Youknownothing starts back up following a grueling effort

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There is no stakes race scheduled Sunday at Saratoga on what is technically closing day of the Belmont at Aqueduct spring/summer meet.

The feature on the 10-race card is a second-level allowance/optional $75,000 claiming event scheduled for 1 1/2 miles over the inner turf course. Many of these fillies and mares are coming out of stakes tries, hoping to use this supposed class drop as a way to get back to a meaningful race.

Youknownothing won a first-level allowance at Gulfstream Park in January, which led to stakes attempts in the Grade 3 The Very One, where she finished eighth behind next-out stakes winner Beach Bomb, and the Grade 3 Bewitch at Keeneland, where she finished second, albeit nine lengths behind Forever After All.

The Bewitch was run over a complete bog, one that Forever After All loved and no one else did. Trainer Miguel Clement said Youknownothing needed some additional time to bounce back after that effort.

“The race at Keeneland took a bit out of her. She was very slow to get back to her feed tub,” Clement said. “Under another normal circumstance, that race never would have been run on the grass. The turf was bottomless and it was an exhausting effort. We gave her some time, she’s trained great, it’s time to go back.”

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Clement also sends out In Time, who was second in this condition at Churchill Downs on June 11. She was forced to scratch out of a Memorial Day race at Aqueduct because trainer Christophe Clement – Miguel’s father – passed away between the time she was entered and race day.

In Time has a win and a second in two starts at Saratoga, and Dylan Davis, who rides In Time, has a win, a second, and a third from three starts on the mare.

Sugaree, a first-level allowance winner at this distance in April at Keeneland for trainer Arnaud Delacour, had traffic for most of the way when finishing seventh, three lengths behind Marksman Queen in the Keertana at Churchill Downs.

Holy Foley is just 2 for 23, with one of those wins at this 1 1/2-mile distance at Keeneland in April 2024. In two starts this year at the distance, Holy Foley was beaten a head by Boss Lady Bailey in this condition at Keeneland before finishing fifth, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths with a bit of a wide trip, in the Keertana.

John Velazquez rides Holy Foley for trainer Brian Lynch. Velazquez was aboard for Holy Foley’s 1 1/2-mile win 15 months ago as well as other in the-money-finishes.

“I think that’s the good part of having Johnny on her, he’ll have a feel of where he should be in the race,” Lynch said.

Miwa was beaten four lengths by the stakes winner Sweet Rebecca in this condition at Keeneland in April before finishing fifth in the Grade 1 New York Stakes here going 1 3/16 miles on June 6.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Miwa “probably will appreciate the added distance and the drop in class” on Sunday.

Fantasy Performer and Allamericanbeauty complete the field on turf.

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