Possessed tries turf route in New York Stallion Series
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Charlton Baker is hoping to find another dimension to the already-potent arsenal of his multiple stakes-winning 3-year-old New York-bred Possessed when he puts him on turf for the first time Monday at Saratoga in the $100,000 New York Stallion Stakes.
Possessed already has won a couple of New York Stallion Series stakes on dirt, but his ability to handle the grass is the big question in Monday’s main event, and even Baker is not convinced what the answer will be.
“He breezed on [turf] up here and didn’t go fast,” said Baker. “But he normally doesn’t go fast without company. To be honest, I’m still undecided if he’ll handle the grass. Personally, I think he’s better on dirt. But there weren’t a lot of alternatives right now, so I thought, ‘Why not take a shot and see if it will give us some added options for him in the future?’ He’s definitely an improved horse right now because he’s learned to settle down in the morning. He’s more mature and less hyper than he used to be.”
Should Possessed struggle with the grass, the race could be wide open, with three of his six rivals coming off victories on turf, led by Mark My Style, who rallied from the rear of the pack and overcame a wide trip to win an entry-level statebred allowance going seven furlongs at Belmont Park four weeks ago.
Payment Terms and Memories of Peter exit their maiden wins, with Payment Terms perhaps the more impressive of the pair, having drawn away to an easy victory despite trouble at the start and a wide trip in his second start June 26.
Ex Ex Ex won his only previous try over the surface, leading throughout to win his maiden in wire-to-wire fashion May 20 before struggling over a muddy track and finishing far behind Possessed when making his stakes debut one month later.
Key contenders
Possessed (Last 3 Beyers: 79-63-82)
* Not only is turf a question, but the one-mile distance is too since he’s never won beyond seven furlongs.
“I think he’ll handle a mile,” said Baker. “I think he’s a better sprinter, but a mile with this company should be okay for him. I believe the turf is a much bigger issue than the distance.”
Payment Terms (Last 2 Beyers: 76-67)
* His maiden win turned into a key race after the third-place finisher, Manoffire, and the last-place finisher, Euros to Dollars, returned to graduate in their next starts.
Mark My Style (Last 3 Beyers: 72-74-75)
* The only other multiple winner in the field along with Possessed and the only two-time winner on turf, he’s in the best form of his career.