Mongolian Groom, fresh off Pacific Classic, will try Woodward

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mongolian Groom came out of his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 17 so well that trainer Enebish Ganbat immediately began looking for somewhere to run him next.

Ganbat landed on Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward at Saratoga. Mongolian Groom landed here on Sunday to complete preparations for the Woodward, run at 1 1/8 miles.

“We ran in the Pacific Classic. I didn’t plan to come here, but the next day I saw a horse come back in really good condition like he could run the next day,” Ganbat said Monday at Saratoga. “This is a very good race. If we could win this race, maybe we could be invited to Japan or some big race.”

Ganbat, a native of Mongolia, is no stranger to big races. In 2015, he upset the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with Mongolian Saturday, a horse that took him to Hong Kong and England.

Mongolian Groom has made his last three starts in blinkers. Though he finished sixth in the San Juan Capistrano on turf, he rebounded from that race to finish second to Catalina Cruiser in the San Diego before finishing third behind Higher Power and Draft Pick in the Pacific Classic. He was beaten a neck for second.

“I thought he ran very good,” Ganbat said. “Second would have been better – more money.”

As of Monday, Ganbat still had not settled on a jockey for Mongolian Groom. Abel Cedillo rode him in his last two starts.

A field of nine is likely for the Woodward. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Monday that he would most likely run three – Vino Rosso, Bal Harbour, and Wooderson. Vino Rosso beat Mongolian Groom by seven lengths in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in May.

Yoshida, last year’s Woodward winner, worked a half-mile in 49.73 seconds Sunday over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Woodward. Also, Tom’s d’Etat, the Alydar Stakes winner, worked four furlongs over the training track in 50.48 Sunday. Tom’s d’Etat will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. because Joel Rosario, who rode him in the Alydar, is committed to Yoshida.

Others expected to run include Mr. Buff, Preservationist, and possibly Forewarned. Junior Alvarado sticks with Preservationist and Jose Lezcano has picked up the mount on Mr. Buff.