Lull shortens up for Bolton Landing Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement would rather go longer than shorter with the impressive debut winner Lull, but his options at Saratoga are limited. Faced with going 5 1/2 furlongs or 1 1/16 miles, Clement opted for the former and will send out Lull in Wednesday’s $100,000 Bolton Landing Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on turf at Saratoga.

Lull, a daughter of War Front, won her debut by three lengths going six furlongs at Belmont, leading virtually every step of the way under Manny Franco.

“I would have loved to run her back seven-eighths to a mile,” Clement said. “I thought it was fun to try and get black type going shorter and then stretch her out after that.”

Lull rocketed out to the front in her debut and set fractions of 22.18 seconds and 44.95 for the half-mile. She opened up a 3 1/2-length advantage in upper stretch while covering six furlongs in 1:08.75.

There is other speed in this field, such as Inspired Flight, Big City Dreamin, and Truthful.

“She’s always been able to rate in the morning; she’s very manageable,” said Clement, who trains Lull for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. “And she has a lot of class. She’s a very exciting horse.”

Big City Dreamin is 2 for 3, with wins on dirt and synthetic sandwiched around a 16th-place finish in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Trained by Wesley Ward then, she has been transferred to leading trainer Chad Brown by owner Sol Kumin.

“She came to me in very good shape,” Brown said.

There is rain in the forecast that could force the Bolton Landing to the dirt, but that wouldn’t bother Brown.

“She’s 1 for 1 on dirt,” he said. “We’d lead her over there and see what happens.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen has entered Truthful and Made Me Shiver. He wants to run Truthful on turf. Made Me Shiver is entered for the main track only.

Truthful finished second in her first two starts, both on dirt. She is a half-sister to Hello Don Julio, a two-time winner on turf.

Key Contenders
Lull, by War Front
Last Beyer: 71

◗ A very sharp, front-running winner of her debut July 16, a race that produced two next-out winners and two horses who finished second in their next starts.

“I think we gave her enough time to avoid the handicapping bounce,” Clement said.

Truthful, by Bodemeister
Last 2 Beyers: 60-67

◗ Asmussen characterized Truthful’s first two runner-up finishes on dirt as “disappointing. She’s got more, that’s where I think the turf will make the difference.”

Big City Dreamin, by Iqbaal
Last Beyer: 71

◗ Was really hard held by the rider when dominating four rivals in an optional claimer at Presque Isle Downs last out.

◗ Has enough speed to play catch-me-if-you-can under Irad Ortiz Jr.

◗ Would still be a player if this race is moved to dirt.