Saturday, August 7, 2010
Contact: NYRA Press Office
(518) 584-6200, ext. 4237
- Snyder still basking in Loudonville afterglow
- Interpatation puts in final work for Sword Dancer
- Field coming together for Grade 2 Saratoga Special
- Dutrow looks ahead with stable stars
- Ten set for Cab Calloway
Friday's six-length Loudonville victory was the fourth straight for the filly and her first in stakes company. She is named for Snyder's late wife, who told family members she would be reincarnated as a racehorse.
"What a rush," Snyder said. "My hair was standing up on my head. I was thinking of my wife all day. There were people calling from everywhere [after she won]. My sister called from
Other than a small nick on the inside of her left leg, Lisa's Booby Trap appeared to emerge from the race in good order and Snyder said he would nominate her for two races at Saratoga – the Grade 2 Woodford Reserve Lake Placid, a 1 1/8 mile turf race on August 22 and the Grade 3 Victory Ride sprinting six furlongs over the main track on the Travers undercard August 28.
"She's got speed, but I think she's better longer," Snyder said. "I'm going to try to get permission to work her on the turf, we'll get
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Interpatation, upset winner of last October's Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at
"They went together head-and-head the whole way, good work, galloped out great, ready to go!" said Bobby Barbara, who trains the 8-year-old gelding for Elliot Mavorah. "We just need a little luck."
Interpatation was most recently sixth in the Grade 1 Man o'War at
Barbara added that Avenging Spirit, among the trainer's promising 3-year-olds, turned in an easy three furlong work over the main track in 36.27, his first work back since being gelded late in the spring.
"It was as easy as a horse could go, he was just galloping," Barbara said. "He'll probably need two more works and he'll probably run at the end of the meet. All that colt should be out of him by then and hopefully he just pays attention to what he's supposed to do. I know he can run, it's just he never paid any mind to it before."
Avenging Spirit was fourth in his most recent outing on June 5 after four consecutive second-place finishes behind talented colts in his division, including Grade 3 Bay Shore winner Eightyfiveinafifty.
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The Grade 2, $150,000 Saratoga Special, scheduled for August 16, is expected to draw sharp juveniles Kantharos and Sovereign Default, according to New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes.
Kantharos has won his two starts –a maiden special weight and the Grade 3 Bashford Manor – by a combined 21 ¼ lengths, but Sovereign Default's trainer, Rick Violette, remains undaunted.
"He's been growing a little and has kept his flesh well," said Violette of Sovereign Default, who scored by two lengths at
Also under consideration for the race is Madman Diaries, owned, trained, and bred by Wesley Ward. A 9 ¼-length winner of the
"I own the stallion and the Saratoga Special is a prestigious race," said Ward. "Finishing second would be nice, and maybe the rider of Kantharos could lose his irons. You never know what might happen."
The Saratoga Special would be Madman Diaries' first start on conventional dirt.
"The majority of the sire's horses do best on the turf and/or synthetic, but mainly on the turf," said Ward. "We're still looking at the Saratoga Special, though."
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Undefeated Trickmeister, newly acquired by IEAH Stable, has had one breeze for new trainer Rick Dutrow and will have a more serious work Wednesday as he moves towards the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers on Saturday, August 28.
"He looked good; he looks like he's going good," said Dutrow of the 3-year-old son of Proud Citizen, who won all three of his starts in front-running fashion, most recently the Barbaro Stakes at Delaware Park on July 10, for trainer Cindy Jones. "That was his first breeze since the stakes. We wanted to see how he was feeling. His next few breezes will have to be on time, and he has to stay the course."
Acting Happy, most recently third behind Devil May Care and Biofuel in the Grade 1 Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks, will breeze Monday after the break on the main track in preparation for the 1 ¼-mile, Grade 1 Betfair TVG Alabama on August 21, said Dutrow.
"We understand we're not supposed to be able to beat the top two, but if she runs big we'll be OK with that," said Dutrow.
Dutrow added that both I Want Revenge, third to Haynesfield in the Grade 2 Suburban in his first start since taking the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in 2009, and Rail Trip will be nominated to the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on Saturday, September 5.
Rail Trip, the multiple graded stakes winner who was most recently second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup while in the care of Ron Ellis, had his first workout for Dutrow on Thursday.
"All we've done with Rail Trip so far is breeze him an easy five-eighths in 1:04 –
nothing is set," he said. "We'll see how he trains, see what happens after the Whitney, see how things play out. You never know what can happen."
The trainer said that both D' Funnybone, who is being pointed to the Grade 1 King's Bishop on Saturday, August 28, and Boys At Toscanova, who is likely for the Grade 1 Three Chimneys Hopeful on Monday, September 6, are progressing nicely for their next engagements.
"D' Funnybone is a solid player; the King's Bishop is a big race for him," said Dutrow of the 3-year-old, who worked six furlongs in 1:14.88 on Thursday. "And Boys At Toscanova – he's unbelievable."
Returning to the worktab for Dutrow for the first time since February was multiple stakes winner Wishful Tomcat, second in an optional claimer in his only start of 2010. The 5-year-old New York-bred went an easy three furlongs in 39.05 on Friday.
"He's been back in our barn about 40 days," said Dutrow. "He's had knee issues for a while, and I'm hoping he makes it back and stays good."
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Wednesday's $100,000 Cab Calloway Division of the New York Stallion Series drew a field of ten 3-year-olds for the 1 1/16th mile race on the inner turf.
Highweight at 117 pounds is Lubash, who most recently dead-heated for third in an open starter allowance at
Also entered, from the rail out, are Holy Ego, Zealous Boy, Adirondack Warrior, Good to Be Me, Parkinson Field, Writethatdown, Leatherhead, Gasper C., and Seattle Mission. Hittin the Note and Raffinator were entered Main Track Only.
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