Saratoga: Clement trying to give Right One a confidence booster

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Christophe Clement is hoping to give Right One a confidence booster when he sends his Grade 3 winner out as the likely favorite in Wednesday’s $100,000 Win, an overnight stakes carded at one mile over Saratoga’s inner turf course.

The Win is one of two overnight stakes on Wednesday’s program along with the $100,000 David for 2-year-old New York-breds.

Right One has not visited the winner’s circle since capturing the Grade 3 Jaipur at Belmont Park more than 13 months earlier. Right One’s losing streak encompasses just six races, several of which the late-striding gelding might have won with a little better racing luck.

Among Right One’s close calls since his previous victory were his neck setback at the hands of Turallure in the 2011 Woodbine Mile, a Grade 1, and his second-place finish behind Upgrade in defense of his Jaipur title late this spring.

“I had him in at Woodbine in a great spot going seven-eighths this past weekend, but it’s difficult to ship when you have a stakes going a mile here at Saratoga,” said Clement. “At the time I made the entry I didn’t think this stakes would go and I was wrong. He’s doing great and he’s fresh. He’s been a bit unlucky this year. He needs a minimum of pace to run a good race, and Julien knows him well.”

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Clement said he’s not looking ahead to anything else for Right One at the moment.

“I’m not using this race as a prep for anything, I’m using it just to win a race with him,” said Clement. “He has not won a race in one year and he’s like his trainer – he needs to win to get more confidence.”

The Win has not come up an easy spot, having drawn several other graded-stakes-caliber competitors such as Beau Choix, Paris Vegas, Yield Bogey, Hoofit, and Swift Warrior.

Beau Choix was beaten a head by Paris Vegas when the pair met under optional claiming conditions over a yielding course here earlier this month.

Yield Bogey failed to show his usual speed against a stellar field in the Grade 2 Fourstardave just 18 days ago. The multiple Grade 3-placed veteran figures to give Clement some of the pace he’s looking for with Right One on Wednesday.

Hoofit is winless in five starts since upsetting the Grade 3 Phoenix over Keeneland’s Polytrack last October for trainer Graham Motion.

Swift Warrior, idle since April 1, finished a fast-closing third early this year in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes.

Scotus, Perfect Footprint, and Nine O Wonderful complete the body of the field. Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. has entered his pair of Trickmeister and Isn’t He Perfect for the main track only.

◗ A field of six statebred juveniles will go six furlongs in the David, with Weekend Hideaway likely to be favored off his easy 6 3/4-length maiden win over a wet track on Aug. 10.

Completing the lineup are Slot Play, who was a game winner at first asking earlier this summer at Belmont Park, Cay to Pomeroy, Awesome Weekend, Mr. Rodriguez, and the maiden Becker’s Galaxy.