Stakes-filled week critical for Brisset stable
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Rodolphe Brisset is in Saratoga this week, and how the four horses he brought to run in stakes over an eight-day period fare will determine the length of his stay in upstate New York.
Brisset, who was to run Demodog in Friday’s Grade 3 Lake George, is scheduled to send out longshot Rockpaperscissors in Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, logical contender Crystal Ball in Sunday’s Grade 3 Shuvee, and the improving Harvard in next Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes for 3-year-olds.
Rockpaperscissors is stepping into the CCA Oaks following an off-the-turf allowance win at Indiana Grand in June, her first start in nine months.
“I know it was at Indiana and off the turf, but she won by 10 – she could have won by 20,” Brisset said. “To be honest with you, with her pedigree if we run third we’re happy. She’s not an easy horse to train or ride, but it looks like we’ve found a way to train her and to ride her. We changed her bridle, we got an extension blinker. She’s not the easiest one, but we think she has a bit of talent.”
Crystal Ball has already shown her talent. She was beaten just a head by Paris Lights in the Grade 1 CCA Oaks last year. After a well-beaten fifth in the Grade 1 Alabama, Crystal Ball was put away for the rest of the year. She is 3 for 3 this year, having made her first two starts in allowance company for trainer Bob Baffert before being moved to Brisset following Baffert’s troubles with the medication violation of Kentucky Derby first-place finisher Medina Spirit.
On June 26, Crystal Ball won the Lady Jacqueline Stakes at Thistledown for her first stakes victory.
“She came back very well from the race at Thistledown,” said Brisset, who trains Crystal Ball for WinStar Stablemates. “If she’s good enough to win a Grade 1, I don’t know, but this I think is the right spot to try to win a graded stakes. She’s very well bred, she’s a gorgeous horse physically. Obviously, she’s going to be in the WinStar broodmare band. To get the stakes out of the way was really important. If we can win a graded stakes, that would be the icing on the cake.”
Crystal Ball was one of seven fillies and mares entered Sunday for the Shuvee, a potential stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 28. Trainer Chad Brown entered the trio of Dunbar Road, Gold Spirit, and Royal Flag. Trainer Bill Mott entered both Antoinette and Horologist. Liberty M D, who is 2 for 2, completes the field.
Harvard, a son of Pioneerof the Nile. brings a two-race winning streak into next Friday’s Curlin for 3-year-olds. Both wins came since being stretched out around two turns and both with the addition of blinkers.
“He doesn’t want to be a one-turn horse,” Brisset said. “We went to Indiana first time and we put cheater blinkers on him and he won galloping. Then we came back against older at Churchill to find out where to go next, and he won that race pretty impressively.”
Dack Janiel’s and Claytnthelionheart, second and third behind Harvard, came back to run 1-2 in an allowance race here on July 15.
Entries for the Curlin will be taken Sunday. Expected to run are First Captain, winner of the Grade 3 Dwyer last out, Beren, Dynamic One, Miles D, and possibly Wolfie’s Dynaghost.