Behind Enemy Lines takes the Cutler Bay in his stateside debut April 1 (Coglianese)
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Rockingham Ranch, Talla Racing and David Bernsen’s graded stakes-placed Behind Enemy Lines enjoyed an extra week of preparation for the Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, posting a sharp half-mile work in 47.20 seconds Saturday over the Spa’s Oklahoma dirt training track after the one-mile test for sophomores was moved to this Friday due to heavy rains last week.
Trained by Jack Sisterson, the Sioux Nation colt breezed the second-fastest work of 67 recorded that day for the distance.
“He’s doing really well and he’s never missed a beat in training since we got him, so we’re looking forward to Friday’s race,” said Sisterson. “He’s a true professional and nothing seems to get in his way. He was ready to run last week, but he enjoys his training. He’s naturally a fast horse and if you let him run, he will go quick. That was very much in the bridle and he could have went a lot quicker. He has a lot left for Friday.”
Behind Enemy Lines enters the Hall of Fame from a game runner-up effort to Major Dude in the Grade 2 Penn Mile on June 2 at Penn National, earning place honors with an off-the-pace rush to come up three-quarters of a length shy of victory. That effort came after a closing sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 American Turf on May 6 at Churchill Downs.
“I was very happy with the effort. He missed the break that day and he’s a horse who probably won’t get further than a mile, so the mile and a sixteenth that day probably called him out a bit,” Sisterson said, regarding the American Turf. “He made his move and flattened out a bit, but he’s improved each race numbers-wise. We like that.”
Initially conditioned in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien, Behind Enemy Lines made his first start with a ninth-place effort over good footing at The Curragh ahead of a win sprinting six furlongs over the all-weather surface at Dundalk. He made his first outing for Sisterson with a win in the 7 1/2-furlong Cutler Bay on April 1 at Gulfstream Park.
“Each race, each workout, every time we ask him to do something, he improves,” said Sisterson. “He’s got a great mind to him and has progressed along. Thanks to Joseph O’Brien for recommending me. He’s been brilliant.”
Behind Enemy Lines will emerge from post 3 in rein to Joel Rosario as the 8-1 co-fourth choice in the nine-horse field.
