Ironicus on top of his game for Bernard Baruch
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Can Ironicus continue to get better? He might have to if he’s going to emerge victorious in Monday’s $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap, a Grade 2 event that drew a small but competitive field of seven and features the turf debut of two-time Grade 1 winner Constitution.
Ironicus has won three of his last six starts and is less than a length away from being undefeated during that span. He suffered a frustrating setback in his most recent start when finishing second, beaten a neck by Grand Arch, in the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap here three weeks ago.
Prior to the Fourstardave, the well-traveled Ironicus won the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico and a high-priced optional claimer at Belmont Park. The 101 Beyer Speed Figure that Ironicus earned in the Fourstardave was the third new career-best number he’s recorded in his last four starts.
“His last race was pretty good,” trainer Shug McGaughey said when asked if the Fourstardave was Ironicus’s best effort yet. “It was frustrating to get beat like that, but the winner is a nice horse. He got the trip, and we didn’t – that was the difference. When he came out of that race, I wasn’t planning on running him, but he came out so good, I thought we’d take the chance here.”
Constitution is one of three horses trainer Todd Pletcher entered in the 1 1/16-mile Bernard Baruch, along with Charming Kitten and All Included. Constitution has not started since winning the Grade 1 Donn Handicap seven months ago and enters the race never having run or even trained on grass.
“We were hoping to run in an allowance race that didn’t fill, and our options were becoming fairly limited in order to put him in a position to have two starts prior to the Breeders’ Cup,” said Pletcher. “He trained well at WinStar on a synthetic surface, Tapits seem to run on all three surfaces, and I think on the bottom side of his pedigree there is a little bit of turf. From a pace standpoint, it should work out, so we just hope he’s good enough to handle [turf].”
Charming Kitten is coming off a second-place finish behind Under Control, who also is a member of the Bernard Baruch lineup, in the Lure Stakes earlier in the meet. Charming Kitten showed his versatility by winning the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup late this spring.
The stakes winners Grand Tito and Vyjack complete the field.
Key Contenders
Ironicus (Last 3 Beyers: 101-95-98)
◗ As always, he’ll need some help with the pace.
“There are several of them in there who look like they want to be forwardly placed, so we’ll just have to see,” said McGaughey. “Hopefully, someone goes out there and runs with [Constitution].”
Constitution (Last 3 Beyers: 111-101-90)
◗ Ran once before off a similar layoff, finishing a disappointing fourth as the 2-5 favorite against allowance company in his first start back after winning the Florida Derby at 3.
Charming Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 93-92-95)
◗ He loves the distance, having won four of seven starts at 1 1/16 miles on turf. “He’s the kind of horse who always shows up and runs well,” said Pletcher.
All Included (Last 3 Beyers: 94-96-96)
◗ He’s won four of his last five starts, his lone setback during that period coming in the Grade 3 Poker. “He keeps getting better, and I think he’s just on the verge,” Pletcher said, alluding to a graded stakes win.