SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer John Servis has been resigned to the fact for a while that his Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia would not be ready to run in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes at Saratoga.
But after watching the filly breeze a sharp five furlongs on Friday morning at Saratoga, Servis is convinced Cathryn Sophia is on the right path to a race in the coming weeks.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Jorge Navarro said that X Y Jet is getting closer to having his first work on the comeback trail, and that he remains hopeful X Y Jet will be ready to compete in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse said everything would have had to go right for his reigning female turf champion Tepin to run against the boys in the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave at Saratoga on Aug. 13.
This week, things have not gone right.
Churchill Downs has released the stakes schedules for both its September and fall meets, with a few minor tweaks. There are nine stakes worth $1,125,000 at the September meet and 13 stakes worth $2.08 million at the fall meet.
The changes include a revival of the $100,000 President of the UAE Cup, a Grade 1 race for Arabians on Sept. 24; and a scheduling switch involving the Commonwealth Turf (now Nov. 12) and the Mrs. Revere, which will be part of the Nov. 25 Clark Handicap card for the first time.
A sizable field of fillies and mares is expected when entries are taken Sunday at Ellis Park for the $100,000 Groupie Doll Stakes.
The one-mile Groupie Doll will be run next Saturday (Aug. 6) as one of two stakes on the richest card of the 29-day meet, along with the revived Ellis Park Juvenile. As a Grade 3, the Groupie Doll is the only graded race at the western Kentucky track.
While trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is pointing Frosted to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Invitational on Aug. 6, he may have two horses to run in the Grade 1, $600,000 Woodward here at Saratoga on Sept. 3.
Watershed, a son of Bernardini who stretched out to 1 1/8 miles to win a second-level allowance Monday, could run in the Woodward, McLaughlin said. Mubtaahij, third to Effinex in the Grade 1 Suburban, also is possible, McLaughlin said.
The Woodward would potentially be a big step for Watershed, who did earn a 98 Beyer for his allowance win.
Wavell Avenue, the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner, worked a half-mile in 49.88 seconds over the Saratoga main track in preparation for the $100,000 Shine Again next Wednesday here.
Wavell Avenue could have run in Wednesday’s Grade 2 Honorable Miss, but trainer Chad Brown preferred having another week as well as another furlong.
“She came out of her last race a little tired, and she seemed like she would benefit from having an extra week,” Brown said.
The New York-bred Fish Trappe Road worked a half-mile in 48.73 seconds over the Oklahoma training track here at Saratoga on Thursday, his first work since winning the Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont Park on July 9. Jockey Luis Saez was up for the move.
Fish Trappe Road is pointing to the Grade 1 King’s Bishop on Aug. 27.
“I told Luis to go in 49 or 50,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “He went 48 and 3. He did it very easy. I think they got the last quarter in 23 and 3. The horse is doing well. We’ll probably get more serious next week. I’ll probably breeze him on the main track.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Curalina looks to rebound from a disappointing fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes on June 11 when she heads a field of just four in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga.
Curalina, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a multiple Grade 1 winner, including a victory via the disqualification of I’m a Chatterbox in the Coaching Club American Oaks last summer here.
Honor and Courage, who will have his debut in Saturday’s third race for 2-year-old maidens, has been the subject of compliments for nearly a year.
Last August, Honor and Courage was well regarded at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale when purchased by Rick Porter for $500,000. In recent months, Honor and Courage has impressed trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
“He’s a good-looking horse,” Hollendorfer said.
