With divisional champion Idiomatic bound for Saturday’s Molly Pitcher (G3) on Haskell Day at Monmouth Park, Sunday’s $200,000 Shuvee (G2) at Saratoga presents a resume-enhancing opportunity for distaffers inclined to take it. Only five did so, but the select quintet includes such classy operators as Shotgun Hottie and Raging Sea.
Shotgun Hottie’s graded breakthrough came in last summer’s Molly Pitcher, but any idea of a title defense lost its appeal when Idiomatic circled it in her datebook. Moreover, repeating in a Grade 3 wouldn’t be as enticing as earning a first Grade 2 laurel at the Spa.
Sidelined for six months following her Monmouth heroics, Shotgun Hottie needed a trio of preps at Oaklawn Park this term to regain her peak form. The Cherie DeVaux mare was back on song when romping in the Allaire duPont Distaff S. at Pimlico, and she missed by only a neck to budding star Scylla in the June 29 Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs.
“She ran well last time,” DeVaux told NYRA publicity. “She was just unlucky having to get through on the rail. She’s raced herself into form. The form that she had historically. She’s having a good run.”
Another by successful sire Gun Runner to excel with maturity, Shotgun Hottie will break from the rail with regular rider Paco Lopez.
The ubiquitous Chad Brown sends out Raging Sea, tabbed as the slight 7-5 favorite on the Shuvee morning line over the 3-2 Shotgun Hottie. The Curlin filly showed abundant promise at two, with a close third past the post (demoted to fourth) in the 2022 Alcibiades (G1) and a belated third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) over the same Keeneland circuit. Unfortunately, Raging Sea was out of action for the bulk of her sophomore campaign, but she finished on a high note in last fall’s Comely (G3).
Returning triumphant in the April 19 Doubledogdare (G3) back at Keeneland, beating an inexperienced Scylla, Raging Sea was most recently fourth to stablemate Randomized and Idiomatic in the Ogden Phipps (G1) at this track and 1 1/8-mile trip. The Alpha Delta Stables homebred keeps Flavien Prat aboard in post 3.
Misty Veil enters in career form for trainer Mike Maker, having demolished the Lady Jacqueline S. on Ohio Derby Day at Thistledown. The daughter of Tonalist has gone close at the Grade 2 level before, although her neck second in the March 9 Azeri (G2) wasn’t the strongest result in context. Misty Veil was cross-entered to the Molly Pitcher, like last-out Bed o’Roses (G2) near-misser Just Katherine, but both are intended for this spot.
Just Katherine has run well in her prior starts here, finishing second to Randomized in last summer’s Wilton S. and beating Raging Sea in an allowance at the Shuvee’s distance. The Jose Jimenez pupil was only fifth behind Raging Sea in the Comely, and like Shotgun Hottie, she was well below her best in Oaklawn’s Bayakoa (G3). But Just Katherine signaled that she was on the way back in the seven-furlong Bed o’Roses, and stretching back out should suit.
The outsider of the field, the 12-1 Venti Valentine, takes another swing at graded company after romping in the course-and-distance Critical Eye S. over New York-breds. Beaten only a neck by future champion Nest in the 2021 Demoiselle (G2), she conquered a still-unfurnished Shotgun Hottie in the 2022 Busher S. and bested her again when they placed second and third, respectively, in the Gazelle (G3). Trainer Jorge Abreu has tended to keep her in the state-bred ranks in the wake of her 14th in that year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1), and trailing fourth in the Mother Goose (G2), but Venti Valentine has performed creditably in her forays into open waters. Two back, she was elevated to second in the Serena’s Song S. at Monmouth Park, and it wouldn’t be a shock if she’s the controlling speed with Irad Ortiz Jr.
Sunday’s card opens with the rescheduled $150,000 A.P. Smithwick (NSA-G1), the 2 3/8-mile steeplechase that was scrapped from last Wednesday’s program due to the storms. The original seven all re-entered, including the streaking Abaan; L’Imperator, hero of the June 20 Beverly R. Steinman (NSA-G1); and the exciting import Pickanumber, purchased privately in the wake of his 15-length rout of the Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock May 11.
First post is 1:10 p.m., with the Shuvee following as the fifth race at 3:17 p.m. (all times ET).
