Paddock visit in order for John Morrissey Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Anyone wishing to bet Friday’s $100,000 John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga, especially those planning to place a wager on Moonlight Song, would be best advised to visit the paddock before heading to the windows.
Moonlight Song will go postward as one of the favorites among a well-matched field of New York-bred sprinters signed on to go 6 1/2 furlongs in the John Morrissey. But trainer Charlton Baker said getting Moonlight Song to the paddock without having a meltdown is the key to his success in the race.
“He’s had a problem throughout his career with washing out and expending too much energy before his races,” said Baker. “Last year when he ran here, he was soaking wet by the time he got to the paddock. But he’s been a lot better of late, and we’ve spent a lot of time schooling him since we’ve been up here.”
Moonlight Song won a pair of races at Aqueduct this winter, including an overnight stakes for statebreds in which he defeated recent Grade 1 winner Palace. He went to the sidelines due to a foot abscess and returned nearly six months later to finish fourth after setting the pace against open company in the seven-furlong, Grade 3 Belmont Sprint.
“The Belmont Sprint was the only race for him once he was ready to run again, and I thought he ran extremely well,” said Baker. “He’s really at his best with a target to run at, and I like the fact he’s drawn near the outside on Friday.”
Big Business may prove the one to beat while turning back in distance after missing by a head going 1 1/8 miles in the Evan Shipman earlier in the meet. Big Business trounced high-priced optional-claiming opposition while earning a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure at a mile in his previous start.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Big Business. Trainer David Jacobson is 4 for 7 with a $3.38 ROI over the past five years shortening horses from routes to sprints on dirt in races restricted to N.Y.-bred horses.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Multiple stakes winners Weekend Hideaway, Saratoga Snacks, and Amberjack also are among the key contenders in a field that includes Brigand, Quick Money, and Frost Hills Giant, who’ll put blinkers back on for the John Morrissey.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Brigand. Trainer Bob Baffert is 5 for 8 with a $4.61 ROI over the past five years shortening horses from routes to sprints on the NYRA circuit.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
KEY CONTENDERS
MOONLIGHT SONG (Last 3 Beyers: 98-96-96)
◗ Posted a career-best Beyer despite returning from a nearly six-month layoff in the Belmont Sprint.
◗ Turned in a sharp 59.78-second, five-furlong work over this track Aug. 4 and did it easily.
BIG BUSINESS (Last 3 Beyers: 97-103-96)
◗ Never seems to run a poor race and can handle distances ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.
◗ Stretch runner at this distance should have plenty of pace to run at.
SARATOGA SNACKS (Last 3 Beyers: 94-92-94)
◗ Shows only four works since his last start in January but had only four works prior to winning the Shy Groom at Belmont off a similar layoff last summer.◗ New trainer Bill Mott is 20 for 121 with horses under his care for the first time, with a $1.14 return on investment, according to Formulator.