Magnitude works five furlongs for G1 Whitney

• Magnitude works five furlongs for G1 Whitney
• European raider Survie ships in for G2 Glens Falls with an eye on G1 Christophe Clement Turf
• Sovereignty, Baeza breeze at Saratoga for G1 Whitney
• Renegade, third in G1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, breezes for G2 Jim Dandy pres. by Mohegan Sun
•  Rick Violette-winner Chummers coming into his own for Handal
• Abreu upbeat following Scottish Lassie’s runner-up effort in G2 Shuvee, points filly toward G1 Personal Ensign
•  Runaway Bride earns 71 BSF in late-running maiden score

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt training track as he prepares for Saratoga Race Course’s nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 4-year-old Not This Time bay completed his breeze with jockey Jose Ortiz up and to the outside of Grade 2-winner Tiztastic.

“I’m awfully happy with him,” Asmussen said. “The conditions this morning were ideal. It was a nice, cool morning. The racetrack is in great shape. He’s doing extremely well up here. Obviously, we are very excited about the Whitney.”

Magnitude is 3-for-3 as a 4-year-old and has already banked over $8.3 million this year. He launched his campaign with a win in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap in February at Oaklawn Park, and went overseas the following month to capture the Group 1 Dubai World Cup ahead of a last-out score in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 27 at Churchill Downs.

“He’s had a huge year, and he’s trained like that,” said Asmussen, who trained 2017 Whitney winner Gun Runner. 

Magnitude is 14-8-2-1 overall with in excess of $9.6 million in earnings. His lone effort at the Spa was a distant third in last year’s Grade 1 DraftKings Travers won by subsequent Horse of the Year Sovereignty.

Upcoming stakes probables for Asmussen at the Spa include Obliteration [Grade 2 Amsterdam], Chip Honcho [Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun], Booked [Grade 2 Saratoga Special], and Washton [Grade 3 Adirondack].

Asmussen added that Spendthrift Farm’s Goodall is pointed to the local Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, on August 8 Whitney Day.

The Yaupon bay was second last out in the local 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 10. There, she stalked the pace and held a two-length advantage at the stretch call before being run down by longshot Sippin Pretty. Goodall entered that spot from a win in the six-furlong Jersey Girl in June here, which was her second career stakes win following the Purple Martin in March at Oaklawn Park.

“Solid filly,” Asmussen said. “Need her spot on for the Test. I think that, hopefully the circumstances of that race will be a tighter racetrack than she caught last time. She’d benefit from that.”

***

European raider ships in for G2 Glens Falls with an eye towards G1 Christophe Clement Turf

Michael B. Tabor’s Survie will look to make her stateside debut a winning one in Thursday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls, a 12-furlong inner turf marathon for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by George Boughey, the 5-year-old Churchill mare has posted a 5-1-0-2 ledger this campaign, beginning with a win over synthetic at Lingfield in January before shipping to Saudi Arabia in February where she landed a closing third versus males in the 1 5/16-mile Group 1 Neom Turf Cup behind Royal Champion and Facteur Cheval at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Survie has drawn the inside post in a field of 11 on Thursday here with Flavien Prat named to ride as regular pilot Ryan Moore is committed to ride at Goodwood.

“She was pretty effective over a shorter trip in the Neom Turf in Saudi Arabia,” Boughey said. “She'd drawn the outside when we were in Saudi and for a filly who used to be slow away from the gate, I was keen to ride her to run well, and she showed a pretty good attitude over 10 1/2-furlongs to hit the line real good against proven European Group 1 performers.

“It was a lead up to this sort of campaign,” Boughey continued. “She's drawn a much kinder gate this time and if she can find a position in midfield I think with her proven stamina it could prove a real asset late on in the race.”

Following a fourth in the Listed Snowdrop in March at Kempton, Survie ran a distant third in the nine-furlong Group 2 Dahlia at Newmarket in May – a race Cathedral ran second in before shipping here two starts later to run fourth in the Grade 1 Dunkin’ Diana.

Last out, Survie again faced males in the 10-furlong Wolferton at Royal Ascot, finding her way through a crowd of horses and showing late interest to finish a 3 1/2-length sixth.

“I was delighted with her run at Royal Ascot. America had always been a plan for her at some point this summer and we wanted to make sure we got her in the right condition to travel at the right rime of the year,” Boughey said. “Having been a bit disappointed at Newmarket on Guineas weekend, we're stepping her up to what is probably her optimum trip of 12 furlongs.”

Boughey said a cleaner run through in the Glens Falls would be beneficial after needing racing room in the Wolferton.

“When she did commit, Ryan to his own omission, said he might have committed a little too soon but it's a difficult race for the fillies against the boys in the Wolferton at Ascot,” Boughey said. “It’s very rare you see a filly even run in that sort of race, but it looked the perfect lead up to us coming to America. Timing wise, it was perfect, and I hope that she gets a clear run around and can show herself at her best.”

Boughey indicated a good result on Thursday could propel Survie to a start versus males in the 12-furlong Grade 1, $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf on August 15 here, which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in October at Keeneland.

“We wanted to run her against her own sex initially but if she does show a liking for the track, it's a pretty straightforward decision to keep her out there and race her a couple weeks down the line. One step at a time, but this looks like a nice spot for her at the moment,” Boughey said.

Survie was purchased for $2,636,068 at last year’s Tattersalls December Mare Sale following a strong 2025 season that included a trio of group placings in the Group 2 Prix Corrida [second], Group 1 Pretty Polly [third] and Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet [second]. Trained in 2023 and 2024 by Nicolas Clement, Survie won the 2024 Group 2 Prix Malleret as part of a string of seven on-the-board finishes in 11 consecutive group stakes efforts.

“It's great to have a horse for Michael Tabor and his wife, Doreen. Survie is a Group 2-winner already and will be going to the paddocks at Coolmore,” Boughey said. “She was bought to be a racing prospect to start with and to try and make her a Grade 1 or Group 1 winner. They're enthusiastic for the game and wanted to race her on when they could have sent her to the paddocks. This looks like the right stepping stone to something like the Christophe Clement.”

Boughey noted a good exit from the starting gate will be key as Survie looks to establish position.

“We've worked pretty hard on her in the gates to get her to jump quicker and she actually jumped beautifully at Ascot and found a nice position, but Ryan was happy to take her back a little bit,” Boughey said. “We won't be giving up our draw from one, but at the same time she's stepping up in trip for the first time in a while for us. I think if she can find a nice position in midfield that would suit us well and just hope for a clear run.

“She's pretty versatile ground wise,” Boughey added. “It was wet there last weekend, but I think we'd be happy on any ground for her. Hopefully she trains nicely through the week and we can see the real Survie.”

Survie arrived in Saratoga on Thursday morning in the care of Boughey's traveling assistant Antonia Peck and cleared quarantine this morning in time to stretch her legs over the Oklahoma training track under Paul Holley.

“She’s settled in really well and seems happy. She’s had a nice gallop there – a circuit and a bit. She’ll get on the turf tomorrow and Tuesday and hopefully all goes well on Thursday,” Peck said.

If Survie does thrive in the U.S., Boughey said he would like to point towards the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, noting that in 2020 females ran one-two with Tarnawa besting the Coolmore-campaigned Magical by one length.

“The Breeders' Cup has been the end goal for a long time. She's got a rating to suggest she should be there,” Boughey said. 

Survie, out of the dual group-placed Le Havre mare Sotteville, has banked $950,565 via an 18-4-3-5 ledger.

***

Sovereignty, Baeza breeze at Saratoga for G1 Whitney

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott sent out reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and Grade 1-winner Baeza to post works over Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma dirt training track on Saturday as they prepare for the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8 here, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Sovereignty, with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky up, started his work a bit ahead of workmate Thunder Roll, who closed the gap in the turn and finished up on the outside. Sovereignty kept about a half-length in front at the wire and was timed by New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) clockers covering five furlongs in 1:01 flat, with Thunder Roll timed in 1:00 and 3/5 seconds.

“It was good,” Mott said. “Very good. Felt he was on the bridle, cruising nicely.”

The winner of last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and Grade 1 DraftKings Travers has made two starts this year, finishing second in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April and third in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster last out on June 27 at Churchill Downs. His work this week comes on the heels of a sharp five-furlong breeze last week over the Oklahoma in 1:00.25.

Earlier in the morning, NYRA clockers caught C R K Stable and Grandview Equine’s Baeza covering five furlongs in 1:01 and 1/5 in company with unraced 3-year-old Veblen.

“He was very good, very sharp, breezed well, galloped out good and came back good,” Mott said.

Baeza has put forth two solid efforts this year in his first outings for Mott after he took over training duties for the son of McKinzie following the passing of trainer John Shirreffs, who will be inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in two weeks. In his seasonal bow in May, Baeza hesitated and then lunged at the start of the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill and still rallied to be third just three-quarter-lengths behind the top pair of Corporate Power and Skippylongstocking, who were a neck apart.

Last out in the Foster, Baeza was unfortunate again at the start, breaking belatedly and running in last-of-5. He made a six-wide rally under Flavien Prat and came on late with an impressive turn-of-foot, but landed second 1 1/4 lengths shy of the victorious Magnitude, who both he and Sovereignty will face again in the Whitney.

Mott will send out sophomore colt Chief Wallabee in Wednesday’s restricted Listed Curlin presented by Casamigos here, and had the colt tune up with a three-eighths blow-out in company with Gilded Bandit Saturday morning, covering the distance in 36 and 1/5, according to NYRA clockers.

“He was good, 36 and on the bridle,” Mott said. “His did his last breeze a week ago.” 

A Kentucky homebred for Michael and Katherine Ball, Chief Wallabee was fourth in both the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. Earlier this year, he landed second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and third in the Grade 1 Florida Derby to punch his ticket to Louisville, and will now get class relief in the Curlin as he faces fellow sophomores who have not won a graded stakes.

Junior Alvarado has the call from post 4-of-6 on Wednesday.

***

Renegade, third in G1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, breezes for G2 Jim Dandy pres. by Mohegan Sun

Renegade, third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 6, completed major preparations for next Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun by breezing four furlongs on the Saratoga Race Course main track Saturday.

With Nora McCormack up, Renegade worked outside of stablemate Tuscan Sky and covered the distance in 49 2/5 seconds, according to NYRA clockers. 

“I thought it was good. It was what we were looking for,” said the colt’s Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. “He had a very strong work last week, so we were looking for more of a maintenance-type work, but I thought he did well, galloped out nicely.”

Renegade, owned by Robert and Lawana Low and Repole Stable, won the Listed Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs in February and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in March. Backed as the 5-1 second choice in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Renegade was jostled after leaving from the inside post and settled well off the pace. He commenced a rally on the far turn and weaved through traffic, angling to the far outside for the stretch run, and overtaking the tiring leaders in the final sixteenth while being passed by Golden Tempo and finishing a neck behind the winner in second.

“Who knows what would have happened if we drew differently than we did?" said Pletcher. "I think we can honestly say that post position 1 is treacherous in the Derby. Everything that we feared could happen in the first eighth of a mile, did. I thought that despite that he ran a remarkable race. But who knows? If he drew [post] 15, he might have gotten clobbered. You don’t know. We knew when we drew [post] 1 that it wasn’t what we were hoping for.”

Renegade was favored at 8-5 in the Belmont Stakes but finished a non-threatening third, 5 1/4 lengths behind the winner Golden Tempo.

“I think he is much better right now than he was going into the Belmont,” said Pletcher. “I felt like it took him a little while to bounce back from the Derby. I felt like the week leading into the Belmont we were getting there, but I don’t think we went into the Belmont as good as we went into the Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby. But I think we’re now back at his best.”

On the worktab Friday for Pletcher was 2025 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Antiquarian, who was fourth in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap presented by Subourbon Life on July 4 after stumbling at the start. Preparing for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney for 3-year-olds and up August 8, Antiquarian, who is owned by Centennial Farms, breezed four furlongs in 49.18 seconds.

“I thought it was quite good,” said Pletcher. “I think he is doing very well. [He’ll have] one more [breeze] next Saturday.”

***

Rick Violette-winner Chummers coming into his own for Handal

Trainer Ray Handal had two promising colts in his barn last year that have been workmates since their days as late yearlings on the farm. The $100,000 purchase Heeere’s Johnny and $6,000 buy Chummers may have appeared miles apart based on their sale prices, but both would wind up winning stakes races within three weeks of each other as sophomores at Saratoga Race Course, the first multiple stakes-winning Spa meet for Handal.

“It’s really funny, those two have been breezing together since they were yearlings,” Handal said. “They were at King’s Equine and have been together ever since. I had dinner with the Heeere’s Johnny crew last night and I said, ‘I told you my horse looked good!’ They said, ‘your $6,000 horse is doing just as good as our $100,000 horse from Keeneland!’ A good horse can come from anywhere, and Chummers has the heart.”

That heart was on full display Friday at the Spa when Chummers rallied from next-to-last under Flavien Prat in the $200,000 Rick Violette for New York-bred sophomores, battling on gamely to the inside of the oncoming Caroline St. Beat and getting his neck down first. He earned a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure for the victory, a two-point improvement from his win in a $55,000 claiming event on June 19 at Belmont at the Big A.

“I was like, ‘oh, second is pretty good,’ and then I said, ‘holy crap, this horse is going to win this thing!’ I was screaming for the wire,” said Handal. “I had said the whole time that if he could back that number up against good horses that he’d be in good shape. He’s a horse that was very timid in his past races and he would take himself out of it and throw his head back. Maybe the claiming race is exactly what he needed – an easy spot without a lot of adversity, and I think it played a big role in how much fight he showed. It was awesome.”

Handal said Chummers was proud of himself Saturday morning, and that upcoming local targets for the gutsy gelding could include the one-mile $150,000 Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series on August 20 or the Grade 2, $400,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame on August 7 at the same distance.

“He’s doing really good and he’s trying to bite the horses next to him like a little lunatic, so he’s full of energy and came back great,” Handal said. “I’m really happy with him. There’s the sire stakes, and then I might nominate him to the Hall of Fame. I know it’s a quick turnaround, but he kind of tells you and he’s a feel-good horse. We’ll take a peek.”

Chummers is by the late New York sire Combatant, and is the first foal produced from his unraced dam, the Colonel John mare Giant Bird. What may seem like an unassuming pedigree on the surface is actually laced with top-level talent, as his dam is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Mucho Gusto, who won over $4.4 million in his 13-start career for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. She is also a half-sister to Go With Gusto, who was Grade 1-placed on the turf for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

Additionally, Chummers’ lineage can be traced to a robust family, including Canada’s 2005 Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Peaks and Valleys and multiple graded stakes-placed prolific broodmare Alternate, dam of millionaires Alternation and Higher Power.

“I really didn’t know much about Combatant when I bought Chummers, but he was a nice horse and it’s sad he died and only has one crop. He’s got some runners,” Handal said of the sire who also produced last year’s Key Cents-winner She’s Country. “Two stakes winners in that one crop is pretty damn good.”

This summer has been one to remember for Handal, who kicked things off the right way with a stakes win from Heeere’s Johnny in the restricted Listed Saranac on July 3. That effort saw the son of Oscar Performance graduate in style, posting the deep-closing victory from last-of-11 under Jaime Rodriguez by a neck over Blinging It Back.

Heeere’s Johnny has posted two breezes over the Spa’s Oklahoma turf training track since his win, most recently covering a half-mile in 48.48 seconds on Friday. He is targeting the Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing on August 8 here.

“Awesome,” Handal said of the breeze. “He’s doing really well and we’re really excited about his progress.”

Chummers and Heeere’s Johnny have been together each step of the way in their young careers, and have already lived up to the potential they showed Handal from the beginning. Now, they have a chance to keep the good times rolling through the second half of the Spa season.

“I loved them on the farm, and I’ve loved them the whole time,” Handal said. “We’ll see where we go.”

***

Abreu upbeat following Scottish Lassie’s runner-up effort in G2 Shuvee, points filly toward G1 Personal Ensign

Trainer Jorge Abreu was full of praise on Saturday for 4-year-old Scottish Lassie, who on Friday came up a wee bit short when second to Fully Subscribed in the Grade 2 Shuvee for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at Saratoga Race Course.

Scottish Lassie, winner of the 2024 Grade 1 Frizette and 2025 Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, had made one prior start this year, an 8 1/2-length victory in a seven-furlong allowance/optional claiming event June 7 at Saratoga Race Course. In the Shuvee, Scottish Lassie stalked the pacesetter Snowyte under jockey Jose Ortiz, took a clear lead turning for home, and was reeled in late by Fully Subscribed, who prevailed by a half-length.

“I think she got a little tired towards the end,” said Abreu, who owns the daughter of McKinzie in partnership with Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, and Corms Racing Stable. “She ran that first race back [at] seven-eighths of a mile and it was an easier field. Yesterday it was a more competitive field going a mile and an eighth. I think she ran her race and Jose gave her a good ride. I think she probably will benefit from this race.”

Abreu said Scottish Lassie will be pointed toward a potential rematch with Fully Subscribed in Saratoga's Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on August 29. The Personal Ensign is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff in October at Keeneland.

“Fingers crossed she can continue doing what she was doing, [the Personal Ensign is] our next race for her,” said Abreu.

Abreu expressed gratitude for everything Scottish Lassie has accomplished to date while being excited for her future.

“For me, it’s a dream. It’s what everybody works for – to get up every day at 3:30 in the morning – to have a horse like that in the barn, a Grade 1 horse,” said Abreu. “I don’t mind losing; I know she is going to give her ‘A’ race. Yesterday, she ran her race. I thought [Fully Subscribed] was race ready, and [Scottish Lassie] wasn’t. She was a little bit short towards the end.”

***

Runaway Bride earns 71 BSF in late-running maiden score

Icon Racing Stable’s Runaway Bride closed from eighth-of-10 and seven lengths off the pace to post a thrilling three-quarter length debut score in Friday’s sixth race, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for juveniles fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Whit Beckman, the Charlatan chestnut was off a step slow and rated off of sharp splits of 21.41 seconds and 44.26 over the firm footing, angling out for the stretch run and arriving just in time under Tyler Gaffalione to score in a final time of 1:02.19. The winning effort earned a 71 Beyer Speed Figure.

“On this turf course, you want them to come out and show a little foot early,” Beckman said. “That’s been the trend of things, but that was a fast pace for 2-year-old fillies – 21 and 2 and 44 and change, I knew it was possible they’d come back. We were hoping to get a good trip around there and a nice finish, and Tyler finessed a beautiful trip through.”

Runaway Bride, a $150,000 OBS Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, is out of the Bayern mare American Model – a half-sister to dual Grade 1-winner American Gal, dual graded stakes-placed Americanize and stakes-winner Gata Brazil.

“This filly has always trained really well,” Beckman said. “We were deciding between the 5 1/2-furlongs and the mile race and we decided to go here and it worked out. She’s small but after watching her yesterday I think she’ll stretch out.”

Runaway Bride exited the race with a small cut on her left hind, but Beckman indicated the filly was in good order Saturday morning.

Upcoming options here for juvenile fillies on the turf are the 5 1/2-furlong $200,000 Bolton Landing on August 26 or the 1 1/16-mile $200,000 P.G. Johnson on September 4.

“We have over a month for both. We’ll see how she comes out of it and make that decision,” Beckman said.

Beckman noted that Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian’s Ocelli [10-0-2-4, $842,300] exited his off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell on June 18 at Monmouth Park in good order.

“He came out of it fine. He’s back out there training,” Beckman said.

Beckman said all options remain open for Ocelli, including the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 29 here.

“He’s more than paying his way and has been really good to us,” Beckman said.