Queen Mary winner Crimson Advocate gets a breather; Breeders' Cup main objective

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Crimson Advocate, who won the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot and who at one point was being considered for a start in Saratoga, is on the farm getting a freshening and will be brought back for a fall campaign targeting the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.

Upon returning from England, trainer George Weaver indicated that the $150,000 Bolton Landing on Aug. 20 might be a possible start for Crimson Advocate. But since Crimson Advocate had run three times in eight weeks at three tracks in two countries, the decision was made to give her a break.

“She’s an April 30 foal. We started looking at all our options and a $150,000 nongraded stakes at Saratoga does nothing to add to her résumé,” Weaver said. “We want to make the Breeders’ Cup. She had done quiet a bit and was deserving of a freshening.”

Weaver said Crimson Advocate would likely return to him at Saratoga by the end of the month. Depending how quick she comes to hand, Weaver didn’t discount a start in something like the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron at Aqueduct or the $250,000 Indian Summer at Keeneland. Both races are Oct. 8.

Meanwhile, Weaver is coming off a sweep of the Tyro and Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park last weekend with No Nay Mets and Amidst Waves, respectively.

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Weaver said he does plan to run those horses back in three weeks. No Nay Mets, a 5 1/2-length winner of the Tyro, will target the $150,000 Skidmore on Aug. 18 while Amidst Waves is pointing to the Bolton Landing.

Meanwhile, Brocknardini, who won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at first asking here on Wednesday, will be pointed to the P.G. Johnson Stakes on Aug. 30. Weaver said one of the reasons he ran Brocknardini in that race was to help make owner Thomas Brockley eligible to claim horses at this meet.

“I thought she would need one. It wasn’t by design she won first time out,” Weaver said. “It looks like she’s just that good.”

Brocknardini, a New York-bred daughter of Palace Malice, won by 4 3/4 lengths and earned a 72 Beyer Speed Figure.

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