Sirtaki primed for U.S. debut in Bald Eagle Derby
?q=100)
Sirtaki is new to trainer Arnaud Delacour’s barn, but the colt is familiar with stakes company, having placed third in the Derby du Midi on May 27 at Le Bouscat in France.
He’ll try to apply some of that European form on Sunday in Laurel Park’s Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles, one of two $100,000 turf stakes with the Searching for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
“Sirtaki shipped to us last week,” Delacour said. “He seems to have recovered very well from the trip and the quarantine. He’s been galloping with us at Fair Hill and looked really good.”
A three-time winner at the 1 3/16-mile distance, Sirtaki was purchased by Team Valor and Gary Barber over the winter and raced four times this year. In his most recent outing, he finished ninth of 12 in the Prix de Saint Patrick at Chantilly July 1.
“He’s not a horse that is very happy between horses,” Delacour continued. “Coming from Europe, they sometimes are a little bit slower from the break. If he breaks well, I’m expecting him to be very forwardly-placed.”
Ari Gold looks like the controlling speed for trainer Todd Pletcher. A gate-to-wire winner of his final two starts of 2022, he returned from a seven-month layoff with a fitness-building effort in a second-level allowance at Saratoga. The only 3-year-old in that field, Ari Gold sat just off a quick pace before tiring.
Mendelssohns March dips in class after placing sixth in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby for trainer Kenny McPeek. Mendelssohns March seeks his first win on turf.
“I liked the race,” McPeek said about the Belmont Derby. “He showed that he’s on the fringes of those type of horses. This is a much easier spot for him.”
Circling the Drain enters following a three-length win in a state-sired allowance July 8. That race came on the heels of a third-place finish in the James W. Murphy at Pimlico, the gelding’s turf debut.
“That was what we were looking for,” said trainer Brittany Russell about his recent score. “We wanted to get a confidence booster.”
Georgie W won his lone turf start, and returns to the surface after finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Indiana Derby. Eldest Son, Dataman, and English Painter also entered.
Speirling Beag drops and cuts
Graham Motion hopes Speirling Beag will appreciate class and distance relief in the Searching after finishing sixth traveling 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks July 8.
“I’m not sure she has to go 1 1/4 miles,” Motion said. “This was the race we’ve pointed for since we brought her over.”
Motion also entered No Show Sammy Jo, but plans to scratch as of Friday morning.
Beautifulnavigator, beaten a head in a stakes at Fair Grounds March 11, was freshened after finishing last of nine in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Appalachian. Trainer Kenny McPeek said the filly had to work through a virus, and is pleased with her recent workouts.
Lifelovenlaughter, Cecile, Apple Picker, Bolivie, Girl Named Charlie, and Naval Empire entered. Yesternight and Stellar Lady race main track only
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.