If Sunday’s Saratoga stakes have a unifying theme, it is the attempt to
rebound from recent losses. The Godolphin entry of SEVENTH STREET (Street Cry
[Ire]) and COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court) will try to get back on track in
the $300,000
Go for
Wand H. (G1), while KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) and COWBOY CAL (Giant’s Causeway)
are among those on a similar mission in the $150,000
Fourstardave H. (G2) on the grass.
Initially trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Darley Stable, Seventh Street
burst onto the distaff scene with a tremendous runner-up effort in the Barbara
Fritchie H. (G2) in February. She broke through next time out with a dominating
5 3/4-length romp in the Apple Blossom H. (G1), earning her a promotion to the
elite Godolphin squad. Seventh Street could not get the job done when making her
Godolphin debut in the Ogden Phipps H. (G1) last time out, and she settled for
second to the now-sidelined Seattle Smooth (Quiet American). Regular rider Rajiv
Maragh will be back aboard Seventh Street as she breaks from the rail in the 1
1/8-mile Go for Wand.
Cocoa Beach enjoyed a banner 2008 for Godolphin. In addition to a pair of
victories in Dubai stakes, she captured the Beldame S. (G1) on the main track
and the Matriarch S. (G1) on turf, and beat everyone but the untouchable
Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1). The Saeed
bin Suroor mare was expected to pick up where she left off in her reappearance
in the Floral Park S., where she was bet down to 1-10 favoritism, only to wind
up a disappointing last of four. Cocoa Beach will break widest of all from post
7, and Ramon Dominguez will once again guide the 121-pound highweight.
In contrast to the Godolphin fillies, MISS ISELLA (Silver Charm) enters the
Go for Wand on a hot streak. The Ian Wilkes trainee upset One Caroline (Unbridled’s
Song) with a rail-skimming trip in the Louisville Distaff (G2), and she repeated
the tactic to the same effect in the Fleur de Lis H. (G2). Miss Isella will have
to prove that she is just as dangerous away from Churchill Downs, and without
Calvin Borel to exercise his paint-scraping heroics. Julien Leparoux picks up
the mount.
Other contenders include the Todd Pletcher-trained SPRITELY (Touch Gold), who
steps up in trip after missing by a nose in the seven-furlong First Flight H.
(G2); Shuvee H. (G2) runner-up COLOR ME UP (Aptitude), second to subsequent
Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) winner Funny Moon (Malibu Moon) in an
allowance/optional claimer; and LUNA VEGA (Malibu Moon), exiting a big
allowance/optional claiming score at Monmouth for Steve Asmussen. Both Spritely
and Luna Vega are cross-entered to Sunday’s Lady’s Secret S. at Monmouth.
In the 1 1/16-mile Fourstardave, Kip Deville will bid to reclaim his spot as
the nation’s top turf miler. Successful in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and
runner-up in last year’s renewal, the Richard Dutrow charge kicked off 2009 by
landing the Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G1), but has disappointed in his two
outings since. Kip Deville was a non-threatening 10th in the Dubai Duty Free
(UAE-G1), and tired to fourth after setting the pace in the Poker S. (G3). The
gray will team up with regular pilot Cornelio Velasquez as he takes on eight
rivals in the Fourstardave.
Cowboy Cal likewise got off to a good start this season for Pletcher, taking
the San Pasqual H. (G2) and Strub S. (G2) on the Santa Anita Pro-Ride. The dark
bay colt was just outdueled by Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck) in the Woodford
Reserve Turf Classic (G1) two back, but did not perform up to that level when
fading to ninth in the Manhattan H. (G1). Cowboy Cal figures to thrive on the
cutback in trip for new rider Dominguez.
Also likely to enjoy the shorter distance is WESLEY (El Prado [Ire]), who won
last year’s National Racing Museum Hall of Fame S. (G2) at the Spa. The Mark
Hennig pupil added the Miami Mile H. (G3) to his haul this season, defeating
MAMBO MEISTER (King Cugat), and finished a closing third in the Dixie S. (G2).
Wesley has not fared nearly as well when going longer recently, checking in
eighth in both the Manhattan and United Nations S. (G1), but is eligible to
regroup here with Javier Castellano.
Multiple Grade 3 victor COSMONAUT (Lemon Drop Kid), the winner of the Fort
Marcy S. (G3) at this trip in May, is another turning back in distance. Fifth in
the Manhattan, the Philip Serpe veteran was most recently third in the Arlington
H. (G3). Leparoux has the call.
The Fourstardave could serve as the coming-out party for the well-regarded
JUSTENUFFHUMOR (Distorted Humor), who brings a perfect four-for-four turf mark
into his stakes debut. The McLaughlin trainee is a half-brother to champion
Dreaming of Anna (Rahy) and multiple Grade 2 winner Lewis Michael (Rahy), and he
is out of a half-sister to turf champion Kitten’s Joy (El Prado [Ire]) and
multiple Grade 1 turf queen Precious Kitten (Catienus).
The $70,000
Curlin S.,
which failed to fill when originally carded for Saturday, drew a field of seven
sophomores for Sunday. Among the notable threats are Withers S. (G3) third GONE
ASTRAY (Dixie Union), who came up a head short in the Coronado’s Quest S. in his
latest; Remsen S. (G2) third AMERICAN DANCE (A.P. Indy), fourth in the Dwyer S.
(G2); MASALA (Lion Heart), an impressive allowance winner in his debut for Allen
Jerkens, but a disappointing fifth in the Dwyer most recently; and the streaking
GUAM TYPHOON (Distorted Humor), a half-brother to Miss Isella who will tackle
stakes rivals for the first time.