry will ship up from Florida to renew acquaintances with Free as a Bird, who beat her 1 1/4 lengths when the pair met in the six-furlong License Fee this spring at Belmont. Madame Giry is coming off a 2 1/2-length victory against males in Gulfstream’s Turf Sprint on July 5.
The field also includes stakes winners Believe in Charlie, Jewel of a Cat, Coarsegold, and Munnings Sister, who will make her turf debut.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Coarsegold. Has not finished out of the money (5-2-1-2 record) at sprint distances on a firm turf course.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
KEY CONTENDERS
FREE AS A BIRD (Last 3 Beyers: 89-87-90)
◗ A model of consistency since switching to grass, she’s been off the board just once in her last 11 starts.
◗ Although a grass specialist, Free as a Bird has been working extremely well on dirt since arriving at Saratoga, shading 24 seconds for her final quarter-mile and galloping out very well going four furlongs over a slow, back-raked track Sunday.
MADAME GIRY (Last 3 Beyers: 88-83-82)
◗ She loves the local course, having won three of four starts over the Saratoga turf, including a similar 5 1/2-furlong grass stakes last summer.
◗ She added blinkers and was ridden by Edgar Prado last month at Gulfstream and recorded her best Beyer Speed Figure of the year. Prado retains the mount Friday.
MUNNINGS SISTER (Last 3 Beyers: 86-83-83)◗ Looks like the speed of the speed if she takes to the turf, as well as the class of the field, having held her own on several occasions with graded stakes company.◗ Owns a 326 Tomlinson Turf Figure, which would suggest she’ll be able to handle the footing in her grass debut.