Strike Midnight may be right value play in Hall of Fame Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It is conceivable that trainer Chad Brown could have the horse to beat in every graded turf stakes run at Saratoga this summer. But that doesn’t mean he has to win all of them.
Thus far, Brown has won the Grade 1 Diana with Dacita, the Grade 2 Lake George with Ancient Secret, and the Grade 2 Bowling Green with Flintshire.
While Brown certainly can win Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes with Camelot Kitten, the race did come up a competitive affair with six legitimate rivals.
The horse who may offer the best value is Strike Midnight, who makes his graded-stakes and two-turn debut in this 1 1/16-mile race.
Strike Midnight, trained by Leah Gyarmati, is coming off a second-place finish to Giant Run in the Manila Stakes going one mile at Belmont on July 4. Gyarmati has been looking to run this horse farther and Friday gets a chance to do that.
“He acts like he’ll go all day, the way he runs, the way he trains,” Gyarmati said. “I think the added distance will help. I think the two turns will be good, maybe better for me than others.”
It doesn’t hurt that Gyarmati has Javier Castellano to ride.
Camelot Kitten finished fourth in the Belmont Derby, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths by European import Deauville. Camelot Kitten has two wins and two seconds from four starts at 1 1/16 miles.
“The cutback suits Camelot Kitten well,” Brown said.
Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Camelot Kitten from the outside post.
Hall of Fame, Race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Camelot Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy
Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-86
◗ Camelot Kitten is 2 for 3 with blinkers, proving victorious in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs on May 7 and the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge on June 5 before finishing fourth in the Belmont Derby on July 9.
“He’s been racing right along with no break,” Brown said. “I watch him closely to make sure we’re not asking too much, but I don’t see any reason not to go right on with him.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Camelot Kitten. Trainer Chad Brown is 33-11-4-2 with a $3.42 ROI over the past two years in turf-route graded stakes in New York. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Strike Midnight, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 86-87-67
◗ Has returned from a layoff with two solid efforts, winning a first-level allowance race and finishing second to Giant Run in the Manila Stakes.
◗ Gyarmati is hoping for some speed in front of her horse so “he can settle in midpack” and make a run.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Strike Midnight. Trainer Leah Gyarmati is 47-0-2-5 over the past five years in turf races at Saratoga. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Airoforce, by Colonel John
Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-90
◗ Has not won on turf since beating Camelot Kitten in the Grade 3 Bourbon last fall at Keeneland. Was beaten three lengths when 10th in the Belmont Derby. Connections are removing blinkers for this start.
“He’s been breaking a step slow and taking off with Julien [Leparoux] and has been rank, which has compromised his kick,” assistant trainer Norm Casse said. “We’re taking the blinkers off, and hopefully Julien can get him to relax.”
Isotherm, by Lonhro
Last 3 Beyers: 87-73-81
◗ In three turf starts, he has two wins and was beaten a head in the Grade 3 Dania Beach on Jan. 2, his most recent start. Has been off since then due to coming out of that race sore and needing time, per trainer George Weaver.
“I feel good about him,” Weaver said. “He was always precocious. Now he’s facing some horses who have been running and developed good form, but I feel great about taking him over there.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Giant Run. Trainer Tom Albertrani is 14-5-1-2 with a $7.05 ROI over the past two years with last-out winners at Saratoga. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan