More Than Looks one of many players in Hall of Fame Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – More Than Looks, who has come a long way in a relatively short time for trainer Cherie DeVaux since launching his career earlier this season, will attempt to continue his winning ways facing his stiffest test yet Friday at Saratoga in the $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes.

The Grade 2 Hall of Fame drew a very talented and evenly matched field of 10 3-year-olds. The stellar lineup includes a trio for trainer Chad Brown, a pair of European invaders led by Grade 1 winner Mysterious Night, and the multiple graded stakes winner General Jim, who will be returning to turf for the first time since his 2-year-old campaign.

More Than Looks has improved with every start since kicking off his career early this winter at Gulfstream Park, taking his biggest jump forward last month at Belmont Park with a very impressive 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Manila. More Than Looks earned far and away a lifetime-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance, which is also the highest last-out Beyer Figure of any member of the Hall of Fame lineup.

“He’d always been really immature physically and mentally and the more experience he’s gotten, the better he’s become,” DeVaux said. “The Manila was the first time he really kicked clear and kept running at the end of his race, which showed a significant improvement to me, although he’s probably going to have to move forward again to be competitive in this race.”

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More Than Looks won the Manila despite a tardy beginning, an issue he’s had at the start of most of his races, and with his running style will also need some help with the pace.

“The Manila was the first time he really had some pace to run at, but if it isn’t quick in this one, I’m sure Johnny [Velazquez] will adjust and have him closer early on.”

Brown’s trio is led by the lightly raced but promising Carl Spackler, who was beaten a head in his debut by the now Grade 1 winner Far Bridge before earning his diploma in spectacular fashion five weeks later at Gulfstream. In his only subsequent start, Carl Spackler finished eighth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs in an absolutely loaded race that Webslinger won by a nose over Far Bridge.

“I don’t think he really cared for the course at Churchill and then he got really sick when I shipped him back to New York, so I had to back off him a couple of weeks,” said Brown. “He’s bounced out of it nicely and is training well. I would have preferred to bring him back in an easier spot, but I really like running him at a mile against 3-year-olds.”

Appraise was off nearly 10 months after finishing second to Mysterious Night in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes last September at Woodbine before returning to register a game allowance win against older horses in his 3-year-old debut at Belmont.

“He missed the Breeders’ Cup with bucked shins but came back and ran a nice little race against older horses off the layoff. I was really proud of the way he dug in,” Brown said. “I didn’t feel I had him fully cranked for that one so I see a fitter horse ready to take a step forward out of that race.”

Mischievous Angel takes a big move up in class after winning his only previous start, a six-furlong maiden dash at Belmont on June 17 in which he earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It’s a lot to ask but the number was so fast I wanted to run him only against 3-year-olds here and it’s a huge purse,” Brown explained.

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Mysterious Night returns to North America for the first time since his one-sided, 5 3/4-length victory over Appraise in the Summer Stakes, although his current form is somewhat suspect following a pair of dull efforts in Group 3 races in Great Britain to launch his 3-year-old season. Mysterious Night will race with blinkers for the first time Friday.

General Jim has won two of three starts on grass, including a race over the local course at 2. He has competed exclusively on dirt thus far this season, winning the Grade 3 Swale and Grade 2 Pat Day Mile before a disappointing effort last time in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens.

Nagirroc, third in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, is coming off a game third behind More Than Looks as the 8-5 favorite in the Manila, and demands much respect in his present good form, as does Grade 2 Penn Mile runner-up Behind Enemy Lines.

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