Villandry set to run a good one in Lure
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While Charlie LoPresti is delaying Wise Dan’s return to the races, he is moving forward with his 5-year-old gelding Villandry, hoping to turn him into a stakes winner in Saturday’s $100,000 Lure Stakes at Saratoga.
The Lure, at 1 1/16 miles, is the last of 11 races on the card and one of five stakes on the program.
Villandry, a gelding by Mr. Greeley, is coming off a 1 3/4-length loss to Silver Max in the Grade 2 Firecracker at Churchill Downs on June 28. The third-place finisher from that race, Guys Reward, came back to win the Grade 3 Oceanport at Monmouth Park last weekend.
LoPresti noted that Silver Max had the lead to himself in the Firecracker and that Villandry was running on in the stretch.
“He was running at the end,” LoPresti said. “I thought it was a good race. I feel pretty confident he’s going to run well. I always thought a lot of that horse.”
Julien Leparoux rides Villandry from post 8.
There are a number of challengers in the Lure, though two could scratch and run elsewhere. Kharafa was entered back in a New York-bred race for Sunday. If he runs there, that could free Javier Castellano to get on Legendary, but he is questionable to run. Trainer Niall Saville is considering running Legendary in a third-level allowance race Thursday here.
Saville is concerned about a forecast that calls for rain next Thursday and would prefer to run Legendary on firm turf.
Though Legendary has won twice at 1 1/4 miles, Saville believes “he is better going shorter.”
Swift Warrior could be interesting at a price. A multiple stakes winner, Swift Warrior won the Win Stakes in 2012 going a mile in his only start over the turf course here. He is coming off a second-place finish in an optional claimer at Belmont on June 14.
Trainer John Terranova said he would prefer firm turf for Swift Warrior.
“He’s really training sharp up here,” Terranova said. “I love how he’s coming into the race.”
Plainview is 3 for 3 at Saratoga and is coming off an allowance win at Belmont.
Big Blue Kitten, a multiple Grade 1 winner going marathon distances last year, is making his first start since finishing eighth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Alpha was entered only in the event that the race is moved to the main track.
◗ Beginning Saturday, races for juveniles on dirt at distances beyond 5 1/2 furlongs will have a 10-horse limit. For the last two years, juvenile races on dirt at all distances had been limited to eight. Sprint races on the turf will remain limited to eight starters.