Weekend Hideaway to start meet in John Morrissey

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After winning the Commentator Stakes at Belmont Park for the second straight year, the hard-knocking 7-year-old Weekend Hideaway is ready to kick off the Saratoga session the same way he did last summer, in the 6 1/2-furlong John Morrissey for New York-breds next Thursday.

Weekend Hideaway, fourth as the favorite in the 2016 Morrissey, prepped for the race by breezing five furlongs over the main track in 1:00.87 here Thursday. The work was compromised a bit when the siren indicating that a horse had been injured on the track sounded shortly after the drill began.

“The Morrissey looks like a good return spot for him here again, rather than a race like the Vanderbilt,” trainer Phil Serpe said. “If he wins this race, then I’d be encouraged to come back and run in the Forego or the Vosburgh later on at Belmont like we did last year.”

Weekend Hideaway finished third last fall in the Grade 1 Vosburgh.

“He’s a remarkable horse,” said Serpe. “We were a little cautious with him today because of the siren going off while he was breezing. But he still throws bullets all the time in the morning, and he’s made $1 million. He’s the kind of horse people dream about having.”

◗ There is a general membership meeting of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association at the track Tuesday at noon behind the recreation hall on Union Avenue. A barbecue lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. Those wishing to attend should RSVP at (516) 488-2337 or e-mail abelifiore@nytha.com.

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