Saratoga: Ruthenia averts disaster during workout adventure

What began as a routine workout turned into a potentially disastrous situation Wednesday morning on the Oklahoma training track for two stakes horses, Ruthenia and Right One, from the barn of trainer Christophe Clement.

Ruthenia was working inside stablemate Right One when she ducked in suddenly and bounced off the temporary railing nearing the eighth pole. Fortunately, the nimble footed Ruthenia was able to regain her stride and completed the breeze albeit far behind her workmate.

Right One, who was scratched last Saturday from the Grade 2 Fourstardave, was suddenly left by himself through the final furlong of his 48.56 half- mile breeze and around the turn where he galloped out five-eighths in 1:00.26 before pulling up a strong six furlongs in 1:12.86 with jockey Julien Leparoux aboard.

Ruthenia was credited with completing her eventful half-mile in 51.20.

“She shied away from the other horse and struck the inner rail,” Clement explained about 45 minutes later back at his barn. “She has some minor cuts but she’s moving okay. She was supposed to go for the Ballston Spa. I’ll know more [Thursday].”

Clement said he took Right One out of the Fourstardave after heavy rain rendered the turf course yielding for the race.

“Track condition was the reason for the scratch the other day. Very frustrating is an understatement,” said Clement. “He’s training very well. He looks great. He’ll run back at Saratoga, possibly in the Bernard Baruch. I just don’t want to run him when it’s very soft.”

Clement knows he also dodged a bullet named Wise Dan by scratching Right One from the Fourstardave.

“Wise Dan was the most impressive horse I’ve seen on the grass this year, him and Shug’s [McGaughey)]horse Point of Entry when he won at Belmont,” said Clement. “Those two performances were the most dazzling performances on the grass I’ve seen this year.”

Test a possibility for Aubby K.

Trainer Ralph Nicks was very pleased with the way the 3-year-old filly Aubby K. worked after the renovation break on Wednesday and said he’s looking at the Grade 1 Test on Aug. 25 for her next start. Aubby K, third going a mile in the Grade 1 Acorn during the spring, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.61 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.41 with jockey Edgar Prado aboard.

“We’re thinking about the Test,” said Nicks. “I think there’s no doubt she’s better at distances up to seven furlongs than a mile or longer. We needed to try and see if she could go two turns at that time a year, and at a mile or around two turns she’s just not as effective when sprinting.”

Aubby K has not started since finishing a tiring fourth, six lengths behind Grace Hall, going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks on July 14.

◗ Edgar Prado took on a new agent this week, former trainer Bob Klesaris, who will have the Hall of Famer on the road both Saturday and Sunday. Prado will be at Monmouth Park to ride Tobys Corner in the Iselin and at Woodbine the following afternoon for Smart Bid in the Grade 2 Sky Classic. Both horses are trained by Graham Motion.

◗ David Grace has taken over the riding engagements of jockey Mike Luzzi.