Tracy Farmer’s Sir Winston, winner of the 2019 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, is likely to make his return to Big Sandy in the $80,000 Flat Out set for Thursday, June 11 at Belmont Park.
Trained by multiple Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Sir Winston breezed five furlongs in 1:01.76 Friday on the Belmont main track.
Perfect Alibi, also owned by Farmer, captured the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga in September. The sophomore daughter of Sky Mesa also breezed five-eighths in 1:01.76 Friday and is targeting the Grade 1, $300,000 Acorn set for Belmont Stakes Day June 20 at Belmont Park.
“Sir Winston worked really well and Perfect Alibi is just sitting on go. She’s training as good as she’s ever trained,” said assistant trainer Jamie Begg.
Sir Winston last raced on January 31 when rallying to victory in an optional-claiming mile. He then shipped to Dubai for the Dubai World Cup which was subsequently canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 Belmont Stakes replay
Since returning to Belmont, the Awesome Again chestnut has trained consistently towards a return.
Perfect Alibi romped on debut at first asking on May 16, 2019 at Churchill Downs and followed up with a good second in June 2019 in the Astoria at Belmont. A memorable Saratoga campaign included a win in the Grade 2 Adirondack in August ahead of her Spinaway success. She completed her juvenile season with a second in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland and a fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita in November.
2019 Spinaway Stakes replay
Begg said he is looking forward to a return to live racing at Belmont which kicks off on Wednesday, June 3.
“It’s like every horse is coming off a layoff. Barns can get hot and cold, so it will be interesting to see how we come out of this hiatus,” said Begg. “I’m happy with how most of our horses are running right now. Usually, when you’ve been running a bunch, you know if you’re hot or cold and how to play your hand…but, right now, who knows? I’m looking forward to seeing them all run.”
Gary Barber’s Eyeinthesky, a multiple stakes-winning daughter of Sky Mesa, is likely to make her next start in the Grade 3, $100,000 Intercontinental, a seven-furlong turf sprint slated for June 6.
The 4-year-old bay captured the Mizdirection at Aqueduct and the Galway at Saratoga in a productive sophomore season.
Live Oak Plantation homebred Old Chestnut, a 3-year-old son of Speightstown, is pointed to the $80,000 Sir Cat set for Friday, June 19 at six furlongs on the turf for sophomores.
Old Chestnut, out of the Grade 1-winner Pool Land, captured the Ontario Racing on the Woodbine turf in September in his third career start.
NYRA Press Release
