G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational: Harrington coming in hot

• G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational: Harrington coming in hot
• Far Bridge works for G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer
• Doc Sullivan earns career-best 98 BSF in John Morrissey score
• Kentucky Derby-winner Mystik Dan breezes on turf at Saratoga
• Correas expects Utah Beach to rise with the tide in G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer
• Howard Wolowitz, Bentornato work for D’Angelo at Saratoga
• Mullikin back on the tab at Saratoga, Meringue tries dirt in G3 Adirondack

Respected as one of Europe’s most adept conditioners, Ireland’s dual-purpose trainer extraordinaire Jessica Harrington goes into Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational with her best-ever chance to achieve a coveted stateside Grade 1 when she saddles 7/5 morning-line favorite Hotazhell in the 1 3/16-miles Mellon turf affair.

For the third consecutive year, per a partnership between the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Moonee Valley Racing Club, the race’s winner will receive an automatic berth into the prestigious Group 1, AUD$6 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate, set to take place on October 25. State of Rest captured the 2021 Saratoga Derby and went on to win the Cox Plate.

A Group 1 winner at two by top-notch stallion Too Darn Hot, Hotazhell could become Harrington’s ‘lucky number 13’ as her baker’s dozen-completing attempt at a North American graded stakes. Ten of her 12 tries thus far have been at the top level, with her best results coming from 2019 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf fourth Albigna and 2020 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf fourth Cadillac. The latter would return the following year to finish ninth in Harrington’s lone attempt at the Saratoga Derby, giving the multiple Group 1-winning conditioner in Ireland, France and England her lone Spa experience.

“Cadillac was a different horse; a bit of a hot horse and very keen, while this horse is more laidback and I think that helps him a lot,” Harrington said. “I think he also comes into the race a better-class horse than Cadillac, as well. I think he could be the best we’ve brought over [since Albigna], or at least I hope so. He’s not too big and he’s a bonnie little horse who seems to have settled in very well. He isn’t used to seeing all the horses going every direction in the mornings, but other than that, he’s been great.”

A dual Olympic-qualifying three-day eventer in the past, Harrington is renowned globally as a pure horseman who knows her stock inside and out, while never being afraid to allow them time or - on the other hand - ask them the big class questions against the best of their generation. The confidence-laden latter has been on blast with Hotazhell, as the 2024 Group 1 Futurity Trophy winner jumped into the deep end in his sophomore bow in May’s Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas against Europe’s best sophomore miler, Field of Gold, finishing third. He was then brought back about six weeks later to take on Europe’s best middle-distance runners in a brackish edition of the Group 1 Eclipse, finishing a respectable 3 1/2-length fifth behind familiar foe Delacroix.

From the immediate family of Ouija Board’s great rival and five-time Group 1 winner Alexander Goldrun, Hotazhell has shown said familial grit in defeat, as well as victory. His win over Delacroix in October’s Futurity Trophy by a nose came after a thrilling quarter-mile battle, while his other two stakes victories, the Group 3 Tyros and Group 2 Beresford, came after engaging and ultimately mercilessly grinding away his foes. For American racing fans seeking some level of familiar form, he was a game and begrudging second to 2024 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf champ Henri Matisse last August, re-engaging that foe after being passed and catching the eye in second.

“I think American racing should do for him,” Harrington said. “He’s raced around a bend at The Curragh, Sandown and Leopardstown, so I don’t think that will worry him. He’s very adaptable.

“In the Eclipse, it didn’t go to plan at all,” she continued. “What happened was there was meant to be a pacemaker in Delacroix and he fell out of the stalls [failed to break effectively] and the French horse [Sosie] and myself were making the running and that wasn’t the plan. I really liked the way he stayed on at the end. He’s got plenty of fight. He likes to get into a fight, actually, and in Europe horses can come a little wide on him [where he cannot engage], so I think he will like it here where the horses will be a little closer to him. I would love a bit of cover for him, it’s just whether I’m going to get it or not. I’m actually quite happy I’m drawn out in seven, so at least we can decide where we go.”

As a whole, Harrington is enjoying the experience of being in Saratoga and soaking up the environment during one of its most intense weeks; a place where people who sometimes like their horses more than people can find that happy medium.

“It’s lovely here - we got the rain yesterday and today is beautiful and I look forward to seeing the horses,” Harrington concluded. “It would be brilliant - absolutely brilliant - if we could win this race. We’re always striving to do better and get better and to win here would be just lovely.”

Shane Foley will ride Hotazhell from post seven of nine.

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Far Bridge works for G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer

LSU Stables’ multiple Grade 1-winner Far Bridge breezed five furlongs in 1:02 1/5 seconds on Friday over the Oklahoma turf training track, according to NYRA Clockers, towards a title defense in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer, a 1 1/2-mile inner turf test for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

The Sword Dancer awards a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Del Mar – a race Far Bridge was ninth in last year at odds of 7-1.

Trained by Miguel Clement, the much-the-best last-out winner of the local 11-furlong Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 12 worked in company with dual graded stakes-winner Tawny Port, who is also nominated to the Sword Dancer.

“That was a good work,” said Clement. “That was a good solid work. We are looking forward to his race. He is training great. He loves it here. I know it will be a good field, there’s two Godolphins [Nations Pride, El Cordobes] that came over, but nevertheless, we are still bullish on him.

“We do believe he’s the best turf horse in America in that division,” Clement continued.

The 5-year-old English Channel bay has the wins to defend that statement, flexing his class at longer distances including Grade 1 scores traveling 12-furlongs last year in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer in August on firm Spa turf and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic one month later on good Belmont at the Big A green.

In Grade 1s, he is 8-3-0-3 with an additional score in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational as a sophomore at Belmont Park. He has banked in excess of $2.3 million via a 18-9-3-3 overall record.

“He’s so talented,” said Clement. “He seems to excel in turf marathon events. He is versatile. He’s won Grade 1s on the lead and can handle any ground. He won the Joe Hirsch in a bog from last. He can have tactical speed if need be. He is quick out of the gate if you want him to be. He has a great turn-of-foot. He is amazingly versatile.”

Far Bridge’s Sword Dancer triumph last year came for the late Christophe Clement, who won the event a record five times [Honor Glide, 1999; Winchester, 2011; Gufo, 2021-22; and Far Bridge, 2024].

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Doc Sullivan earns career-best 98 BSF in John Morrissey score

Tristar Farm’s Doc Sullivan returned from a more than four-month layoff to post a dramatic head score in Thursday’s $150,000 John Morrissey, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-breds 3-years-old and up, at Saratoga Race Course.

The 4-year-old Solomini dark bay, who was trained through his first 14 starts by Mike Miceli, enjoyed a freshening in Kentucky after a fourth-place finish in an open optional-claimer in March at Aqueduct Racetrack.

He trained into his return with the John Ortiz stable in Kentucky and proved to be resilient when fresh in Thursday’s test under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, overtaking Grade 1-placed The Wine Steward with a valiant lunge for the wire to stop the clock in a final time of 1:22.69 on the muddy and sealed track. The winning effort registered a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

Daniel Ortiz, brother and assistant to John Ortiz, said he was proud of the effort from the hard-trying colt, who picked up his first win since taking the state-bred Mike Lee over a sloppy and sealed surface here last June.

“Coming off the layup you never know what a horse is going to do physically because they're lacking a race, but I think that was just a perfectly-timed ride from Joel,” Ortiz said. “You can tell the horse was getting a little tired but when he caught up to that horse in front of him, that's when his heart kicked in.

“He's an alpha through-and-through and he showed it there,” Ortiz added. “He eyed that horse down and ran right past him - and that horse ran a good race as well, we just got up there right in time.”

Ortiz said he was pleased to end up on the right side of a win photo after Tristar Farm homebred Valentine Crusader landed a nose second to Toga Twist on July 6 here in a state-bred maiden tilt.

“We have a very promising 2-year-old for Tristar that just got beat by a whisker here in a maiden special weight - that one hurt, but that's horse racing,” Ortiz said. “It can go up and down. We're just enjoying the high right now. It’s always nice to win a race here at Saratoga - to get our first winner of the meet in a stakes race is a special thing.”

The win had added meaning for the barn as owner Glenn Lostritto, son of the late Joe Lostritto, was onsite Thursday to celebrate with family and friends.

The family connection is one that the 26-year-old Ortiz said he can relate to, working side-by-side with his older brother as well as his sister, Karla, who handles social media duties, and having grown up in a racing family where his father, Carlos Ortiz, was once a jockey in New York.

“I've been on the clock since I was born,” said Ortiz, with a laugh. “It’s a family operation here.”

And the considerable hours are made all the more meaningful with a win.

“I ride Doc every morning. I gave him his first couple breezes up here and then passed the keys to Joel. We call it the Ortiz weight training. I'm 150 pounds if I miss breakfast,” said Ortiz, with a laugh.

Ortiz said even Doc Sullivan was still relishing the moment Friday morning.

“He went out for his daily roll in the sandpit, and he loved it. He ate well, he's happy and on his toes,” Ortiz said.

Doc Sullivan, bred by Seamus Coughlan, was purchased for $59,000 at the 2023 OBS June 2-Year-Olds and HRA Sale. He has banked $497,090 via a 15-5-5-2 ledger.

Ortiz noted that Four G Racing’s Kentucky homebred Reining Flowers is in good order following her neck third here on July 26 in the Grade 3 Lake George presented by Surfside traveling 1 1/16-miles over firm turf for sophomore fillies.

With Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, the Midnight Storm dark bay saved ground from the inside post and made a strong inside bid down the lane with the eventual winner, Daisy Flyer, rallying further out on the course in pursuit of pacesetting Classic Q. A blanket finish saw Daisy Flyer get up to win by a neck with Classic Q holding place honors by a nose.

“It was tough to lose by that much, especially when the next jump you're ahead of the leader,” said Ortiz of the first graded placing for Reining Flowers. “That's how it goes - we couldn't have asked for a better ride from Johnny or a better effort from the filly. She came out of it well. Now we'll pick our race and try again.”

The next logical local option is the one-mile Grade 2, $400,000 Lake Placid on August 23, but Ortiz said no decision has been made as of yet.

Ortiz also indicated that WSS Racing’s Brightwork could test her 3-for-3 record at the Spa in the Grade 1, $500,000 Resorts World Casino Ballerina, a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on August 23. The Ballerina offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Del Mar.

Brightwork captured the Grade 3 Adirondack and Grade 1 Spinaway here as a 2-year-old. Last August, she returned from a more than nine-month layoff following a sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to win the Spa’s Grade 3 Prioress by a neck over subsequent dual graded stakes-winner Two Sharp.

The 4-year-old Outwork bay, last seen finishing eighth in the Grade 2 Chicago on June 21 at Churchill Downs, has worked back twice over the Saratoga main track, including a half-mile in 48.18 seconds July 28.

“She's a horse for Saratoga,” Ortiz said. “She's telling us she has something special in her and if there's ever a place to run good it's here. She’s grown so much and loves training up here. She's telling us that she might be ready.”

Brightwork, bred in Kentucky by Winnstay, Inc. and H. Allen Poindexter, has banked $660,989 through a 10-5-0-1 ledger.

***

Kentucky Derby-winner Mystik Dan breezes on turf at Saratoga

Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby, III, and Valley View Farm’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner Mystik Dan took to the grass for the first time on Friday over Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma turf training track, with NYRA clockers timing him through a solo five-eighths breeze in 1:02 flat with Luis Rivera, Jr. up.

“Really pleased,” trainer Ken McPeek said at his Saratoga barn. “I always wanted to try him on the turf, and he looked like he loved it. We’re contemplating some options and this is a horse that’s done everything we’ve ever asked him to do. I think he’ll relish it; it’s just a matter of finding the right spot at the right time.”

The 4-year-old son of Goldencents was last seen finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 28 at Churchill Downs, the site of his Kentucky Derby coup last year over subsequent Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Sierra Leone, as well as a 1 1/4-length score in the Grade 3 Blame two starts back.

Mystik Dan is out of the Colonel John mare Ma’am, whose four wins included one on turf in 2017 at Ellis Park. Ma’am is a half-sister to Renaissance Art, who was Group 3-placed going 12 furlongs on turf in Hong Kong, and Revamp, who was placed on synthetic going the same distance in England. His second dam Lady Siphonica is a half-sister to Rose of Summer, dam of Laragh – a Grade 1-winner on synthetic and dual Listed stakes-winner on turf – and multiple turf graded stakes-winner Summer Front.

Goldencents has also seen his progeny have success on turf, led by dual Grade 1-winner Going to Vegas, along with multiple graded/group stakes-winners Phantom Currency and Wildman Jack, and Grade 3-winner That’s Right.

McPeek said he is still evaluating options for Mystik Dan, with an eye on the lucrative Kentucky Downs meet.

“There’s a race down there that I think will be ideal for him, so right now that’s what we’re kind of leaning towards,” McPeek said.

Mystik Dan holds a career record of 14-4-3-1 with more than $4.4 million in total purse earnings. He was bred in Kentucky by Gasaway, Hamby and 4 G Racing.

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Correas expects Utah Beach to rise with the tide in G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer

If Ignacio Correas declares a horse in a Grade 1, he does so with purpose, no matter what the odds may say. In fact, in the four American top-level affairs he has annexed, his runners have gone off at 9/1, 8/1, 7/1 and 9/2 - so it is no surprise that the Argentinian master conditioner will be taken seriously when he saddles Utah Beach in the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer next Saturday.

Entering off a troubled seventh as the 2/1 second choice in the Listed Chorleywood on June 14 - in which the eventual winner slammed into his hind end at a crucial leveling-out point at the top of the stretch, disheveling the 5-year-old gelding and deflating his rally - the son of 2007 Sword Dancer runner-up and subsequently crowned Champion Turf Horse English Channel has proven that when given the unhindered opportunity, he can be exceptional. Such has been evident twice this season in graded stakes company, taking April’s Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland by a head and May’s Grade 3 Louisville at Churchill Downs by 1 1/2-lengths.

 

“He was very impressive at Keeneland and Churchill, especially at Keeneland where he is based, but I think he is going to run big at Saratoga if he doesn’t have trouble like last time,” Correas said. “The horse will keep running; the further the distance, the better with him, from a mile and a half to two miles - he can handle that and is a better horse at those distances.

“He has had a couple of bad trips, but that’s racing, especially turf racing,” Correas continued. “When you run a horse, sometimes you get bad trips, especially in America where we are running at shorter trips more often and it gets complicated, but I really like this horse, and I think he is still improving. My hope is that he develops to have the quality of a horse who can be competitive in the Breeders’ Cup. Of course, that’s always your hope, that you can have a horse good enough for big days like the Breeders’ Cup and Dubai World Cup.”

The gray charge is out of the Lasting Approval mare My Own Story, who has produced three significant earners: Utah Beach [$689,535], Dueling Grounds Derby winner My Afleet [$394,612] and Grade 3 American Derby winner Real Story [$394,592]. Per Correas, the potential she passed on was often in direct proportion to petulance.

“I have a lot of help with him because I trained his brothers, so he didn’t have an option to be too tough because I got him and as soon as he came as a 2-year-old, we knew him and what he would try to do,” Correas reflected. “Real Story was very difficult to train and just a very tough horse in general. Utah Beach is tough, but not as tough as that, thanks to knowing the family. Luckily, he is very easy to ride in the race, you can put him wherever you want, but he is very tough in the morning. He just wants to go full speed. That said, he is also very talented. I like his chances, and I know he is good enough to do well in this race, but we have a long way, still.”

Correas confirmed that Utah Beach will leave Keeneland on Tuesday and arrive Wednesday morning at Saratoga. Jose Ortiz, who was aboard last year’s Grade 1 New York winner Didia for the barn, is expected to take the mount.

***

Howard Wolowitz, Bentornato work for D’Angelo at Saratoga

Abraham Gold’s Howard Wolowitz posted his third work since a five-month respite when covering five-eighths in 1:01.88 on Thursday over Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma dirt training track for trainer Jose D’Angelo.

The son of Munnings won the Grade 1 Franklin Simpson in September at Kentucky Downs and is eyeing a return to the unique southern Kentucky racetrack for the Grade 1 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint on August 30.

“He worked pretty good and we are looking forward to working again next week. The plan is to run at Kentucky Downs on August 30,” D’Angelo said.

Howard Wolowitz was last seen finishing off-the-board in the Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia, and returned to the work tab on July 13 to post a three-furlong bullet in 34.47 over the Gulfstream Park Tapeta. He returned with another bullet on July 20 when covering a half-mile in 44.36 over the same surface ahead of his move north to the Spa.

“We sent him to the farm and he had some strong gallops there to get him ready for his workouts at Gulfstream,” D’Angelo said. “I galloped him a lot at Palm Meadows to prepare for that. He worked in company both works, very good. He improved so much from the layoff, growing and maturing. He’s stronger and looks so good.”

D’Angelo sent out Leon King Stable Corp.’s Bentornato for a sharp half-mile work on Friday over the Spa main track, with the 4-year-old son of Valiant Minister covering the distance in a bullet 45.01. He has posted a series of breezes at Palm Meadows and Gulfstream Park as he works his way back from a layoff dating to a runner-up finish to Straight No Chaser in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar.

“He worked so good today and came back OK,” D’Angelo said. “The ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, so we’ll probably have him ready [to race] around the last week of the meet here. We don’t have a race picked yet. I want to see him more ready and then figure it out.”

Bentornato won a trio of stakes as a juvenile at Gulfstream, and posted a strong sophomore campaign that included a third to Forever Young in the Group 3 Saudi Derby and a win in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing ahead of his half-length defeat at the Breeders’ Cup.

D’Angelo also noted that stakes-winner Gabaldon, away since a third in the Texas Glitter in March at Gulfstream, is targeting the Grade 3, $175,000 Mahony on August 10 here, while Listed stakes-winner Spirited Boss is resting on the farm and Grade 3-placed Cloe is targeting the Grade 2 Music City on September 6 at Kentucky Downs.

***

Mullikin back on the tab at Saratoga, Meringue tries dirt in G3 Adirondack

WinStar Farm’s Grade 1-winner Mullikin breezed a half-mile in 49.40 seconds on Thursday over the Spa main track in his first work back since a second in the Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 19 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, the 5-year-old Violence dark bay worked solo with reigning Eclipse Award-winning rider Flavien Prat aboard.

“He did good and we weren’t looking for anything too fancy. I wasn’t sure how much rain we were going to get, and I didn’t want to be pushed to the weekend, so we let him cruise an easy half on his own,” said Brisset. “Flavien was very happy with him and he looks like he came out of it very good.”

Mullikin was defeated 2 1/2 lengths last out by Book’em Danno, the same rival who beat him 1 1/4 lengths in his prior start in the Grade 3 True North here. Nonetheless, Brisset said Mullikin is possible for a title defense in the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Forego on August 23 here.

That race offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar – a race Mullikin was third in last year to Straight No Chaser.

“It’s possible. I’m not committing us to it yet,” said Brisset. “It’s 0-2 against Book’em Danno, and I don’t know what they’re doing with him, but we are the defending champ in the Forego and he wouldn’t have to ship this time. I kept him there on purpose and maybe not having to ship and having run there a couple times might make a small difference.

“He has run three times this year and we have a fresh horse who looks like he’s bouncing off it in the right way. Maybe we see the best of him in the next one,” Brisset added.

Elements Racing’s Meringue is tabbed at morning line odds of 10-1 in Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Adirondack, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies here.

Meringue, a Frosted gray, graduated in her lone start when closing from last-of-8 to win a five-furlong maiden turf sprint at Churchill Downs. She broke outwardly from the inside post and was eight lengths back early, showing a nice turn-of-foot in the lane under Luan Machado, and will have Flavien Prat aboard Sunday from post 5.

“She didn’t show speed first out, but I’m looking forward to having her a little closer than as far back as she was first out,” said Brisset. “We’re excited to have her on the dirt and to see what we’ve got.”

Brisset said Meringue’s debut was on turf for optimal scheduling.

“We always need a race for our horses,” said Brisset. “The mentality is to get them fit enough where they can [move forward] and sometimes the talent takes over and then you have what happened with Meringue. I ran her on the grass because that was the only race available at the time.”

Brisset figures Meringue will be off the pace again and has prepared accordingly. The race features 2-for-2 Mythical, a speedy winner of the Listed Tremont versus males tabbed at 4-5 on the morning-line.

“We’ve got two strong works right off the bat and galloped her behind horses to get the kickback and she worked through it nicely, never lifted her head or anything,” said Brisset. “She shipped in on Wednesday and it looks like she settled in good. We schooled her today and she was good, she galloped on the main and it looks like everything is in place.”

Bred in Kentucky by Mesingw Farm, Meringue is out of the Street Sense mare Catbrier, and her second dam is dual Grade 3-placed Kiawah Cat.