Grade/Group 2 winner REGAL RANSOM (Distorted Humor) is scheduled to have his
final serious move Saturday morning for next Saturday’s Suburban H. (G2), with
assistant trainer Rick Mettee penciling in a five-furlong breeze.
“He’s doing really well,” Mettee said. “He’s a little taller and a little
stouter this year; he’s always been a small, stout, sprinter-looking type of
horse.”
The four-year-old will be making his first start since finishing eighth in
last November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) over the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita.
Regal Ransom earned a shot in that event off a victory in the Super Derby (G2)
in mid-September.
“He went to Dubai and didn’t train well over the (synthetic) Tapeta. When he
came here, he got back into full swing,” Mettee added. “It’s not the easiest
spot, going nine furlongs coming back off a layoff, but if you had to run one
off the bench, he’s the one.”
Also expected to work this weekend in advance of a possible start in the
Suburban is Lone Star Park H. (G3) victor REDDING COLLIERY (Mineshaft), who
remains under consideration for the 1 1/8-mile test, according to Artie
Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
“Our initial thoughts were it was too quick back, having run on May 31,”
Magnuson said. “We’re not going to force him into the race, but he’s doing well
and he’s happy. We’d like to see him put on a few pounds.”
The gray four-year-old is scheduled to breeze a half-mile on Sunday, after
which a determination may be made on his Suburban status.
“That could be a good barometer,” Magnuson stated.
Trainer Todd Pletcher is pointing LAND OF THE GIANT’S (Giant’s Causeway) to
the Suburban, which would mark the first stakes appearance for the four-year-old
dark bay.
“He’s been in the barn only a short time, but he had a really nice breeze the
other day,” Jonathan Thomas, assistant to Pletcher, said in reference to the
colt’s half-mile move in :48 1/5 last Sunday. “Off his allowance win at
Churchill, he’s certainly deserving of a stakes start.”
Land of the Giants broke his maiden in January at Santa Anita in his second
start, and after finishing second in an allowance there, ran off to a 15
1/4-length allowance score at Keeneland. Fifth over a wet-fast track at
Churchill Downs on May 13, he was a two-length winner of a second-level
allowance in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 4 in his most recent start.
In addition to Land of the Giants and Regal Ransom, the Suburban is expected
to attract CONVOCATION (Pulpit), exiting a fourth-place finish in the Met Mile
(G1) on May 31, as well as TIMBER RESERVE (Forest Camp), third-place finisher in
the William Donald Schaefer S. (G3) at Pimlico on May 15. I WANT REVENGE
(Stephen Got Even) is likely to make his first start in the Suburban since
winning the 2009 edition of the Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct.
NYRA Stakes Coordinator Andrew Byrnes added that Grade 2 winners ELDAAFER
(A.P. Indy) and HOLD ME BACK (Giant’s Causeway), Grade 3 victor HAYNESFIELD
(Speightstown) and dual Grade 1-placed TIZWAY (Tiznow) are also possible for the
race.