It's Scientist's turn in Calloway

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Will Phipps was one of several people who sent jockey Kent Desormeaux a congratulatory text message after he won two Grade 1 races Saturday at Arlington Park.

Desormeaux sent a short and sweet reply to Phipps: "You're next."

Wednesday, Desormeaux will try to make good on that promise when he rides Scientist for Phipps in the $150,000 Cab Calloway Division of the New York Stallion Stakes at Saratoga. The Cab Calloway, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the outer turf course, is restricted to 3-year-old progeny of New York-based stallions.

Scientist, a son of Intidab, enters the Cab Calloway after finishing a narrow second to longshot Coronation Day in the Virgo Libra Stakes at Belmont on July 16. Scientist was shuffled back a little at the five-sixteenths pole before coming on again to just miss.

"I thought the horse ran a very game race the other day and I thought he should have won," Desormeaux said. "It's the same group of horses, so he should be next."

Phipps, a former assistant to trainer Bill Mott, went out on his own late last summer. Phipps took over the training of Scientist over the winter and brought him back to the races on May 31 - off an eight-month layoff - in the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Belmont, where he finished seventh of 12 in a seven-furlong race.

"He needed one for sure," Phipps said. "Also, he stalked a pretty quick early pace. If you let him, he'll go right to the lead. We wanted to get him covered up and conserve some of that natural speed."

Desormeaux shouldn't have much of a problem trying to get Scientist covered up in the Cab Calloway. He'll break from the rail and should be able to sit behind The Plot Thickens and Pure Good Miss.

Storm Hope, who has but a maiden win to his credit, could be forwardly placed as well. Storm Hope was sidelined eight months due to a knee problem, but came back with a solid second in a 1o1/8-mile maiden race at Belmont on June 24 before winning a 1 1/16-mile maiden race there July 19.

Minnie Punt won the Spectacular Bid and came up a little short when pressed on the lead in a second-level allowance July 4. Uncle T Seven finished second to Minnie Punt before running third in the New York Derby on dirt July 11.