Ward's babies drill for Grade 2 stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Wesley Ward spent Friday morning at Saratoga preparing a pair of 2-year-olds for graded stakes engagements here next weekend. The workouts were strikingly different.

Mucho Amor, a debut winner at Keeneland on April 26, worked four furlongs over the Oklahoma training track in 47.55 seconds, the fastest of 48 moves at the distance. She is preparing for next Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Ward created a race-like scenario for Mucho Amor, starting her two lengths behind stablemates Fooch and Timely. Under Joel Rosario, Mucho Amor split those two maidens in the stretch and finished in front at the wire.

“I was really, really impressed with today’s work,” Ward said. “I wanted to tighten her right down, and I think we did. She’s a big filly with a big, long stride. I worked her a couple of times on the grass, and she didn’t particularly care for that. We stepped it up on dirt.”

A short while later, Ward put Stage Left on the Oklahoma turf course for a workout ahead of the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special, scheduled for 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt next Sunday.

Stage Left, a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou who won his debut at Keeneland on April 25, worked four furlongs in 51.21 seconds in company with the unstarted Tapizar’s Secret.

“I broke his maiden with him early, backed off on him, and pointed to run him in this race,” Ward said. “I’d like to maybe sit back and make a run was my plan with him – teach him something. I don’t know if he’s going to be good enough to win that race, but I don’t want him to shoot to the front.”

Ward said he also wanted to see how Stage Left would handle turf, and he said he was pleasantly surprised with how well he did.

The Saratoga Special field is expected to include Call Paul, Lutsky, Meade, Spinoff, Stage Left, and Tight Ten. Sniper Show is possible.

The Adirondack is expected to draw Lyrical Lady, Mucho Amor, Sue’s Fortune, Virginia Eloise, and possibly Nonna Madeline and Tijori.

Virginia Eloise, a five-length debut winner at Belmont on July 4, worked five furlongs in 1:01.88 over the Oklahoma training track Friday. She went in company with Good Good, a debut-winning colt at Gulfstream on June 30.

Nonna Madeline, second in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on opening day, went four furlongs in 49.00 seconds with Lemonist.