Paid Up Subscriber sharpens for Personal Ensign

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Paid Up Subscriber tuned up for her rematch with I’m a Chatterbox in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes by working a strong six furlongs in 1:12.16 on Friday over the Saratoga main track.

“She went beautiful,” trainer Al Stall said. “The track was obviously fast after the break. She eyeballed someone else’s set roughly 100 yards ahead of her. She was very focused and couldn’t have went any better.”

Paid Up Subscriber is coming off a second-place finish behind I’m a Chatterbox in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park. In that race, I’m a Chatterbox came over and impeded three horses to her inside, including Paid Up Subscriber. Though Paid Up Subscriber fell into a pretty nice trip, she had to settle for second.

“She got beat up so much that the Delaware Park racing office called to check on her,” Stall said. “We’re ready to do it again; just hope things go our way.”

Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard for the work. Santana rode Paid Up Subscriber to victory in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap and was aboard in the Delaware Handicap. He will ride her again in the Personal Ensign.

Only five fillies and mares are expected for the Personal Ensign. The others are I’m a Chatterbox, Cavorting, Curalina, and Forever Unbridled.

Curalina, the winner of the Grade 3 Shuvee, and Forever Unbridled, the winner of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, put in workouts Friday over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track.

Curalina went four furlongs in 49.95 seconds, with a final quarter-mile in 24.76. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.38.

“Very forward, very willing, by herself, had plenty of horse throughout,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Pletcher said he has removed Stopchargingmaria from consideration for the Personal Ensign. She was scheduled to work Saturday, and how that went would determine whether she would run in the Grade 1 Ballerina next Saturday or wait for another spot.

Forever Unbridled was among the first horses on the Oklahoma training track Friday and went five furlongs in 1:01.40, getting her last quarter in 23.80 seconds.

“The filly was just awesome,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “One of her best works.”

Stewart has not finalized a jockey for Forever Unbridled. He was hoping to use John Velazquez, but he is committed to Curalina.

Fish Trappe Road works briskly for King's Bishop

Among the more impressive workers Friday was Fish Trappe Road, the Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes winner who is pointing to next Saturday’s Grade 1 King’s Bishop.

Working on a fast main track after the renovation break, Fish Trappe Road went a half-mile in 47.33 seconds, going in splits of 12.25 and 23.43. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.87. Jockey Luis Saez was up for the move.

“He did it very easily. He was in a high gallop,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “I was very happy with the way he did it, the way he came out of it. It was a very easy work for him.”

A large field is shaping up for the King’s Bishop, including Bird Song, Drefong, Economic Model, Fish Trappe Road, Its All Relevant, Jazzy Times, Mind Your Biscuits, Noholdingback Bear, Rated R Superstar, Star Hill, Summer Revolution, Tom’s Ready, and possibly Yellow Chips.