Saratoga: Grace Hall, In Lingerie work for Alabama

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Before departing for Saratoga Monday morning, Delaware Oaks winner Grace Hall tuned up for her start in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama by working four furlongs in 49.40 seconds Sunday morning at Delaware Park.

Grace Hall was one of two significant Alabama players to put in works Sunday morning. In Lingerie, the Black-Eyed Susan winner, breezed four furlongs in 48.83 seconds over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga.

Complete coverage of racing at Saratoga: News, PPs, and video

Immediately after Grace Hall’s victory in the Delaware Oaks, trainer Tony Dutrow decided to keep her at Delaware Park to get all her serious training in for the Alabama. Dutrow noted that Grace Hall spent all of last summer at Saratoga and owns a win over the track, having captured the Grade 1 Spinaway.

Given the off racetracks horsemen in Saratoga have had to work around the last two weekends, Dutrow’s plan worked out swimmingly. Grace Hall worked over a fast track on Sunday.

“We’re swimming in water at Saratoga that we’ve already swam in,” Dutrow said from Delaware before driving to Saratoga where he was to saddle Southern Honor in Sunday’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special. “I have no reason to think the racetrack will be a factor.”

Dutrow said he was very happy with Grace Hall’s move which he said actually began at the 4 1/2-furlong marker and included a strong gallop-out.

“We’re all very happy with her,” Dutrow said.

At Saratoga, In Lingerie, third in the Coaching Club American Oaks in her last start, went out after the 9:30 renovation break over the Oklahoma training track, which was labeled fast by the clockers but one that had moisture in it. Going by herself, In Lingerie went her first quarter in 24.63 seconds and her second quarter in 24.17. She galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.88 and pulled up six furlongs in 1:15.66.

“I think she’s much better than she ran in the Coaching Club,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We had a bit of a break after the Black-Eyed Susan. She’s come back and trained very well. She benefitted from the race and I’m expecting a good performance.”

Others pointing to the Alabama include Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can, Coaching Club winner Questing, Mother Goose winner Zo Impressive, Railbird Stakes winner Via Villaggio, recent allowance winner Sea Island, and Uptown Bertie.

Other workers of note Sunday included Stay Thirsty, the 2011 Jim Dandy and Travers winner who went five furlongs in 1:01.48 over the Oklahoma training track in company with the highly regarded unstarted 2-year-old Archwarrior. Pletcher scratched Archwarrior from a maiden race Saturday due to a wet track.

Stay Thirsty is on target for the Woodward, Pletcher said.

Teen Pauline, who set a track record of 56.53 for five furlongs when winning her debut here on July 25, worked five furlongs in 1:02.49 in company with the 3-year-old colt Spring Warrior, a recent claim by Steve Asmussen.

“She’s tremendous,” Asmussen said. “Went over the ground really well, relaxed nicely off the other horse, showed great energy and traveled really good.”

Barbara Banke, who owns Teen Pauline, and her racing manager John Moynihan said that the Grade 1 Spinaway here on Sept. 2 is under consideration for Teen Pauline.