Private Zone looking sharp for Forego

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Private Zone is a Grade 1 winner at Aqueduct and a two-time Grade 1 winner at Belmont Park. Next up is a Grade 1 at Saratoga, which his connections hope to achieve in the $700,000 Forego here next Saturday.

Private Zone, the winner of the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint Championship on July 4 in his most recent start, arrived at Saratoga on Thursday from Monmouth Park. He galloped over a sloppy main track Friday morning and will have a workout Saturday.

“I think it’s a deeper track than Monmouth Park, so I wanted to bring him here, make sure everything’s right,” trainer Jorge Navarro said.

Navarro watched Private Zone gallop Friday and drove back to Monmouth Park, where he is the leading trainer and was scheduled to have horses run in five races on Friday’s card. He was to drive back to Saratoga later Friday and be on hand for Saturday’s workout.

“He’s worth it,” Navarro said. “He’s a cool horse to have around. He’s a nice horse. He’s training amazing for this race. This is the best I’ve ever seen him train for the races that I’ve had him. All his workouts that he’s done at Monmouth are amazing.”

His breezes included a five-furlong move in 59 seconds out of the starting gate Aug. 15.

“The way he’s training, they’re going to have to really run to beat him,” Navarro said. “He’s training really good for this race. He’s ready; he lets you know he’s ready.”

Wildcat Red, the winner of the Teddy Drone Stakes in his last start, arrived at Saratoga on Wednesday and was scheduled to breeze Saturday morning as well for the Forego.

Jose Lezcano will ride Wildcat Red in the Forego. Paco Lopez rode him to victory in the Teddy Drone Stakes but has a commitment at Monmouth Park next Saturday.

Also targeting the Forego are Bourbon Courage, Race Day, Salutos Amigos, Tamarkuz, The Big Beast, and Viva Majorca.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch