Julia Shining works for Alabama try
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Julia Shining, away from the races since April, will most likely make her next start in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, as she tries to emulate what her big sister Malathaat did two years ago.
Trainer Todd Pletcher basically confirmed Julia Shining’s participation in the Alabama after she worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 Saturday morning over the main track. She worked in company with the maiden-winning 3-year-old colt Abadin.
“I was pleased with her work today, had a brief conversation with the Stonestreet people and we’re leaning towards the Alabama assuming everything is in good order,” Pletcher said.
In 2021, Malathaat – like Julia Shining a daughter of Curlin out of the mare Dreaming of Julia and trained by Pletcher– won the Alabama after getting upset in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.
Malathaat also had victories in the Grade 1 Ashland and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on her resume entering the Alabama, as she would eventually be named 3-year-old filly champion.
Julia Shining has not achieved as much nor has she had as smooth a path to the Alabama as her sister. After she finished third in the Ashland at Keeneland in April, Julia Shining was on the outside looking in for the Kentucky Oaks. She was two-deep on the also eligible list and did not draw into the race.
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Julia Shining was under consideration for the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico two weeks later, but suffered a setback that caused her to spend some time at Stonestreet Farm in Kentucky.
Saturday’s work was Julia Shining’s sixth since June 30. The allure of running Julia Shining 1 1/4 miles is what makes the Alabama attractive to Pletcher.
“I believe the mile and a quarter is something she’ll appreciate,” he said. “There’s no other option for 3-year-old fillies on the dirt to get to do that. In a perfect world, we would have had a race in between the Ashland and now but she seems very fit and happy at the moment.”
Luis Saez, who worked Julia Shining, will ride her in the Alabama.
Pletcher said Gambling Girl, who worked a half-mile in 50.22 seconds Saturday, and Chocolate Gelato are both possible for the Alabama as well, Pletcher said.
Wet Paint, the narrow winner of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks winner here July 22, worked five furlongs in 1:02.50 Saturday morning over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Alabama.
Working in company with recent allowance winner Slip Mahoney, Wet Paint, with Flavien Prat aboard, went in splits of 13.47 seconds, 25.75, 49.87 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.97 and seven furlongs in 1:28.97. Slip Mahoney is being considered for the $250,000 St. Louis Derby at FanDuel Sportsbook and Horseracing Aug. 26, trainer Brad Cox said.
“Broke off a little slow, but quickened well down the lane, nice gallop out,” Cox said. “We were looking to put some air in her having to go a mile and a quarter next week. I feel very confident where we are that she’ll run her race off of what we’ve seen since the Coaching Club.”
Sacred Wish, who came within a neck of Wet Paint in the CCA Oaks, worked five furlongs in 1:01.31 over the main track Saturday morning with John Velazquez aboard.
Trainer George Weaver said that Sacred Wish will run back in the Alabama.
“She’s got a nice race over the track already, stay home and run where she trains,” Weaver said. “She worked real well this morning, we’ll take our chances.”
Matareya, Verifying please Cox
The two-time Grade 1 winner Matareya worked a sharp five furlongs in 59.50 seconds Saturday morning over the Oklahoma training track as she prepares for a start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap here Aug. 26.
Matareya, coming off a third-place finish in the Chicago Handicap at Ellis Park on June 24, got her last quarter in 23.47 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.78 and seven furlongs in 1:26.03.
Trainer Brad Cox said the work reminded him of how Matareya breezed prior to her victory in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs May 6.
“Leading up to Churchill she was training as well as she could train and that’s what I saw this morning,” Cox said. “We saw a very good version of her this morning. Usually when she works like that, she’s set up for a big effort. She’s going to need it.”
Verifying, the Indiana Derby winner, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 over the Oklahoma training track in company with Dazzling Blue, runner-up last out in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont Park.
Verifying is pointing to the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Aug. 26. Dazzling Blue could be a candidate for the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress Stakes Sept. 2.
“They were both very, very good,” Cox said. “Verifying, he doesn’t always have to work well, he can be on and off, but he’s on right now.”
- Secret Oath, the 2022 Kentucky Oaks winner, drilled five furlongs in 58.74 seconds over the Oklahoma training track. She is preparing for the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes here on Aug. 25.
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