TurfPublicists: SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES: Friday, August 13, 2010

Friday, August 13, 2010

Contact: NYRA Press Office

(518) 584-6200, ext. 4237

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES

Travers Watch: Friend Or Foe breezes; First Dude to work in Kentucky tomorrow; A Little Warm, Trappe Shot, Afleet Express breeze at Spa tomorrow; Super Saver to go Sunday morning
McLaughlin's retro-training trick pays off for Tranquil Manner
Lisa's Booby Trap gets new stablemate
Three bettors split big superfecta pool
Graded stakes highlight Saturday card at Newbury (UK)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Friend Or Foe had his first work Friday since a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 31, covering five furlongs on the Saratoga main track in 1:00.11 according to NYRA Clockers.

The New York-bred son of Friends Lake is pointing toward the 141^st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers on Saturday, August 28. He was undefeated in three starts going into the Jim Dandy, including the $100,000 Mike Lee for New York-breds, which he won by 2 ½ lengths.

"He went well, it was just what we were looking for," said John Kimmel, who trains the colt for Chester and Mary Broman. "He was pretty sharp off the pole. Rajiv Maragh was in the irons, and he was pretty conservative through the early part of the stretch. I think if he had asked him, he would have gone down there faster than we wanted. He kind of looked like he was just in an open gallop pretty much from the 3/16^thspole, and then he squeezed him and he went out in :13 and out again in :14, and that's what we were looking for."

Kimmel said that Friend Or Foe would work again next weekend, with the day depending on the weather.

"We have a couple of days to play with," said Kimmel. "We could either go Friday, Saturday, or Sunday next week, whatever day seems like the weather is going to be good."

Trainer Dale Romans departed Saratoga this morning for Kentucky, where on Saturday he will breeze First Dude, the Preakness runner-up who subsequently finished third in the Belmont Stakes. It will be the big colt's first breeze since he finished third behind Lookin At Lucky and Trappe Shot in the Haskell Invitational on August 1.

"We'll probably come here with First Dude, and most likely go to the Travers," said Romans.

Working tomorrow at Saratoga for the Travers will be Jim Dandy winner A Little Warm and Afleet Express, who was third behind A Little Warm and Miner's Reserve in the Jim Dandy.

Trappe Shot is also scheduled to breeze in preparation for either the Travers or the King's Bishop on the undercard, while Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, who finished fourth in the Haskell, is set to breeze on Sunday, said trainer Todd Pletcher.

Owner and trainer Leon Blusiewicz said maiden winner Admiral Alex is still on target for the Travers following a five-furlong main track breeze in 1:02.67 Wednesday morning with jockey Kent Desormeaux up.

"It was just a maintenance work," Blusiewicz said. "He wanted to go. He went the last eighth in 11 and change. The further this horse goes, the better he will be. That's why I started racing him at two turns."

It was the first workout for Admiral Alex since winning his debut on July 31 here at Saratoga. While Blusiewicz is hopeful about Admiral Alex, he knows the Travers will be a class test for his horse.

"He's a good horse and we're definitely going to the Travers," he said. "He's going to get a test because I know there are going to be good horses in that race."

* * *

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin went old-school Wednesday with Tranquil Manner, sending the big-bodied Darley colt for a two-furlong blowout in the morning and saddling him to a last-to-first upset over Birdrun in a $57,000 optional claimer that same afternoon.

"It's the first time I've ever done it," said McLaughlin. "I took a page out of Chief's [Hall of Famer H. Allen Jerkens] book. He's a big, heavy horse. My brother Neal wanted to do it, so we let him go a quarter-mile at the Greentree Training Center, out three-eighths. We were able to do it because of the elimination of the security barn."

However, McLaughlin said he does not foresee making a habit out of it.

"It worked – this time," he said.

* * *

Tim Snyder's one-horse stable has gotten a little bigger.

With the winnings from Lisa's Booby Trap's victory in the Loudonville on August 6, Snyder has privately purchased a 2-year-old daughter of Cuvee from owner-trainer Merrill Scherer. The filly, named Saratogaatseventy, has started twice at the Spa, finishing seventh in a $50,000 maiden claimer on August 2 and eighth in a $35,000 maiden claimer of August 12.

"Now, I have a big filly and a little filly," he said. "She'll run here before the end of the meet."

Snyder added that he is keeping his options open as to Lisa's Booby Trap's next start. The strapping 3-year-old filly, undefeated in four starts on dirt, is nominated to the Grade 2 Lake Placid at 1 1/8^th miles on the turf on August 22, and will also be nominated to the Grade 3 Victory Ride at six furlongs over the main track on Travers Day, as well as the $75,000 Risk Averse, one mile on the turf September 2.

"I'd like to see her going longer, and I also want to try her on grass," Snyder said. "We've got time."

Snyder said he planned to gallop Lisa's Booby Trap on the turf Monday morning.

* * *

Three lucky bettors were rewarded with windfall superfecta payouts following yesterday's second race, a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies won by 30-1 long shot Valiant Passion.

Shaaraat (6-1), Becata (48-1) and Mean Reversion (45-1), respectively, completed the top four spots in the 5 ½-furlong dash, triggering a $14,286 payout for a winning 10-cent wager.

One of the winning tickets was purchased at Saratoga Race Course for a mere $2.40, with the two others bought at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Mass., and at an off-track wagering facility in Colorado.

* * *

Sans Frontieres has always been held in high regard and can continue his recent resurgence in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury (UK) on Saturday (Race 3; post time 9:30 a.m. EDT).

After almost a year off the track, Sans Frontieres required several races to return to form, then confirmed that promise with victory in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket in July. That form looks rock-solid with the runner-up, Redwood, going on to subsequent success at Glorious Goodwood.

Godolphin Stable's pair of Kite Wood and Pompeyano look to be the main opposition for Sans Frontieres, with stable jockey Frankie Dettori opting to ride Kite Wood.

Ouqba returns to his ideal trip of seven furlongs in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes on the same Newbury card (Race 4; post time 10:05 a.m.). The 4-year-old son of Red Ransom has failed to find the winner's circle since victory at Royal Ascot last year in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes, but has run some fine races in defeat, never more so than when second to Paco Boy in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May.

UK Racing is simulcast every Wednesday through Saturday morning during the Saratoga meet. Watch and wager on the best of British and Irish Racing at Bunbury's Pub in the Saratoga backyard. First post 8:25 a.m.

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