Friday, June 25, 2010
Contact: NYRA Press Office
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- Regal Ransom on target for Suburban
- Redding Colliery still eyeing Suburban
- Pletcher to send Land of Giants to Suburban
- Fields coming together for July 4 Weekend Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. – Godolphin Stable's Regal Ransom is scheduled to have his final serious move tomorrow morning for next Saturday's Grade 2 Suburban Handicap, with assistant trainer Rick Mettee penciling in a five-furlong breeze for the son of Distorted Humor.
"He's doing really well," said Mettee of the 4-year-old Regal Ransom, who will be making his first start since finishing eighth in last November's Breeders' Cup Classic over an artificial surface. "He went to
"He's a little taller and a little stouter this year; he's always been a small, stout, sprinter-looking type of horse," he added.
After having broken his maiden at
"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," said Mettee.
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Redding Colliery, winning of the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap, remains under consideration for the Suburban, said Artie Magnuson, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
"Our initial thoughts were it was too quick back, having run on May 31," said Magnuson. "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 son of Mineshaft is scheduled to breeze a half-mile on Sunday, after which a determination may be made.
"That could be a good barometer," said Magnuson.
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Trainer Todd Pletcher is pointing Michael Tabor's Land of the Giants to the Suburban, which would mark the first stakes appearance for the 4-year-old son of
"He's been in the barn only a short time, but he had a really nice breeze the other day," said Jonathan Thomas, assistant to Pletcher, referring to the colt's half-mile move in 48.24 on June 20. "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 ¼ length allowance win 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
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In addition to Land of the Giants and Regal Ransom, the Suburban is expected to attract Centennial Farms' Convocation, exiting a fourth place finish in the Grade 1 Met Mile on May 31, as well as Timber Reserve, third-place finisher in the Grade 3 W.D. Schaefer at Pimlico on May 15. As well, I Want Revenge is expected to make his first start since winning the 2009 edition of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. NYRA Stakes Coordinator Andrew Byrnes added that Eldaafer, Haynesfield, Hold Me Back, and Tizway were possible for the race.
The Grade 1 Prioress on Sunday, July 4, is expected to draw New York-bred Franny Freud, who carries a three-race win streak into the race, prepping with an easy six-length score in the New York Stallion Stakes against statebred colts at
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