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Fierceness sets sights on G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic after G1 DraftKings Travers triumph

by NYRA Press Ofiice

• Fierceness sets sights on G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic after G1 DraftKings Travers triumph
• G1 DraftKings Travers runner-up Thorpedo Anna looks to build HOTY campaign
• G1 DraftKings Travers remains elusive prize for meet-leading trainer Chad Brown
• Far Bridge secures second top-level score in G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer
• G1 Ballerina winner Society, G1 Forego runner-up Gun Pilot on target for Breeders’ Cup
• G1-placed Ohana Honor completes sharp breeze; Cugino ready for Nashville Derby
• Honor Marie to return as a 4-year-old; Papiamento points to G2 Bourbon
• Idiomatic likely for G1 Spinster en route to G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff
• Arthur’s Ride works for G1 Jockey Club Gold

In 2011, owner Mike Repole teamed up with eventual Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher at Saratoga Race Course to land the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 1 Travers double with Stay Thirsty. 13 years later, the dynamic duo again accomplished the feat with Fierceness, a Repole homebred grandson of Stay Thirsty, who notched a tenacious score in Saturday’s $1.25 million DraftKings Travers.

“I think it’s really special to Mike, with Stay Thirsty and [dam] Nonna Bella,” Pletcher said Sunday morning at his Saratoga barn, noting Fierceness was in good order after his victory. “I think that owners love having good horses always, but I’ve seen with Mike and others as well that there’s something about having a homebred that makes it even more special.”

Fierceness, the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, has shown a marked return to form this summer in his Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun score on July 27 and his narrow Travers victory by a head over the filly Thorpedo Anna. He notched both victories with newfound stalking tactics under regular Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez after securing his three other career victories with frontrunning trips, including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November at Santa Anita Park and the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March at Gulfstream Park.

Pletcher said Fierceness has now demonstrated to the public the kind of ability he always knew the colt possessed.

“I think he’s shown his versatility now,” Pletcher said. “In the Jim Dandy, he was able to kind of stalk and that allowed Johnny to have confidence that he could do that, and he could ride him accordingly in the Travers. I think all of that is just experience on his part and continuing to physically and mentally develop.”

Along with patience in his races, Fierceness has also benefitted from patience from his veteran conditioner, who resisted the temptation to run in the local Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in June and instead waited for the Jim Dandy after Fierceness ran a disappointing 15th as the favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May.

While the colt may have appeared on the surface to have exited the Derby no worse for wear, the expert eye of Pletcher could tell his pupil was not acting quite the same after his first post-Derby breeze.

“It wasn’t a bad work, and I think if you didn’t know the horse really well, you wouldn’t say, ‘oh, that was not a good work.’ It was just not what we’re accustomed to seeing from him,” Pletcher recalled. “I think the key to it [return to form] was skipping the Belmont, giving him the extra time. He started eating better, putting on weight, training stronger and his breezes were very good.”

Fierceness returned to the races with aplomb on July 27 to work out a stalking trip one length back in the early stages of the nine-furlong Jim Dandy before he pounced to the lead at the top of the lane and bravely turned back the inside rush of Grade 1-winner Sierra Leone.

“The first concern was he ran so good in the Jim Dandy, was that going to knock something out of him? It actually did the opposite,” Pletcher explained. “I think he got better and better and put on some more weight after the Jim Dandy and just showed us all the signs you’re looking for when you’re coming up to a big race – a horse that’s training enthusiastically, appetite’s really good, and just seemed to be thriving.”

The Jim Dandy experience was called upon by Fierceness in the stretch of the Travers, where he was again asked to dig in deep by Velazquez and fend off a late bid from a rival. This time, the challenge arose to his outside, and came in the form of the filly Thorpedo Anna, who gained with every stride as she attempted to become the first filly since Lady Rotha in 1915 to win the Travers. However, Fierceness’ grit would not allow it, and the colt prevailed by a head in a finish for the ages.

Pletcher said the Kenny McPeek-trained Thorpedo Anna certainly lived up to the expectations placed on her in the week leading up to the Travers.

“That and then some,” Pletcher said, with a laugh. “She’s a rare talent. A very, very courageous effort, and tons of respect for her and the job they’ve done with her. It was a little closer than I wanted it to be, but it’s great when you see high-quality horses like that run their race and it’s what brings excitement to the game. I thought it was a good day for horse racing.”

With three Grade 1 victories on his resume, Fierceness now sets his sights on a return to the Breeders’ Cup in November at Del Mar for the 10-furlong Grade 1 Classic.

Pletcher added Fierceness’ affinity for some time between races gives him confidence in training the son of City of Light up to the $7 million route.

“He ran so well in the Jim Dandy with plenty of time in between races, so I think we feel like we can probably have him ready to run his best,” Pletcher concluded.

And while Fierceness’ Travers triumph was the highlight of Saturday’s card for Pletcher, the conditioner also enjoyed a strong debut maiden score in Race 7 with Tip Top Thomas for owner James Bakke. The Volatile juvenile stalked and pounced to a gritty head score in a three-way photo finish to annex the six-furlong sprint in a final time of 1:10.46. The winning effort earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He had been training forwardly and had indicated he was the kind that would come out running,” Pletcher said. “I thought it was a good debut.”

Pletcher said the $160,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase could be pointed to the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, on October 5 at Belmont at the Big A.

Out of the winning Consolidator mare Attempt to Name, Tip Top Thomas is a half-brother to the multiple stakes-winner Gray Attempt.

***

G1 DraftKings Travers runner-up Thorpedo Anna looks to built HOTY campaign

It took a heroic performance and a career-best 111 Beyer Speed Figure for the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fierceness to best multiple Grade 1-winning filly Thorpedo Anna by a head in Saturday’s 10-furlong Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and piloted by Brian Hernandez, Jr. for owners Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing, the Fast Anna dark bay tracked in third position from the two path down the backstretch behind the trio of Batten Down, Dornoch and outside stalking Fierceness.

Thorpedo Anna traveled behind those rivals through the final turn before tipping three-wide to find position as Fierceness got the jump and took command at the quarter-pole.

Thorpedo Anna, in pursuit of making history as the first filly to win the Travers since Lady Rotha in 1915, rallied four-wide into the lane and took dead aim at her foe inside the final eighth of a mile as 47,844 fans roared in appreciation, but a determined Fierceness found the wire in the nick of time. The filly was also given a 111 Beyer for her effort.

"She ran great - I like winning, but…,” said McPeek on Sunday morning, with a laugh. “If you could run the race five times, I think she could have found a way to get there. Maybe that middle fraction, if she could have found a way inside of Batten Down, she wouldn't of had the traffic - but no do overs. For the most part, it was a great run.”

The narrow loss was only the second defeat in eight career starts for Thorpedo Anna, who has built a stellar resume this year with wins in the Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park in March ahead of a trio of Grade 1 wins traveling nine-furlongs in the Kentucky Oaks in May at Churchill Downs along with the DK Horse Acorn in June and Coaching Club American Oaks in July here at the Spa.

McPeek made the sporting decision to skip another Grade 1 race against fillies here in the Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales and Thorpedo Anna proved him right with a game performance that will live long in the memory of the Saratoga faithful.

“She was dominant over the fillies. She sniffed at greatness, and I think she's still great,” McPeek said. “Look at the colts she beat - Sierra Leone, Dornoch and the ones behind those aren't chopped liver. Fierceness had to run the race of his life to beat her.”

McPeek said that Thorpedo Anna exited her Travers effort in good order and will point to the Grade 1 Cotillion at 1 1/16-miles for sophomore fillies on September 21 at Parx as a springboard to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff where she would face elders for the first time.

“You have to make a real case for her being Horse of the Year. If she wins the next two, she could do it,” McPeek said. “The Cotillion is a no-brainer as long as she handles the four weeks [spacing] and that gives her six weeks to the Breeders' Cup. She was six weeks between races for this one, so it shouldn't be too tough on her.”

McPeek and his team, including assistant Dermot Magner, were in good spirits Sunday morning and rightly so, as they reflected on a historic year that has also included a win in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan.

“I've got a good team of people,” McPeek said. “Dermot has done a great job here this summer and they make my life easy. I just have to keep feeding them good horses to handle.”

***

G1 DraftKings Travers remains elusive prize for meet-leading trainer Chad Brown

Four-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown has enjoyed another stellar summer at Saratoga Race Course, well on the way to his fourth straight training title, fifth in the last six years and seventh overall. Entering Sunday, Brown-trained horses have won 31 races and earned more than $4.3 million in purses with 11 stakes wins, nine in graded company including five Grade 1s.

Yet one prize remains elusive for the native of nearby Mechanicville, N.Y. – a victory in Saratoga’s centerpiece, the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers. He matched a career-best Saturday when Grade 1 winner Sierra Leone rallied to finish third behind 2022 Champion 2-Year-Old Male Fierceness and star filly Thorpedo Anna, beaten a total of 1 3/4 lengths.

Sierra Leone and previously undefeated July 19 restricted Curlin winner Unmatched Wisdom, who ran seventh, were the 16th and 17th starters in the Travers for Brown, who also finished third with Miles D in 2021 and Zandon in 2022.

“He looks good this morning,” Brown said of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing and Peter Brant’s Sierra Leone, runner-up to Fierceness in the July 27 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun in his Travers prep. “It’s a little disappointing he came up short again. I did expect more pace in the race, but it is what it is. Fierceness is truly a Champion, and he put two outstanding races together and was a deserving winner.”

Sierra Leone encountered some trouble early on but settled and chased along the inside in sixth for the first six of 10 furlongs, never farther than four lengths behind pacesetting Batten Down, who posted fractions of :23.53, :48.10 and 1:11.62. The Gun Runner colt came with a late run on the outside and was 6 1/2 lengths ahead of Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell winner Dornoch in fourth.

Brown, who captured the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here Friday with Raging Sea, said Sierra Leone will continue on a path towards the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

“On paper, with that many speed horses signed on and nobody going it was a bit disappointing but that’s horse racing,” Brown said. “We’ll just march on to the Classic hoping to get a race with more pace.”

Klaravich Stables’ Unmatched Wisdom also had a troubled trip, bumped twice in the early going by Corporate Power, then raced with a loose wrapping on his right hind leg into the far turn before also coming with a wide run and tiring to finish ahead of Honor Marie in his graded debut, ending a three-race win streak.

“He got roughed up a little bit early and then he was never really effective,” Brown said. “He was a little cut up everywhere, but it was very disappointing that he was so dull after that and never got involved. He was one of the horses that should have been up in there, as well, not just other trainers’ horses. I’ll have to really regroup with him and hit the reset button.”

Earlier Saturday, Brown and Klaravich teamed up to capture the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial with Domestic Product. The dark bay or brown colt is a son of Practical Joke, winner of the 2017 Jerkens for the same connections.

“He came out of the race in good shape. I’m very proud of him, and I don’t have any plans for him yet,” Brown said. “I trained his father and it’s neat to win the same race with him. He’s a really, really solid horse. I’m very proud of his effort.”

Brown breezed Grade 1 winners Carl Spackler and Whitebeam Sunday morning on the Oklahoma training turf course. It was the first work for Carl Spackler since his victory in the Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave H. August 11, and the fourth for Juddmonte homebred Whitebeam following her second straight triumph in the Grade 1 Diana July 13.

The Fourstardave earned Carl Spackler an automatic berth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile November 2 at Del Mar. One possible prep is the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile October 4 at Keeneland.

“They worked good this morning, just maintenance. Nothing fancy, just did what they needed to do,” Brown said. “Both horses will probably head to Keeneland at some point.”

***

Far Bridge secures second top-level score in G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer

LSU Stables’ Far Bridge led them all the way in the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer, a 1 1/2-mile inner turf test for older horses. The Sword Dancer offered “Win and You’re In” status to the November 2 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.

Far Bridge broke well and showed the way under a smart ride from Hall of Famer Joel Rosario. He was able to fend off the advances of the pair of Godolphin runners in Measured Time and Silver Knott and posted a one length victory, stopping the clock in 2:29.51. He earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure, one tick below his career best of 100.

Trainer Christophe Clement said the son of English Channel bounced out of his victory well.

“Came back in great order. Very exciting. Clean legged, sound. Delighted with the trip –the horse showed his tactical speed,” Clement said.

The win marked the second top-level score for Far Bridge, who, while in the care of Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, annexed last year’s Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational. He started his career in the Clement barn having two starts for him – both winning efforts – before being privately sold and transferred to Pletcher.

Earlier this year, he returned to Clement and posted a winning effort in a March 31 allowance race at Gulfstream Park before returning to graded stakes company, where he hit the board in the June 8 Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan sandwiched between two off the board efforts in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and Grade 2 United Nations at Monmouth Park.

“We are delighted for both Mr. and Mrs. Sarf [owners]. It means a lot that they entrusted us with Far Bridge. It is very rewarding to win with him considering we had him for the early stages of his racing career,” Clement said.

The win improved Far Bridge’s record to 12-5-3-2 with $1,477,700 in earnings. No target has been picked out yet for the talented colt.

“This was fun. Let’s take time to enjoy the win. There is no rush to pick out another race yet,” Clement said.

The win marked the fifth time Clement has won the Sword Dancer, making him the all-time leading trainer in the race. Clement’s other four wins came with Gufo [2021-22], Winchester [2011], and Honor Glide [1999].

***

G1 Ballerina winner Society, G1 Forego runner-up Gun Pilot on target for Breeders’ Cup

Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds’ 5-year-old Gun Runner mare Society remains on a collision course with the Breeders’ Cup for a third straight year following her decisive victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina H. at Saratoga Race Course.

In just her second start of the year, Society stalked pacesetter Munnys Gold for a half-mile before taking over and drawing away to a 3 1/4-length triumph in the seven-furlong Ballerina to earn an automatic berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on November 2 at Del Mar.

“Obviously, we’re extremely happy with her,” Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “She came out of the race great. Very pleased with how yesterday went for her.”

Fourth to two-time Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive in the Filly & Mare Sprint last fall at Santa Anita, Society also finished seventh behind 2021 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and 2022 Champion Older Dirt Female Malathaat in the Grade 1, nine-furlong Distaff in 2022 at Keeneland.

It has been a carefully curated plan by the connections, who gave Society plenty of time before her seasonal debut in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Chicago June 22 at Churchill Downs, where she ran third. Overall, the granddaughter of Tapit owns eight wins and more than $1.8 million in purse earnings from 14 starts including scores in the Grade 1 Cotillion and Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks in 2022.

“How grateful we are for Mr. Blum to put a Grade 1 winner back in training for a 5-year-old year,” Asmussen said. “We discussed and did it with a plan to have her at her best for the Breeders’ Cup, and we have specifically targeted elite seven-furlong filly and mare races for her. I think that we’re right on target.”

Asmussen was also pleased with the performance of Three Chimneys Farm’s Gun Pilot, a distant but decisive runner-up to front-running favorite Mullikin in the Grade 1, $500,000 Forego sprinting seven furlongs for 3-year-olds and up.

“He ran really well,” he said. “The winner was in control of the race from the beginning, and I thought Gun Pilot made a very nice run late to separate himself from the rest of the field, and he came out of it very well.”

No decision has been made regarding a next start for Gun Pilot, upset winner of the seven-furlong Grade 1 Churchill Downs May 4 on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby.

“That will be discussed with Three Chimneys, but we expect to get to the Breeders’ Cup with him, as well,” Asmussen said. “The barn will move back to Churchill, and we will move to California when they open Del Mar. We want to make one move to California.”

***

G1-placed Ohana Honor completes sharp breeze, Cugino ready for Nashville Derby

West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Edward Hudson, Jr., and Lynne Hudson’s Grade 1-placed Ohana Honor worked a half-mile Sunday over the Oklahoma training turf in 47 2/5 seconds, according to NYRA Clockers.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey oversaw the move that was completed in company with maiden The Jackal [47 3/5] and provided his thoughts on Ohana Honor after a last-out fourth in the 11-furlong Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 28 here.

“I breezed him today to try to figure out where to run him next. Whether it be here, Kentucky Downs, or Keeneland,” said McGaughey. “He’s really fresh.”

Ohana Honor was the runner-up to next-out Bowling Green-winner Silver Knott in May’s 11-furlong Grade 1 Man o’ War at Belmont at the Big A. He followed with a third in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan on June 8 here to Measured Time and next-out Grade 1 Arlington Million-winner Nations Pride ahead of the Bowling Green.

West Point Thoroughbreds’ website currently has Ohana Honor targeting the 1 1/2-mile Grade 3, $300,000 Sycamore on October 11 at Keeneland. A local option at that distance would be the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on September 28 at Belmont at the Big A, while Kentucky Downs offers the Grade 2, $2 million Kentucky Turf Cup on September 7.

One with more certainty for West Point Thoroughbreds, co-owned with Jimmy Kahig, is Grade 3-placed Cugino. The sophomore Twirling Candy bay has drawn the outermost post 12 in Saturday’s 1 5/16-mile Grade 3, $3 million Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs, with Flavien Prat slated to ride.

“He runs next weekend at Kentucky Downs. He’ll be fine,” said McGaughey. “He’s got a long way to go to get to position. That post doesn’t bother me, especially with that jockey, he’ll get him where he is supposed to be.”

In his last effort, Cugino added the services of Prat to win the nine-furlong Listed Audubon by 4 1/4 lengths on June 1 at Churchill Downs. The pacesetting performance earned a career-best 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He broke good. Nobody wanted the lead. This race will be a galloping race, too,” said McGaughey. “He’ll be up close.”

McGaughey also commented on Corporate Power’s sixth-place result in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers here. The Curlin bay, campaigned by Courtlandt Farm, was fractious at the gate and got bumped with about a quarter-mile remaining.

McGaughey said the Travers’ order-of-finish- Fierceness, Thorpedo Anna, Sierra Leone, and Dornoch- accurately reflected the top four horses in the eight-horse field.

“He ran just okay. I think the best four horses were one, two, three, and four,” McGaughey said. “He was a little bit hotter than I’d like to see.”

***

Honor Marie to return as a 4-year-old; Papiamento points to G2 Bourbon

It was a tale of two halves Saturday at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Whit Beckman, scoring with the regally-bred maiden winner Papiamento in Race 6 before landing last-of-8 with barn star Honor Marie in the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers.

Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein and Dave Fishbein’s Grade 2-winner Honor Marie added blinkers and a new jockey in Tyler Gaffalione for the 10-furlong Travers but never threatened when last throughout.

“He was never really involved. He's always run and yesterday was the first time he never responded,” Beckman said. “We put blinkers on, and I liked what I saw in the morning but it did not translate to the afternoon. He did scope with a little blood after the race, so between that and the blinkers we'll have to go back to the drawing board.

“We'll give him a little time now. He's had a hard 3-year-old campaign,” added Beckman. “He's been going since February, so we'll give him a little breather and come back as a 4-year-old.”

The Honor Code bay captured the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in November at Churchill Downs in his final juvenile start. He has made five starts this year all with his typically late-running style beginning with a pair of Grade 2 starts at Fair Grounds when fifth in the Risen Star in February and second in the Louisiana Derby in March.

Honor Marie was a troubled eighth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May before closing from last-of-10 and 13 lengths off the pace to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets here in June.

“We've been a little spoiled by him because he always puts in the maximum effort but yesterday wasn't his day,” Beckman said.

While there are other options for Honor Marie this year, Beckman said the colt deserves some time off.

“Patience is the only currency that actually pays. You can talk yourself into it, you can hope yourself into it but at the end of the day when you’re patient and know you're doing the right thing - that's what matters,” Beckman said.

The day started on a bright note for Beckman when Ryan Kamp and Larisa Kamp’s Papiamento scored by 2 1/2-lengths in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight for juveniles over firm turf.

The Medaglia d’Oro dark bay is out of the unraced Curlin mare Serena’s Image, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Noble Tune and dual Grade 1-winner Honor Code, who earned Champion Older Horse honors in 2015 after top-flight scores in the Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney. His fourth dam is Hall of Famer Serena’s Song.

The $270,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase was bought for $250,000 at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training where he worked in 10.1.

Papiamento finished an even sixth on debut over the same course and distance on July 20 and, like Honor Marie, he also added Gaffalione and blinkers for his Saturday outing.

“He ran really well. He was a pretty expensive purchase - the really liked him down at OBS. Early on, we knew dirt was something we probably wouldn't get him started on,” Beckman said. “After that race yesterday I think we'll keep him on the turf. Tyler came back very enthused with how he did everything. He was very professional. We made a couple adjustments from his first race to his second and he did everything he was supposed to do.”

Beckman said the colt responded well to the addition of blinkers.

“It gave him focus,” Beckman said. “In his first race, he was getting in spots and then when there was a bit of room he was backing out. Yesterday, it let him run into the first turn and get settled and stay focused. He really responded to his rider.”

Beckman said Papiamento will likely point to the Grade 2 Bourbon on October 6 traveling 1 1/16-miles over the Keeneland turf.

“If he trains forwardly, we'll look at a race like the Bourbon at Keeneland. I think Keeneland's course will fit him well,” Beckman said.

***

Idiomatic likely for G1 Spinster en route to G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff

It was a weekend at Saratoga Race Course where game runner-up efforts from fillies and mares earned the respect of the racing public as Thorpedo Anna proved with a strong showing in Saturday’s Grade 1 DraftKings Travers one day after reigning Champion Older Dirt Female Idiomatic ran a tenacious race in defeat in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign.

Trained by Brad Cox and piloted by Florent Geroux, the 5-year-old Curlin mare dueled with the Chad Brown-trained Grade 1-winner Randomized through sharp splits of 23.28 seconds, 46.66 and three-quarters in 1:10.53 in the nine-furlong test for older fillies and mares. She put away Randomized and opened up a four-length lead at the stretch call but was unable to stave off the late-running Brown-trainee Raging Sea, who prevailed by a head in a final time of 1:49.14 to deny Idiomatic a repeat Personal Ensign win

Juddmonte’s Kentucky homebred earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure for her narrow loss, which came on the heels of a game head win in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher in July at Monmouth Park.

“She ran a winning race and just got a bad 'bob,'” said Blake Cox, son and assistant to Brad Cox. “She's still a Champion and a very good mare. You've got to love her. She came out of it great.”

Cox indicated Idiomatic will likely follow the same path as last year to the Breeders’ Cup with an attempted title defense in the Grade 1 Spinster on October 6 at Keeneland en route to another title defense in the Grade 1 Distaff in November at Del Mar.

“Probably Keeneland and Breeders' Cup is the plan,” Blake Cox said.

Cox sent out a pair of starters in Saturday’s Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial here won by the surging Domestic Product as Grade 1-winner Timberlake closed to finish fourth while Vettriano attended the pace before fading to eighth.

“Both horses came back great - very tired. They have a right to be,” Blake Cox said. “That was a very demanding racetrack and a very demanding race, but both looked great out of it.”

Cox will send out a pair of contenders in Friday’s Grade 3 Saranac here in Qatar Racing’s West Hollywood [post 1, Flavien Prat] and Flurry Racing Stables’ Take Me To Church [post 3, Javier Castellano, blinkers ON, cheek pieces OFF].

Take Me To Church, by Churchill, will make his stateside debut after being purchased for $380,650 from the Goffs London Sale. He made his first eight outings in his native Ireland for Jack Davison, posting a record of 3-1-1 that included a pair of synthetic sprint wins at Dundalk over the winter ahead of a 6 1/2-length romp in the seven-furlong Madrid Handicap in March over heavy ground at Naas.

In his final two efforts overseas, Take Me To Church landed fourth in the seven-furlong Group 3 Red Rocks on heavy ground in April at Leopardstown and fifth in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas last out on May 25 over one-mile of good turf at The Curragh.

Take Me To Church worked a half-mile this morning over the Oklahoma training turf in his fourth timed workout here at Saratoga.

“He needed a little time before we worked him and he's matured very well,” Blake Cox said. “He's turned into a good-looking horse. He needed some weight and time to recover from the long travel. He's done that and grown mentally and matured over the past few weeks.

“He was good today,” Blake Cox added. “He broke off in 13 and I got him in 49 and 1 and out in 1:01 and 2. His races in Europe, he did most of his damage going short, but I think he will stretch. We'll find out more Friday.”

West Hollywood, who worked a half-mile Friday in 49.25 over the Oklahoma training turf, enters from a rallying score in a local 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer on July 27.

“He breezed Friday on the turf nice and smooth,” Blake Cox said. “He's another that galloped out very well. He likes the course here and I like both of them going into it.”

***

Arthur’s Ride works for G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup

Glassman Racing’s Grade 1 Whitney-winner Arthur’s Ride worked five-furlongs in company with Classic Legacy [half-mile in 49 seconds flat] Sunday over Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma dirt training track, covering the distance in 1:02.24 under jockey Junior Alvarado.

Shortly after the 9:00 renovation break, Alvarado guided the Hall of Famer Bill Mott-trained Arthur’s Ride in a light gallop once around the oval before commencing his effort outside of his company. He ran a bit behind his workmate through the far turn before inching clear in the lane and galloping out strongly through the first turn.

“It was good, and he went beautifully for me this morning,” Alvarado said. “He behaved well and is very good. That was the plan – whatever he wanted to do in the gallop out, just let him do it. He had a lot of energy in the gallop out, so I was very happy with that. When I was about the break off, he was ready to start. When I put my hands down, he went by himself nicely.”

Arthur’s Ride, a 4-year-old Tapit gray, boasts a record of 7-4-2-0 with $764,955 in earnings. He was a $250,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Also on the Sunday tab for Mott was George Krikorian’s multiple graded stakes-winner War Like Goddess, who covered a half-mile in 50.58 seconds under regular exercise pilot Brittany Troxtell. The 7-year-old English Channel mare is targeting the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl on Saturday here.

Alvarado also offered his thoughts on a pacesetting fifth-place finish in yesterday’s Grade 1 DraftKings Travers aboard the Mott-trained Juddmonte homebred Batten Down. The full-brother to Mott pupils Scylla [second in yesterday’s Grade 1 Ballerina here] and Tacitus was alone on the lead and set splits of 23.53 seconds, 48.10 and 1:11.62 before tiring and fading to finish 11 3/4 lengths back of the victorious Fierceness.

“Those are the best 3-year-olds, and I don’t think he ran bad,” Alvarado said. “I think he’ll eventually mature even more and be more competitive in this group. Hopefully, he puts it all together and we gain some lengths with him. Nothing to be ashamed of with that race yesterday. We gave it our best chance, went decent, and after the half-mile we started picking it up. He was there for a little bit, and he never gave up. He hung as tough as he could.”

Batten Down won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby three starts back at Thistledown ahead of a third-place finish to Fierceness and subsequent Travers third-place finisher Sierra Leone in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun on July 27 here. He holds a 7-2-1-2 record with in excess of $500,000 in earnings.