Friend Ofthe Devil works quick for stretch out
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The speedy Friend Ofthe Devil zipped five furlongs in 59.70 seconds on Friday morning over the Saratoga main track in preparation for the $150,000 Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Series on turf on Aug. 14.
The move was a little quicker than trainer Carlos Martin was looking for as he hopes Friend Ofthe Devil will be able to ration his speed when he attempts to stretch out from six furlongs to a mile in the Cab Calloway. Friend Ofthe Devil is 3 for 3 going six furlongs on turf.
“I think this track might be playing a little quick today,” trainer Carlos Martin said afterward. “I’ve always kind of had him in 48 [seconds] or 49 under control, and I’m stretching him out to a mile so I don’t know if I was looking to go 59 and 3, but it seems like he came back fine.”
Martin noted there is pedigree to suggest that Friend Ofthe Devil can stretch out beyond six furlongs. He noted that Sluice, the second dam of Friend Ofthe Devil, also is the third dam of Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner.
“He seems like a horse with a good mind, he’s not a run-off,” Martin said. “For $150,000 against Stallion Stakes horses, I think it’s the right move.”
◗ Echo Sound, among the favorites for the Grade 1 Test on Aug. 2, worked a half-mile in 48.75 under jockey Luis Saez on Friday morning over the Oklahoma training track.
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