Weekend Hideaway fresh and sharp for Morrissey

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. –Trainer Phil Serpe was hoping the rain would come early enough on Monday at Saratoga to move the Lucky Coin Stakes from the turf to the dirt so that Weekend Hideaway could draw in as a main-track-only entrant. So, too, did the connections of his eight rivals in Thursday’s $100,000 John Morrissey Stakes.

Serpe said he thought the Lucky Coin would have come up “a pretty good situation” for Weekend Hideaway if it had come off the grass. Instead, Weekend Hideaway likely will go postward as one of the favorites in the 6 1/2-furlong Morrissey, which is restricted to New York-breds. Weekend Hideaway captured the Morrissey in 2014, and he will face last year’s winner, Moonlight Song.

Weekend Hideaway enters the Morrissey on top of his game, having won his last two starts by six lengths combined, both against statebred stakes competition. In his last start, he won the Commentator Stakes going a mile over a muddy track May 30 at Belmont Park.

“We gave him a little rest, a little breather this winter, and he’s come back well, that’s for sure,” said Serpe, who trains the 6-year-old Weekend Hideaway for Red and Black Stable. “He struggled a little bit with the distance last time, so going back to 6 1/2 furlongs should suit him well. He seems to be training well since his last race, although he is a funny horse. He can go backwards on you for no reason at any time. But he’s been good to us, and the right idea as we go forward this year is to try to run him in the best spots we can find.”

Moonlight Song has not started since leading throughout to capture the 2015 Morrissey by 1 1/4 lengths over John’s Island. Trained by Charlton Baker, he has back-to-back bullet works coming into the race.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out a pair of leading contenders in Notacatbutallama and Ostrolenka. Notacatbutallama is more accomplished on turf than dirt but has won on the Saratoga dirt, while Ostrolenka turns back in distance off an optional-claiming victory around two turns last month at Monmouth Park.

KEY CONTENDERS

Weekend Hideaway, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 98-91-59

◗ Although Weekend Hideaway led throughout to win the Commentator, Serpe believes the horse is at his best from off the pace. “There’s some speed in this field, and personally, I think he’s better when he can sit back behind the pace because it seems to make him more aggressive than when he’s on the lead,” Serpe said.

Notacatbutallama, by Harlan’s Holiday

Last 3 Beyers: 69-81-84

◗ He puts blinkers on for the first time since finishing third on turf 13 months and 10 starts ago against statebred allowance company at Belmont Park.

Moonlight Song, by Unbridled’s Song

Last 3 Beyers: 94-97-91

◗ The long layoff should not prove an obstacle. He won this race last summer while returning from a nine-month hiatus and an allowance race earlier in his career at Belmont while coming back from a 7 1/2-month vacation.