Leading female sprinter Turbulent Descent will make her first start for new
“We’ve entered, but we’ll more than likely run on Sunday,” trainer Kiaran
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Turbulent Descent figures to be an odds-on favorite without It’s Tricky in
the line-up.
The four-year-old filly turned in one of her most impressive performances
when shipping to Saratoga last year, rolling to a 3 3/4-length decision in the
Grade 1 Test Stakes, and the Ballerina will be held at the same seven-furlong
distance. Previously based in California with trainer Mike Puype, Turbulent
Descent was sold to Coolmore connections and transferred to Pletcher following
an easy 1 1/4-length victory in her 2012 bow, the June 17 Desert Stormer at
Hollywood Park.
“When I went to California to look at her, Mike Puype was very, very kind and
generous and shared all kinds of information about her,” said Pletcher, who won
last year’s Ballerina with Hilda’s Passion. “While I kind of knew what to
expect, it’s always nice to have some extra time to get to know her and get a
feel for her early on. She’s made the transition very smooth for us.”
The Congrats filly has recorded six works in Saratoga since being transferred
and will return off a 68-day freshening.
“She’s the Test winner and obviously likes the track, so at this distance and
on this surface, the Ballerina has been the plan since she’s arrived,” Pletcher
said. “She’s gotten to this point in very good order. She’s very intelligent,
she’s got a good disposition…basically, she’s everything she was advertised to
be.”
Turbulent Descent is listed as 9-5 second choice on the morning line behind
8-5 It’s Tricky, who has reeled off consecutive wins in the Grade 1 Ogden
Phipps, Grade 2 Distaff Handicap and Grade 2 Top Flight this year. The Ballerina
winner will receive an automatic berth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare
Sprint at Santa Anita as part of the “Win and You’re In” program.
Favored in all 11 of her career starts, Turbulent Descent drew post position
6 and will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.
Nicole H will be seeking her third victory of 2012 and first since February
in the Ballerina. The five-year-old mare won the Interborough and Correction
over Aqueduct Racetrack’s inner track this past winter, and, while close, has
yet to find the winner’s circle in five starts since, most recently finishing a
half-length behind reigning champion female sprinter Musical Romance in the
Grade 1 Princess Rooney in July at Calder Race Course. Saratoga’s leading rider,
Ramon Dominguez, will be aboard Nicole H.
Competing in a Grade 1 for the first time is Island Bound, who rallied from
last to miss by a neck in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap on August 3.
Victorious in the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs in her graded stakes
debut, the five-year-old Speightstown mare has been training forwardly at
Saratoga and trainer Ian Wilkes is hoping she will step up.
“We’re giving her a shot at a Grade 1 — it would be a wonderful thing for
her owner, Robert Manfuso,” Wilkes said. “Maybe she’s not good enough to beat
these. Maybe she is. We’ll find out. But the good thing about her is she tries.”
Julien Leparoux rides Island Bound.
The Ballerina also drew Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses winner Derwin’s Star; All Due
Respect, most recently sixth in an overnight turf stakes at Belmont, and Belle
of the Hall, fourth in the Honorable Miss.
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