Moon Colony cutting back for Hall of Fame Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After unsuccessfully taking a shot at 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby, Moon Colony will shorten up to his preferred distance in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga.

With the addition of the $1 million Saratoga Derby at 1 3/16 miles on Sunday, the Hall of Fame was shortened to one mile from 1 1/16 miles.

Moon Colony, a son of Uncle Mo owned by John Oxley and trained by Mark Casse, won the Grade 2 Penn Mile as well as an allowance race at one mile. Most recently, he finished ninth in the Belmont Derby at 10 furlongs.

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A field of eight was entered for the Hall of Fame, including Award Winner, a half-brother to graded stakes winners Oscar Performance and Oscar Nominated. Global Access, Casa Creed, Sombeyay, Swamp Rat, English Bee, and Limonite complete the lineup.

◗ The $100,000 John Morrissey Stakes for New York-bred sprinters will be run Sunday.

The race was originally scheduled for July 25 but was lost when the last seven races on the program were canceled due to poor track condition created by a sudden rainstorm.

It had been initially announced that the Morrissey would be run Thursday, but the race now will be drawn on Thursday for Sunday.