Oleksandra likely for Saratoga start

ELMONT, N.Y. – Last year, Oleksandra won races at Belmont, Saratoga, and Keeneland. Her connections are hoping that pattern repeats itself in 2020.

Oleksandra completed the first step in that process when she rallied from last under Joel Rosario to nail Kanthaka on the wire and win Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Japuir Stakes. Her final time of 1:06.80 was just .06 of a second off the course record set by Tombelaine in 2018.

Oleksandra earned a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint to be run Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Last fall, Oleksandra won the Grade 2 Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland to complete her 5-year-old campaign.

Among her five victories last year was the Smart N Fancy Stakes at Saratoga.

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Owner Barry Irwin said a start at Saratoga is likely again for Oleksandra, with the options being the Caress against fillies and mares on Aug. 1 or the Grade 3 Troy for males on Aug. 8. Both races are worth $200,000 and are run at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“I would say we’d go for the Grade 3,” Irwin said, meaning the Troy. “She’s good running fresh, you don’t have to do a whole lot with her.”

Irwin said Drysdale told him Oleksandra came out of the race with a little nick on a front leg when Kanthaka came over on her out of the gate.

Decorated Invader, Sweet Melania eye Saratoga

Decorated Invader, a dominant 4 3/4-length winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes, could be pointed to a pair of stakes in Saratoga, trainer Christophe Clement said Sunday.

Decorated Invader will be considered for the Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on July 18 and the $500,000 Saratoga Derby at 1 3/16 miles on Aug. 15.

“As long as Joel [Rosario] can keep him relaxed, he’s got a very good turn of foot, which is fun,” Clement said.

Meanwhile, Sweet Melania, who recorded a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Wonder Again, will likely make her next start at Saratoga, possibly in the Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes on July 19. This year, the Lake Placid will be run at 1 1/8 miles as a prep for the $500,000 Saratoga Oaks at 1 3/16 miles on Aug. 16.

“I think we can get up to a mile and an eighth, then we got to see from there,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.