Angelo Lieto Photo

Dontlookbackatall earns career-best 94 BSF in G3 Caress presented by Albany Med Health System

by NYRA Press Ofiice

• Dontlookbackatall earns career-best 94 BSF in G3 Caress presented by Albany Med Health System
• Silver Knott in fine fettle for G2 Bowling Green; Appleby runners on the turf work tab
• Warrior Johny works with G1 Whitney under consideration
• Army Officer, Ever So Sweet breeze on turf for Spa stakes engagements
• Maker starts strong with New York-bred juveniles Out On Bail, Under Who’s Radar

West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing, and Titletown Racing’s Dontlookbackatall arrived in the final strides to post a thrilling win in Thursday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Caress presented by Albany Med Health System for older fillies and mares going 5 1/2-furlongs on the Mellon turf course at Saratoga Race Course.

The Christophe Clement trainee prevailed over Danse Macabre by a neck under a cool ride by Irad Ortiz Jr. to the delight of her large ownership group. The Pennsylvania-bred Peace and Justice filly extended her win streak to three, all coming in stakes company, with the Caress marking her first graded victory. Dontlookbackatall earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, marking a new lifetime best effort, and surpassing her previous best of 91 earned in her win in the Listed License Fee on May 5 at Belmont at the Big A.

Clement was in good spirits Friday regarding the filly’s effort.

“It was an exciting win,” Clement said. “West Point brought a large crowd. It is always fun when a horse makes people excited, and they enjoy the races.”

The filly and mare turf sprint division now looks towards the $150,000 Listed Smart N Fancy on August 23 here over the same course and distance.

Clement was quick to say he would consider the race but wanted to see how the filly bounced out of this effort before making any final plans.

“I am very happy with the filly. She came back in good shape from the race,” Clement said. “I want to see her for a few days before we make any firm plans. Right now, let’s just enjoy the win.”

Clement worked two pairs of potential stakes-bound horses Friday over the Oklahoma turf training course. Working in a team were 3-year-old colts Spirit Prince and Grade 3 Gotham-winner Deterministic, the latter under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario.

Spirit Prince is under consideration for next Friday’s Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for sophomores going one mile on the grass, while Deterministic will try the Grade 1, $600,0000 Saratoga Derby Invitational, a 1 3/16-mile turf test for 3-year-olds. Spirit Prince [48.23] started the half-mile breeze ahead of Deterministic [47.80] with the two finishing up at the wire together.

“They worked well,” Clement said. “It was Deterministic’s last work before the Saratoga Derby, which is exciting. I was very happy with the work. It was a nice, easy work for the two of them.”

Avenue Niel and Group 3 winner Atomic Blonde worked a half-mile in 51.22 as a team on the grass with Avenue Niel starting out in front before Atomic Blonde moved up to her on the outside at about the quarter pole. The two finished and galloped out together to the delight of their conditioner.

Atomic Blonde is looking at a start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls a 1 1/2-mile turf marathon for older fillies and mares here on Thursday. Avenue Niel will look to try allowance optional claiming company on the same day.

“They had a very easy work today and they looked good,” Clement said.

***

Silver Knott in fine fettle for G2 Bowling Green; Appleby runners on the turf work tab

Godolphin’s Silver Knott will be in search of a hat trick of stakes wins in Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green, an 11-furlong inner turf test for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the 4-year-old Lope de Vega gelding arrives from a pair of Grade 2 wins in the U.S., capturing the 12-furlong Elkhorn in April at Keeneland ahead of a dominant score last out in the 11-furlong Man o’ War at Belmont at the Big A when 4 1/2-lengths better than returning rival Ohana Honor. The winning effort garnered a career and field-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

Silver Knott, the 4-5 morning-line favorite under returning rider Flavien Prat from post 2, will carry a field-high 124 pounds.

“Silver Knott is in great order. He’s obviously 2-from-2 in his starts this year in America in the Elkhorn and Man o’ War,” Appleby said. “He goes into the Bowling Green really well. I feel that, even without looking too closely at the field just yet, he’s obviously the one to beat, hopefully. He may have to concede a bit of weight to the others on the back of his last two Grade 2 wins, but apart from that, I can’t see much of a negative.”

Appleby boasts a 29-9-7-6 record in the U.S. this year led by Grade 1 wins with Cinderella's Dream [Belmont Oaks Invitational], Measured Time [Manhattan], and Master of The Seas [Maker’s Mark Mile]. He has a significant string here training out of Godolphin’s Greentree facility located adjacent to Saratoga Race Course and many of that star-studded group breezed over the Oklahoma training turf Friday under the watchful eye of Appleby’s traveling assistant Alex Merriam.

Eternal Hope, a 4-year-old Teofilo filly pointing to Thursday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls, worked five-eighths in 1:00.60 in company with Group 2-winner English Rose.

“Eternal Hope led English Rose into it,” Merriam said. “She [Eternal Hope] seems in good form. She's gone nicely there, and we've been very happy with her training. It's her first run back from her break. She had a bit of quiet time back in England and then shipped over here. We're happy with her.”

Eternal Hope has made her last two outings at Belmont at the Big A, taking the 11-furlong Grade 3 Jockey Club Invitational in September and the nine-furlong Grade 2 Sands Point last out on October 14. She will return from a long layoff in the Glens Falls, a 12-furlong inner turf test for older fillies and mares here.

English Rose, a 4-year-old Frankel filly, captured the Group 2 Balanchine in February at Meydan Racecourse. She was a closing second to Beaute Cachee in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley in April at Keeneland ahead of an off-the-board effort as the mutuel favorite last out on June 7 here in the Grade 1 New York presented by Rivers Casino.

“She was a bit keen [last out],” Merriam said. “She can over race a bit, but she looked better there today.”

English Rose is targeting the 1 3/16-mile Grade 2 Beverly D. on August 10 at Colonial Downs.

Ottoman Fleet, a 5-year-old Sea The Stars gelding, worked a half-mile in 49.49 in company with Mischief Magic, a 4-year-old Exceed And Excel gelding.

“It was a straightforward half on the bridle. Nothing too fancy as most of them have entries fairly soon,” Merriam said. “We just wanted to get on the turf - it's going to be fairly warm next week, so we thought we'd try and get on the turf before it gets too quick."

Ottoman Fleet, a multiple group/graded-stakes winning millionaire, was making his second breeze back since taking the Grade 2 Wise Dan on June 29 at Churchill Downs in an effort that followed a score in the Grade 3 Arlington at the Louisville oval.

“He's in good form. We're very happy with him. Kieren Fallon was riding him this morning,” Merriam said of Ottoman Fleet.

The talented bay, who captured the Grade 2 Fort Marcy last year at Belmont Park, could point to the Grade 1, $500,000 FanDuel Fourstardave on August 10 here which offers a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile in November at Del Mar. However, with talented stablemate Master of The Seas pointing to the Fourstardave, it’s possible that Ottoman Fleet could try the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on September 14 which also offers a 'Win and You're In’ berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile.

“Charlie is coming in next week, so we'll see what he wants to do, but very happy with him and he's in good form,” Merriam said.

Godolphin’s Irish homebred Mischief Magic made a wide rally to finish fifth last out in the Grade 1 Jaipur presented by Resolute Racing on June 8 here when 4 3/4-lengths back of course record setting Cogburn.

Mischief Magic, who worked in blinkers, will hope to turn the tables on that rival in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Troy, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older horses.

“He's worked in blinkers a couple of times and looked a bit sharper when he had a little bit of a blow on the dirt [not a timed workout] with blinkers on Wednesday,” Merriam said.

Cinderella’s Dream, a sophomore daughter of Shamardal, was last seen closing impressively under William Buick to capture the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A. She worked a half-mile in 50.55 in company with Beautiful Love, a 3-year-old Siyouni filly last seen winning a conditions race over one-mile of firm footing on February 16 at Meydan.

Cinderella’s Dream, who Merriam said “worked well” is targeting next Friday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational, but is also nominated to the Beverly D.

Merriam said Beautiful Love does not have a specific target just yet.

“She's [Beautiful Love] has gone nicely again. She seems well. She has a few options later at the back end of the meet here,” Merriam said.

Musical Act, an Irish homebred son of Dark Angel, put in his final work for next Friday’s one-mile Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame by covering a half-mile in 48 flat in in company with defending Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile champ Master of The Seas.

“Musical Act has been working nicely. He's been leading Master of The Seas in a lot of his works. If he can travel along with him, he's obviously doing something right,” Merriam said.

Musical Act finished a prominent fifth last out in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Transylvania on April 5 at Keeneland, while Master of The Seas, on target for the Fourstardave, captured the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile on April 12 at the Lexington oval in his seasonal debut.

Merriam said Master of The Seas appreciates spacing between races.

“That’s always been the way,” Merriam said. “Charlie is working back from Breeders' Cup - that would be the aim - and try to plot his best way into that. He's a 6-year-old now, so just work back from that really.”

Legend of Time, a Sea The Stars sophomore colt, finished third as the betting favorite last out in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A. He worked a half-mile in 48.48 in company with Grade 1-winner Nations Pride.

Merriam said he was pleased with the effort from Legend of Time.

“He's fit and well. He's gone nicely there, so he ought to be a pretty live shot for the Derby next week,” Merriam said.

Legend of Time will look to make amends in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

Nations Pride, who ran third behind Silver Knott in the Grade 2 Man o’ War and second behind stablemate Measured Time in the Grade 1 Manhattan on June 8 here, is slated to make his next start in the 10-furlong Grade 1, Arlington Million on August 10 at Colonial Downs.

“We're very happy with him. He seems well and we’re looking forward to seeing him go down there. He'll be a live shot down there,” Merriam said. “We're hoping Measured Time is a nice horse and he had some good horses behind him. If he runs to that level of form, I think he'll take a bit of beating. The Silver Knott form wasn't too bad the time before that.”

Nations Pride has banked in excess of $2.8 million through a 17-9-3-2 record.

***

Warrior Johny works with G1 Whitney under consideration

Rigney Racing’s four-time winner Warrior Johny had his first work back since a strong nine-furlong allowance win on July 11 at Saratoga Race Course when covering a half-mile in 48.16 seconds Friday over the Spa main track.

Trained by Phil Bauer, the son of Cairo Prince worked in company with promising sophomore filly Two Sharp in an eventful work that saw the latter bear out from the inside of Warrior Johny and caused the work to appear a bit choppy in the lane. Despite the jostling, Bauer said he was pleased with the fitness and composure Warrior Johny showed.

“I thought it was a good work on his part, but his counterpart was making it difficult on us this morning,” said Bauer. “She was lugging out, which is new for us. We probably would have liked a little more of a visually polished work, but nonetheless, he’s a great breeze horse and he helped to hold her in a bit. He cooled out great and other than how it looked, I think we accomplished what we wanted.”

Warrior Johny holds a 2-for-3 record at the Spa, including his last-out allowance score by four lengths that garnered a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, and a similar nine-furlong win in 2022 that saw him dominate in prominent fashion by 8 1/2 lengths and secure a career-best 99 Beyer.

Bauer said the 5-year-old gelding’s fondness for Saratoga has led him to consider giving him a try in the nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 3, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

“We’re flirting with the idea of the Whitney and that’s 23 days from his last race, so with the type of race he ran, he’s where he needs to be and we’re just trying to keep him happy,” said Bauer of the dark bay’s fitness. “You’re never going to find an easy spot, but we’re just making sure we make the right decision. His two best races are here, and that’s one of the major things we keep coming back to.”

As for Rigney Racing’s Two Sharp, Bauer said the daughter of Twirling Candy may be emulating her name as she prepares to make her second start after a runner-up effort on debut in June at Churchill Downs.

“She’s very talented and certainly something went amiss this morning, but we’ll sort her out,” said Bauer. “She had a great gate drill last week and didn’t do any of that stuff, so I don’t know if maybe she got confused about not going to the gate.”

Two Sharp was a $925,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Double Sharp, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Vigilante.

***

Army Officer, Ever So Sweet breeze on turf for Spa stakes engagements

Dual Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Brad Cox sent out a pair of stakes contenders to breeze over Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma turf training track Friday as Army Officer [49 flat] and Ever So Sweet [49.65] completed half-mile solo efforts over the firm footing.

Qatar Racing’s Army Officer was last seen winning a one-mile optional claiming tilt on June 7 here during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, rallying from eight lengths off the pace under Frankie Dettori to score by one length after drifting in a touch in the final sixteenth. The son of Not This Time is likely pointing to a start in the Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame going one mile on August 2 here.

“He worked good, and he’s been here for about two months now. He’s handled it very well, nice and smooth. Just maintenance,” said Cox. “His race was good, and he stepped up and ran against good horses. Frankie really liked him, and we are expecting him to run big.”

Gregory Hoffman, R.T Racing Stable and Clay Sherer’s Ever So Sweet was a last-out seventh in the 5 1/2-furlong Listed Coronation Cup on July 12 here when stumbling at the start and rushing up to lead the field of seven through the first two points of call. She faltered when asked for more by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and faded to be defeated three lengths.

Cox said the daughter of Calyx breezed with good energy Friday and is likely pointing to the 5 1/2-furlong Galway on August 10.

“She was really good and broke off a touch slowly, but she fired home, and I had her in 49 and one. She galloped out well and was bucking coming off the track,” said Cox. “She was well-held, and I think she’s ready for the next one. We’ll get one more work into her.

“She stumbled in the last race and her speed is definitely her weapon. She couldn’t open up on them, so I think that hurt her a bit,” Cox added. “We’ll take a shot next time and try to break and run them off their feet.”

Ever So Sweet looks to notch her first stakes score after graduating at second asking in September at Belmont at the Big A and winning her seasonal bow in May over the same course when defeating elders by four lengths in a six-furlong allowance tilt.

***

Maker starts strong with New York-bred juveniles Out On Bail, Under Who’s Radar

Entering Friday’s card, trainer Mike Maker is tied for second in the trainer standings with seven wins at Saratoga Race Course. He has posted a 7-2-7 record from 43 starts which puts him four back of meet-leader Chad Brown [11 wins] and tied with Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher in the two-spot.

Maker’s hot start has been highlighted by a pair of New York-bred juvenile colts Out On Bail and Under Who’s Radar winning impressively in the past week.

Out On Bail, a gray from the first crop of Tiz the Law, successfully switched to the turf, graduating at third-asking in a 5 1/2-furlong state-bred maiden on Wednesday here. He was previously second to Phoebeinwonderland in a five-furlong dirt sprint in May and third to next-out Grade 3 Sanford-winner Mo Plex over muddy footing in June– both under Manny Franco at Belmont at the Big A.

“He was good. I liked that he took the grass,” said Maker. “He will probably point to a turf sprint at Kentucky Downs.”

Out On Bail, out of the winning Street Cry mare Judge Lee, entered the race off a 46.75 second bullet half-mile work on July 19 over the main track, fastest-of-69 workers at the distance. Wednesday, he showed that same sharpness, attending the pace and staving off the late bid of Leon Blue to prevail by a half-length.

“He has been sharp, but that work he did it very well in-hand,” Maker said. “We don’t pay a whole lot of attention to the times.”

Maker said the surface switch was based on the feedback of Franco. Irad Ortiz, Jr. was aboard for Wednesday’s score for owners Case Chambers, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher.

“Manny didn’t think he liked the main track. He didn’t like the mud,” said Maker. “He recommended we put him on the turf, so we tried it. And then plus, we tried to split up Under Who’s Radar and him.”

Under Who’s Radar, out of the winning Empire Maker mare Comme Chez Soi, went gate-to-wire to win a 5 1/2-furlong state-bred maiden by 3 1/2 lengths on debut last Friday on the main track. The Violence dark bay completed the course in 1:04.70 over the fast dirt, earning an 81 Beyer Speed Figure in victory.

“It was very impressive. He touted himself since Day One and didn’t disappoint,” said Maker. “I’m going to point him to the Funny Cide.”

The state-bred six-furlong $200,000 Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital is on August 25 here. The Maker-conditioned and eventual Grade 1-placed The Wine Steward won last year’s edition.

Maker will look to continue his strong start to the meet in some upcoming stakes action at the Spa, headlined by William Butler and WinStar Farm’s graded stakes winning New York-bred My Mane Squeeze in the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster on August 3.

She was a last-out fourth in the nine-furlong Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn won by Thorpedo Anna on June 7 here.

“The Test,” Maker said of My Mane Squeeze’s next race, adding that it is the distance of her two-length victory in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Eight Belles on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Out of the three-time winning Speightstown mare In Spite of Mama, My Mane Squeeze is a half-sister to the Maker-trained Butler homebred Rotknee, who is graded stakes-placed. She holds an impressive 9-5-0-2 record with $634,110 in earnings.

Maker wasn’t as certain of the next destination for Three Diamonds Farm’s Grade 3-winning Kentucky homebred Pin Up Betty. The sophomore Constitution filly was a last-out fourth in the 1 3/16-mile Grade 1, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A.

There, she stalked the pace set by Segesta and She Feels Pretty, who got second and third, respectively, behind the closing Charlie Appleby-trainee Cinderella's Dream.

Maker said the Grade 2, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational at the same distance here on August 2 is under consideration, along with the nine-furlong Grade 3, $400,000 Pucker Up on August 4 at Ellis Park.

“Either there or Ellis Park, waiting on the owner.” said Maker. “She ran a great race, just got out run.”

Pin Up Betty, out of the graded stakes-placed Into Mischief mare I’m Betty G, graduated at seventh asking going nine furlongs in May at Churchill ahead of a win over the same course and distance in the Grade 3 Regret on June 1.