Defending champion McKulick faces Eternal Hope, Chop Chop in Glens Falls

McKulick, who denied two-time defending champion War Like Goddess in last year’s Glens Falls (G2), bids for a repeat of her own in Thursday’s $250,000 renewal at Saratoga. Her challengers include Eternal Hope, seeking more stateside success for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, and Chop Chop, most recently runner-up to War Like Goddess at Delaware Park.

Interestingly, Eternal Hope and McKulick have captured the past two runnings of the Jockey Club Oaks (G3) at Aqueduct. Eternal Hope prevailed by a neck when making her U.S. debut in that event last September. The Teofilo filly added the Oct. 14 Sands Point (G3) next time out over the same course, but she hasn’t raced in the interim.

“She hasn’t been seen since her American starts last year, but her preparation has gone well,” Appleby told NYRA publicity. “We feel that, at that trip, she’s a filly we saw who can get to a good level in America. We’re looking forward to getting her back out. There will be a bit of improvement for the run, but she goes there in great shape.”

Flavien Prat picks up the mount on Eternal Hope, who had mixed results at this 1 1/2-mile trip in Great Britain. Victorious in the 2023 Lingfield Oaks Trial, she was seventh in the Oaks (G1) at Epsom. In U.S. conditions, however, she figures to stay the distance.

The Chad Brown-trained McKulick scored her signature win in the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Oaks (G1) in 2022, but she’s needed longer trips to revisit the winner’s circle. Her subsequent victories have come in the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Oaks and Waya (G3), along with the Glens Falls and the March 30 Orchid (G3) over 1 1/2 miles. As that summary suggests, McKulick found 1 3/16 miles shorter than ideal in the New York (G1) in her latest, and she checked in fifth in a loaded renewal at the Spa.

“She's shown an affinity for Saratoga before,” Brown said of the daughter of Frankel, who had been first or second in all four prior starts here. “I’m not sure what happened last time out, but getting her out to the mile and a half distance should help her cause.”

McKulick, the 2-1 favorite on the morning line, reunites with regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. Stablemate Royalty Interest also aims to rebound from the New York, where she faded to 10th after setting the pace. Two starts back, Royalty Interest stole the Sheepshead Bay (G2), and she figures to go forward again from post 2.

“She might have bounced a little bit that last race,” Brown said of the New York, “because Eric (Cancel) gave her another good ride on the front end and she didn't kick on. Her race previous, she took them all the way, which was a pleasant surprise. I see her back in good form in the morning.”

Christophe Clement, a four-time winner of the Glens Falls, is also double-handed with Parnac and Atomic Blonde. Parnac famously upset McKulick in last season’s Flower Bowl (G2), where she got away with slow fractions up front. Although Parnac hasn’t duplicated that effort in two ensuing starts, Clement is forecasting improvement.

“We have been waiting for a race going a mile and quarter or more for forever for the filly,” Clement said. “She is doing exceptionally well. I can’t wait to run the filly as she has been doing everything right.”

Atomic Blonde traded decisions with Chop Chop in Kentucky this spring. Second in the Bewitch (G3) at Keeneland, Atomic Blonde turned the tables on Chop Chop in the Keertana S. at Churchill Downs.

When they took their rivalry to the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) at Delaware Park, though, Chop Chop regained the upper hand. The Brad Cox filly beat all but divisional mainstay War Like Goddess, while Atomic Blonde got no nearer than fourth. Now Chop Chop teams up with legendary Frankie Dettori in the Glens Falls.

Also exiting the Dick Memorial is Alpha Bella, who led early but tired to fifth. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the daughter of Triple Crown champion Justify wired her only prior start at 1 1/2 miles, the Jan. 27 La Prevoyante (G3) at Gulfstream Park. But with Royalty Interest and Parnac on the scene, she is likely to have company on the front end.