Mutasaabeq lives up to billing in debut
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Both trainer Todd Pletcher and the betting public were expecting big things from the highly touted 2-year-old prospect Mutasaabeq when he debuted here last Saturday. And in the end neither was disappointed after the promising juvenile drew off to a 4 1/2-length victory as the 4-5 favorite in the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight dash.
Mutasaabeq, a son of Into Mischief owned by Shadwell Stable, had posted a pair of bullet gate works in the weeks leading up to his first start.
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He earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure after completing the distance of Saturday’s race in 1:03.55.
“We would have been disappointed if he hadn’t run extremely well,” Pletcher said. “He put in a couple of impressive breezes. My only concern, really, going in was that as good as his gate works were he wasn’t super quick that first step or two. I was happy when he drew outside. They out-quicked him a little bit, but once he got his legs underneath him he was on the bridle traveling pretty easily. We were happy with it. He came out in good order. We’ll monitor how he does, but right now we’re pointing for the Hopeful.”
The Grade 1 Hopeful will be decided at seven furlongs on closing day, Sept. 7.
Pletcher also said he is running both his nominees Colonel Liam and No Word in the $500,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational, which shares top billing on Saturday’s card with the Grade 1 Alabama. Colonel Liam is coming off an impressive 2 3/4-length victory against older horses in his turf debut July 22, while No Word won a first level allowance race on the grass earlier in the meet.
“We saw big improvement from Colonel Liam the first time we put him on the turf, and I thought he ran exceptionally well against older horses in his last start,” Pletcher said. “No Word has been consistent all along. He broke his maiden up here impressively last summer, and we feel he likes this course coming off an exciting allowance win.”
Pletcher nominated Setting the Mood and Sweet Melania to Sunday’s $500,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, but will run neither. He said he plans to wait for the Grade 3 Lake George at a mile on Aug. 28 for Sweet Melania, winner of the Grade 3 Wonder Again at Belmont Park in her first start since a third-place finish behind Sharing in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.