Manny Franco says Tiz the Law will return to Churchill Downs an improved horse from last year in readying for Kentucky Derby G1
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Aug 28, 2020
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Manny Franco says Tiz the Law will return to Churchill Downs an improved horse from last year in readying for Kentucky Derby (G1)

by NYRA Press Office



  • Caracaro out of Kentucky Derby (G1) consideration
  • Ny Traffic posts final breeze in preparation for Kentucky Derby (G1)
  • Gatsas has sense of nostalgia in running Funny Guy in Forego presented by America's Best Racing (G1)
  • Rushing Fall could train up to Breeders' Cup
  • Truth Hurts headed north for Canadian Triple Tiara
  • Rookie Report: Englehart debuts promising Flatter colt
  • Saratoga summer meet stretch drives makes for exciting races for leading owner, trainer, jockey
  • Saratoga Week 8 stakes probables

The only time likely Grade 1 Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law has not earned a trip to the winner's circle in seven career starts came at Churchill Downs when he capped his juvenile year with a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club last November.

So much has changed since then for the New York-bred son of Constitution, including four straight graded stakes wins to start his sophomore campaign. After capturing the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, Tiz the Law has been making history since, becoming the first state-bred in more than a century to win the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes by 3 ¾ lengths on June 20 and followed by throttling the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers field by 5 ½ lengths on August 8 at Saratoga.

Those efforts have primed Tiz the Law, bred in the Empire State by Twin Creeks Farm, for a shot at history as he continues on the Triple Crown trail. The next challenge is a return engagement at Churchill, where he will be the likely heavy favorite in the 146th running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on September 5.

Jockey Manny Franco, who expertly piloted the Barclay Tagg-trained Tiz the Law to four Grade 1 wins, including the Champagne in October at Belmont Park, said his charge has matured since his last appearance in the Bluegrass State.

"He's a different horse now. He's very mature and he's improving race-by-race and I'm really happy with the way he's doing it," Franco said. "His mind is growing and he's doing everything the right way. He's ready for whatever happens."

Traditionally the opening leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby is now the middle jewel, with the Belmont Stakes serving as the opener to accommodate the revised training schedule for 3-year-olds due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Though the circumstances are different with the race being in September instead of May, the "Run for the Roses" will maintain its signature full field, with up to 20 entrants still expected. Though Tiz the Law remains the unanimous leader in the NTRA top 3-year-old poll [and fifth in the top overall thoroughbred poll overall], Franco said the Derby will see the rest of the field looking to take down the favorite.

"If we get a good position, it's going to be the same," Franco said. "We just need a good break and put him where he's comfortable, and he'll have a great race."

In the Runhappy Travers, Franco was able to gear down Tiz the Law in deep stretch, but said he likely won't have that luxury a week from now.

"The Derby won't be an easy race, so we have to be prepared for everything that day and I think on that day, I'm going to have to make him run and see what he has in the tank," Franco said. "He gave me great confidence after the last race because he handled the mile and a quarter, and the way he won, it gave me more confidence."

The opportunity to ride Tiz the Law for owner Sackatoga Stable has been a continuation of a flourishing career for Franco. Still just 25 years old, Franco has come into his own as a jockey, winning the last two New York Racing Association year-end riding titles on the highly competitive circuit. Last November, he won his first career Breeders' Cup race, guiding Sharing to victory in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and won his first American Classic in this year's Belmont.

A win in the Kentucky Derby would set up a potential history making spot in the Grade 1 Preakness on October 3, where Tiz the Law could attempt to become just the 14th Triple Crown winner in history.

"This is a horse that any rider needs; we all need a shot on this kind of horse," Franco said. "I'm really enjoying the moment to have this opportunity. I'm trying to do the best I can. He does things the other horses can't. I put him wherever I want and he's going to be there for me. Some horses, that's not [the case]. He has a lot of ability. He's very easy to ride. He rates. He does whatever I ask."

Franco, who started riding in the United States in 2013, has won seven of his 11 career Grade 1 victories occur since 2019. His agent is Hall of Famer Angel Cordero, Jr., who won a pair of Kentucky Derbies with Bold Forbes in 1976 and Spend a Buck in 1985.

"Angel is a Hall of Fame rider and I'm just happy to have him on my side because he's been in this position before and he always talks to me about how to handle this time," Franco said. "I'm just blessed to have him in my corner. I just listen to him and try to put it in practice."

Franco entered Friday with 1,385 career wins in 9,710 starts.

***

Caracaro out of Kentucky Derby (G1) consideration

Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing's Caracaro has been ruled out of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on September 5  after suffering an injury to his right front leg during the gallop out of a six-furlong Friday morning breeze at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Gustavo Delgado, Caracaro worked three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.26 over the main track in what was intended to be his final work for the Kentucky Derby. The son of Uncle Mo registered two runner-up efforts against graded stakes company this summer at the Spa in the Grade 3 Peter Pan and the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

In the gallop out, exercise rider J.J. Delgado dismounted the horse when he felt an issue with the horse's right front.

Gustavo Delgado, Jr., the son and assistant to the elder Delgado, said that he was unsure of the nature of the injury but that he would know more once the horse is examined.

"I don't know how bad it is, but later on we're going to x-ray and find out," Gustavo Delgado, Jr. said. "It's disappointing because he worked so well. He just took a bad step and he wasn't feeling right. His work had already been done. I don't think it's going to be that bad, but we'll know more once we do the proper examination."

Caracaro, who was tenth on the leaderboard with 60 qualifying points, would have been the third Kentucky Derby contender for Delgado, who previously saddled Majesto [18th, 2016] and Bodexpress [13th, 2019].

***

Ny Traffic posts final breeze in preparation for Kentucky Derby (G1)

John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing and Paul Braverman's multiple graded-stakes placed New York-bred Ny Traffic breezed five-eighths in company on the Saratoga main track Friday in preparation for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

The Cross Traffic grey, bred in the Empire State by Brian Culnan, went to the track with jockey David Cohen aboard and tracked a stablemate before taking command to cover five furlongs in 59.45 seconds over the just-harrowed track at 8:45 a.m.

"I thought he went super. It's what we wanted," said trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. "I got him in 59 and change and out in 1:12 (for six furlongs). I just wanted to see him cool out good and scope good. With our fingers crossed and with a good eight days (before the Derby), we have a very good chance. Today was important. I just wanted to see him come out of the work good."

Since winning a Gulfstream Park allowance race in January by a sharp 6 3/4 lengths, Ny Traffic has finished second or third in all four stakes races, including a narrow nose defeat to Authentic in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 18, which garnered a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

While Ny Traffic continues to show improvement, Joseph said Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Grade 1 Runhappy Travers winner Tiz the Law - who is stabled across from him - is the horse to beat.

"He's earned that. He's the champ right now and everyone is trying to beat him," Joseph said. "We're going to give it a try."

Joseph, Jr. will be well represented at Charles Town on Friday when he sends out Tonalist's Shape in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks and Math Wizard in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. He will also saddle Overdeliver in the Russell Road and Queen Nekia in the Dance to Bristol on the undercard.

Ny Traffic, along with Tiz the Law, is expected to fly from Albany to Louisville on Monday for the Kentucky Derby.

***

Gatsas has sense of nostalgia in running Funny Guy in Forego presented by America's Best Racing (G1)

When owner Mike Gatsas runs four-time stakes winner Funny Guy in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing, he will be reminded of his first graded stakes triumph 20 years ago when Shadow Caster pulled a 50-1 upset in the prestigious sprint.

The native of Manchester, New Hampshire, who operates under the moniker Gatsas Thoroughbreds alongside his brother Ted, had only owned horses for about five years and had just made the transition from former trainer Charlie Assinakopolous to John Terranova, who also conditions Funny Guy.

Shadow Caster arrived at the Forego with 28 starts under his belt but still appeared to be overmatched against the likes of multiple graded stakes winners Richter Scale and Successful Appeal.

"I remember saying to John, 'Let's get into the Forego' and he looked at me like I was crazy," Gatsas recalled. "We took a leap of faith. I had just moved my horses to Terranova's barn at the time a month and a half prior to the Forego. But he went in there and outraced himself for sure and beat a very, very good field."

Shadow Caster recorded a 113 Beyer for his upset victory in the Forego, which was a Grade 2 contested at 6 1/2 furlongs in 2000.

"That was a good field of sprinters and he had never faced anything quite like that, but he pulled it off," Terranova said. "The following year, they changed it to a Grade 1, otherwise that would have been [my first Grade 1 win]."

Funny Guy won't be arriving at the Forego as quite as big an underdog as Shadow Caster, but the 4-year-old Big Brown bay has still yet to prove himself against open graded stakes company. However, the versatile New York-bred has defeated some of the best the Empire State-bred program has to offer, like multiple stakes-winner Mr. Buff, who was second to Funny Guy twice this year in the Commentator and John Morrissey.

"He's another good New York bred coming up. He's certainly in top form right now and the best of his life so far," Terranova said. "We'll see how he goes from here. It seems as if he looks to be running the better races of his career whereas some of the top ones have maybe run a little bit less than what they've run before, but it's hard to say for sure."

Funny Guy, who Gatsas owns in partnership with R.A. Hill Stable and Swick Stable, has displayed versatility from several different standpoints. In addition to winning stakes races at distances ranging from 6 ½ furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, he also has found the winner's circle when demonstrating different running styles. 

In the Commentator, he came from off the pace under a well-timed ride by Rosario to record a 101 Beyer  and followed up with a stalk-and-pounce triumph in the Morrissey, where he tracked just a length off the pace to draw off to a two-length win.

Jockey Joel Rosario was aboard for both efforts and Gatsas praised the jockey for executing well-timed rides in his last two starts.

"He has multiple gears and if you get into a little traffic, Joel can take hold and let him out a bit and he responds to Joel when he does that," Gatsas said. "He's a very smart horse. On days of the race, he rests because he knows he's going to war. But he has those multiple gears and we've seen that in the morning with him, too."

Gatsas also owned multiple New York-bred champion Gander, who finished a game second to Lemon Drop Kid in the Woodward just two weeks after Shadow Caster won the Forego. He also currently co-owns Vekoma, winner of the Grade 1 Runhappy Carter and Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile, with R. A. Hill Stable.

Despite having not yet won a graded stakes race, Gatsas still holds Funny Guy in high regard and said that he is already one of the best horses that he has owned.

"We've had some real nice horses and it looks like Funny Guy might rise to the top of the list," Gatsas said. "We had Shadow Caster and Gander with John as well. I think Funny Guy is going to surprise a lot of people. It's a bigger and tougher field but no bigger or tougher than Shadow Caster's field. He's doing great now and Joel staying on shows how much confidence he really has. We're lucky to have such a jockey on him as Joel, he has tremendous confidence in this horse."

For the past two decades, Terranova has been one of the go-to trainers for Gatsas, who also has horses with George Weaver.

"I've been in the business almost 25 years and all trainers have been gentleman and excellent horsemen. I brought a bunch of horses to John and [wife] Tonja and we've become family," Gatsas said. "My daughter and son and John and his whole family have become friends. We've done a lot together and had some real good horses. We had [Grade 1 winner] Negligee, who was owned by my son [Matthew Gatsas of Sovereign Stables] and went to the Breeders Cup with her.

"We've done quite well over the years with he and Tonja; they are hard-working, great people. They care about their horses and they care about their owners. To have a relationship this long  is pretty unique."

A big run from Funny Guy could mean a trip to Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

"I'm not faint of heart to run in the Breeders' Cup," Gatsas said. "I supplemented Gander for a lot of money to go to the Breeders' Cup in 2000. If he comes out great and John says 'Hey let's take a shot' I'm sure we'll be in Kentucky. I'm thinking he'll run really well on Saturday. He's that good right now."

Terranova also would be in favor of taking a shot in the Breeders' Cup.

"If he were to show up and everything went well, it would be something for sure we would give great consideration to," Terranova said.

***

Rushing Fall could train up to Breeders' Cup

 Owner Bob Edwards of e Five Thoroughbred Racing reported that six-time Grade 1-winner Rushing Fall will likely not have a start before the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Champions, slated for November 6-7 at Keeneland.

Last Sunday, the talented 5-year-old daughter of More Than Ready gave trainer Chad Brown a fifth straight victory in the 1 1/8-mile event for fillies and mares over the inner turf at Saratoga. 

Rushing Fall has displayed versatility, winning all three of her starts this year over different turf courses, having captured the Grade 3 Beaugay on June 3 at Belmont Park and the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on July 11 at Keeneland in a record time of 1:39.02. She added a hard-fought Diana score, out-dueling a stubborn Mean Mary down the Saratoga stretch.  

"We'll probably hold off until the Breeders' Cup," Edwards said. "If you look at her race pattern, I try to run her four or five times max. She owes us nothing and is stronger after the more time you give her. She broke the record in the Jenny Wiley and came close to breaking it here. There wasn't any quitting with either of those two horses." 

Rushing Fall joined Lady Eli and Beholder as North American-based females to score Grade 1 triumphs at ages 2, 3, 4 and 5 having won at Keeneland during each of those campaigns.  

"She's gotten a lot stronger," Edwards said. "You can see she's a different horse this year than last year. She put on some weight during the offseason at Stonestreet in Ocala, and she came back more mature and more robust of a mare. Javier said she's a lot calmer now and knows her job better." 

Both the Breeders' Cup Mile against colts and Filly and Mare Turf could be in play for Rushing Fall, but the decision of which race she goes in will ultimately be left up to Brown. This year the Filly and Mare Turf will be contested at 1 3/16 miles and has been won by Brown four times.  

"She's in that big shed row of Grade 1 winners at Chad's barn and we're looking forward to regrouping and getting her to Keeneland," Edwards said. 

Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding, Rushing Fall is out of the Forestry broodmare Autumnal and was bought for $320,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

***

Truth Hurts heading north for Canadian Triple Tiara

Truth Hurts, an Aqueduct maiden winner trained and co-owned by Chad Summers with J Stables, will be sent north to Canada for the $250,000 Bison City, second leg of the Triple Tiara for Canadian-bred sophomore fillies, slated for September 12 on Queen's Plate Day at Woodbine Racetrack.

Bred in Ontario by Bill Graham, the Tonalist bay was purchased for $35,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and graduated in December at the Big A with a half-length score in a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight.

She followed up with a smart two-length score when stretched out to a mile in a January 5 Aqueduct allowance, besting stakes-placed foes Autonomous, a well-bred Chad Brown-trainee, and the now multiple stakes placed Quality Heat.

Truth Hurts needed time off following an off-the-board effort in the nine-furlong Busanda in February at Aqueduct, but returned with a flourish when fourth in the seven-furlong Audubon Oaks on August 9 garnering a career-best 83 Beyer Speed Figure off the six-month layoff.

Summers said he had intended to point the filly to the Woodbine Oaks on August 15.

"The plan was the Woodbine Oaks and then the Queen's Plate but unfortunately she got a little injury in the Busanda," said Summers. "We gave her the time off and you never think you're going to be able make a race like the Bison City, but with the pandemic everything was pushed back.

"We looked at the Woodbine Oaks, but a mile and an eighth was going to be too much to ask so we thought the seven-eighths distance [of the Audubon Oaks] would be perfect to set up the rest of her year," continued Summers. "I though the race at Ellis was good. She got beat a length and a quarter for second and third and was right there at the end of the race. The winner [Mundaye Call] set the track record. She got a really good number out of the race and I think she's better going further, so the mile and a sixteenth of the Bison City will be good."

Truth Hurts has trained at Belmont Park throughout the summer where Summers has made use of the jogging barn, which is equipped with a Tapeta surface, to prepare the bay for a first synthetic start.

"She's never raced on the Tapeta before but the jogging barn is open at Belmont, so we've been taking her there twice a week to get her used to the synthetic surface at Woodbine," said Summers. "I've been taking her there twice a week for jogging and light gallops to get her used to the surface. In a perfect world, I'd go to Woodbine early and get a breeze over the track there, but with this year we're not getting that opportunity. We'll do all our preparations at Belmont and take her over there."

Summers said Woodbine-based Rafael Hernandez will have the call aboard Truth Hurts in the Bison City.

"Rafael Hernandez is the leading rider up there, so that gives us some excitement as well," said Summers.

Summers said a good result at Woodbine could propel Truth Hurts to the Grade 2, $150,000 Beldame on October 4 at Belmont Park.

Summers picked up his first win of the Spa summer meet on August 15 with Freedom and Whisky, a 5-year-old Courageous Cat gelding who prevailed by a head in a three-pronged battle with Bricco [Luis Saez] and Mommie's Jewel [Joel Rosario], in a New York-bred claiming mile on the inner turf.

Making his first start for Summers, Freedom and Whisky, expertly piloted by Benjamin Hernandez, posted a head score at odds of 36-1 as the longest shot on the board in the eight-horse field.

"I called him Buster Douglas," said Summers with a laugh. "I thought if he won, it would be the biggest upset since Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson. He does everything the right away. He's a nice mover and a nice galloper. He just breezed really slow on the dirt. You could get him with an hourglass.

"I didn't know what to expect in the race but Benji Hernandez gave him a great ride," added Summers. "He put him in the perfect spot and he looked like he might have been done at the end of the race with Joel Rosario on the inside and Luis Saez on the outside but Benji was riding right there with them every step of the way and we were able to get up at the wire."

Summers said Freedom and Whisky, bred in the Empire State by Kirsten Proctor, could look to double up before the meet is out.

"The horse has trained really well since then. It's amazing what a win does for a horse, there confidence level can go sky high," said Summers. "We might take a shot with him in a starter allowance on closing day and see if we can't end the meet with a bang as well. He might be higher odds, he could be 56-1."

***

Rookie Report: Englehart debuts promising Flatter colt

Trainer Jeremiah Englehart will saddle Charleston Strong for his career debut on Saturday afternoon in a six-furlong maiden special weight over the main track.

Charleston Strong is owned by John K. Dewberry, Robert G. Hahn, Johns Martin, Fortune Farm, Don Brady and William Rucker, and was purchased for $600,000 from last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Greenfield Farm.

"He's one of our 2-year-olds that we had some high hopes for," Englehart said. "Obviously it's a salty race. It looks like there are some in there that are bred to really run. He's been forward. Hopefully he's one that will be able to handle adversity. He doesn't let much bother him."

Bred in Kentucky by B D Gibbs Farm, Charleston Strong is out of the War Front broodmare Facethefront, and has trained well over the Oklahoma training track into his debut. He renetly worked a half-mile from the gate in 49.20 seconds on August 22.

Jockey Luis Saez will be aboard from post 9.

Trainer Mark Casse will send out John C. Oxley's Majestic Street, who breaks from post 2 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

The bay colt is by Street Sense out of the Honor Glide broodmare Dream Ride, making him a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner St. Joe Bay. He was bought for $375,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Majestic Street is a direct descendant of Hall of Famer and three-time champion Susan's Girl, who was the first female to achieve millionaire status.

"He's been training well, that's why we brought him up there," Casse said. "We're just going to get him started. Hopefully, he proves to be a nice horse down the road."

Majestic Street was bred in Florida by Bonnie Heath Farm. 

***

Saratoga summer meet stretch drives makes for exciting races for leading owner, trainer, jockey

Already in the final quarter of the 40-day Saratoga summer meet, the races for leading owner, trainer and jockey remain close with nine days remaining entering Friday's card.

Two veteran trainers are vying to once again finish atop the standings and win the prestigious H. Allen Jerkens award, with Chad Brown looking to finish as leading conditioner for the third consecutive year and Todd Pletcher attempting to add to his 13 titles.

Before the start of Friday's 10-race card, Pletcher held a slight one-win advantage over Brown at 24-23. With 89 starters, Pletcher has compiled a record of 24-16-9 and earnings of more than $1.5 million, with his top win coming last Saturday when Halladay captured the Grade 1 Fourstardave. Pletcher was the leading trainer at the Spa for six consecutive years from 2010-15 and most recently won in 2017 with 40 winners.

Brown, who leads all trainers this meet in horse's started, has produced quality as well as quantity, compiling a 23-21-27 record with 108 starters, with his runners finishing top-three in 65.74 percent of their starts while winning at a 21.30 percent clip. Brown currently leads all trainers in earnings with $2.13 million, bolstered by stakes wins with Country Grammer in the Grade 3 Peter Pan, My Sister Nat in the Grade 3 Waya, Domestic Spending in the Saratoga Derby Invitational and Rushing Fall in the Grade 1 Diana. Brown won the 2016 meet title and finished in the top spot from 2018-19.

Trainers Mike Maker and Christophe Clement remain in striking distance with 18 wins apiece.

The competition for the jockeys is just as competitive, with brothers Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Jose Ortiz separated by just two wins, with Irad holding a 45-43 edge in the race for the Angel Cordero, Jr. award.

The brothers have won the award every meet since 2015, with Irad winning in 2015 and 2018 and Jose in 2016-17 and also last year, when he won 60. In 2020, both brothers have finished top-three in more than half of their mounts, with the 28-year-old Irad registering a 45-41-31 ledger in 217 mounts, while 26-year-old Jose is 43-38-27 in 204 starts.

Irad's top wins include the Grade 1 Whitney with Improbable and Domestic Spending in the Saratoga Derby, while Jose won the Grade 2 Bowling Green aboard Cross Border on Whitney Day, August 1.

Joel Rosario is also in position to move up with a strong final week, tallying 40 wins in 183 mounts.

Klaravich Stables is bidding to win its third consecutive leading owner title, with 11 wins three more than the next-closest enterprise with Repole Stable's eight wins. Headed by Seth Klarman Klaravich Stables won 19 races during last year's Saratoga meet and this year has seen its runners finish in the money more than 70 percent of the tie, with an 11-4-16 record in 44 starts, leading all owners with earnings of $838,128. The stable owns Domestic Spending.

The Saratoga meet will conclude on Labor Day, September 7.

***

Saratoga week 8 stakes probables

Thursday, September 3

$100,000 P.G. Johnson
Probable: Invincible Gal (Graham Motion), Mischievous Dream (Christophe Clement), Plum Ali (Clement), Simply Ravishing (Ken McPeek), The Grass Is Blue (Brown)
Possible: Adelaide Miss (Brittany Russell)

Friday, September 4

$150,000 Funny Cide
Probable: Eagle Orb (Rudy Rodriguez), Effinity (Brad Cox), Hold the Salsa (Richard Lugovich), Market Alert (James Ryerson), Windy Nations (Maker) 

$150,000 West Point
Probable: Dot Matrix (Cox), Gucci Factor (Clement), Opt (Ribaudo), Red Knight (Mott), Rinaldi (H. James Bond), Therapist (Clement), Twisted Tom (Maker)

$150,000 Albany
Probable: Blackjack Davey (Linda Rice), Chestertown (Steve Asmussen), City Man (Clement), Cold Hard Cash (Rice), Dream Bigger (Rudy Rodriguez), More Graytful (Cox), Sky of Hook (Rodriguez), Turbo Drive (Maker)
Possible: Forever Wicked (Darmindra Dharamjit), Microsecond (Pletcher)

$150,000 Yaddo
Probable: Classic Lady (Clement), Dancingwithdaffodls (Eduardo Jones), Fetching (Mertkan Kantarmaci), Fifty Five (Brown), Kreesie (David Donk), Myhartblongstodady (Jorge Abreu), War Canoe (Brown), Wgetsdamunnys (Clement)

$150,000 Seeking the Ante
Probable: Infringement (Hennig), Make Mischief (Mark Casse), Queen Arella (Roderick Rodriguez), Rossa Veloce (Ray Handal), Samborella (Jeremiah Englehart), Stimulus Check (Gregg Matties), Summer Brew (Abreu)

$150,000 Fleet Indian
Probable: Courageous Girl (Donk), Critical Eye (Englehart), Ice Princess (Danny Gargan), Mani Pedi (Bond), Playtone (George Weaver), Sharp Starr (Horacio DePaz)
Possible: Micromillion (Todd Pletcher)

Saturday, September 5

Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward (G1)
Probable: Global Campaign (Stanley Hough), Moretti (Pletcher), Prioritize (Bond), Spinoff (Pletcher), Tacitus (Mott)
Possible: Hidden Scroll (Mott), Multiplier (Peter Miller)

$150,000 Jim Dandy (G2)
Probable: Celtic Striker (Handal), Dr Post (Pletcher), Happy Saver (Pletcher), Jesus' Team (Jose Francisco D'Angelo), Letmeno (Ian Wilkes), Liveyourbeastlife (Abreu), Mystic Guide (Michael Stidham)

$200,000 Glens Falls (G2)
Probable: Beau Belle (Albertrani), Civil Union (Shug McGaughey), Eliade (Brown), My Sister Nat (Brown), Olympic Games (Clement)
Possible: Pallas Athene (John Terranova), Theodora B. (Michael Dickinson)

$200,000 Prioress (G2)
Probable: Frank's Rockette (Mott), Hello Beautiful (Russell), Kimari (Ward), Reagan's Edge (Cherie DeVaux), Sound Machine (Saffie Joseph, Jr.), Up In Smoke (George Weaver)
Possible: Secondary Market (Brown)

Sunday, September 6

$250,000 Spinaway (G1)
Probable: Beautiful Memories (Casse), Crazy Beautiful (McPeek), Guana Cay (Ward), Irish Constitution (Handal), Thoughtfully (Asmussen), Union Gables (Pletcher), Vequist (Robert Reid, Jr.)
Possible: Ava's Grace (Robertino Diodoro), Cilla (Brett Brinkman)

$150,000 Honorable Miss (G2)
Probable: Bye Bye J (Asmussen), Come Dancing (Carlos Martin), Newly Minted (Rice), Pink Sands (McGaughey), Unholy Alliance (Joseph), Victim of Love (Todd Beattie)

$85,000 Lucky Coin
Probable: Pulsate (Robert Ribaudo), Shekky Shebaz (Clement)

Monday, September 7

$250,000 Runhappy Hopeful (G1)
Probable: Fearless Fly (Richard Vega), Jackie's Warrior (Steve Asmussen), Mutasaabeq (Pletcher), Nutsie (David Cannizzo), Papetu (Antonio Sano), Reinvestment Risk (Brown)

$85,000 Lure
Probable: Almanaar (Brown), Devamani (Brown), Largent (Pletcher), Lomu (Lloyd MacKinnon)


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