Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin reported Sunday morning that Emcee, who registered
Godolphin Racing’s fourth Grade 1 win at Saratoga this summer when he captured
Saturday’s Forego, emerged from the race in fine fettle. The four-year-old
Unbridled’s Song colt will either run in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational on
Super Saturday, September 29 at Belmont Park, or train up to the Breeders’ Cup
on November 3 at Santa Anita Park, McLaughlin said.
“Emcee came out of his race great,” McLaughlin said. “I’m very pleased with
the way Alan (Garcia) rode him. The setup was great. When Shackleford didn’t
run, it was just follow (Pacific Ocean), and it worked out perfectly for us.
“Looking back at the (Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, in which Emcee
finished third on August 5), we went early because we were in the two hole and
Shackleford was in the one hole. We thought we had to beat him. So, (the plan
was) break and go. Going to the Breeders’ Cup, if we go in the Sprint, they’re
most likely going to go :21 and :43 anyway, so we’ll be laying off of them.”
McLaughlin said the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint was the probable choice
for Emcee, though the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile also would be considered.
“Most likely (we would look at the Sprint),” McLaughlin said. “I just sent an
e-mail to Simon (Crisford, Godolphin racing manager) that we have to discuss.
The difference is that the mile is two turns at Santa Anita. If it was one turn,
like at Belmont, we’d be talking more about it, but thinking about two turns, it
changes a lot. We’re probably better sprinting. It’s just that (in the mile)
we’d probably be on the lead, and is that where we want to be?”
The matter of a final prep for the Breeders’ Cup is also up in the air.
“The Vosburgh is a question mark,” McLaughlin said. “That’s another thing I’m
going to talk to Simon about. Because he did run back in four weeks here, and he
had a little gap before that, but we could do either. He’ll stay here, (to train
at) Greentree.”
McLaughlin also confirmed plans for Godolphin’s other stakes runners, all of
whom are scheduled for fall races ahead of the Breeders’ Cup.
Alpha, winner of the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and co-winner with Golden Ticket in
last weekend’s Grade 1 Travers dead-heat, will head next to Parx Racing for the
Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby on September 22.
Questing, who annexed the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and Grade 1
Alabama this Spa season, will run in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on the same
day.
It’s Tricky will join Emcee at Belmont Park on Super Saturday for a start in
the Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame Invitational at 1 1/8 miles.
While Alpha is scheduled for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Breeders’
Cup races for the fillies remain in flux, as McLaughlin would like to keep them
separate at year’s end.
“It’s Tricky will run in the Beldame, and then we have to talk about
seven-eighths (in the Filly & Mare Sprint) or the (1 1/8-mile Ladies Classic)
because of Questing,” McLaughlin reasoned.
“We’ll see how she does. If (Questing) wins impressively again, it might
alter It’s Tricky’s course. We’ll see; we have races still to go.”
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