La Signare continues to train at Saratoga, possibility for the Grade 1 $600,000 Flower Bowl
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Rebecca Hillen’s Ego Trip ran a competitive second in her North American debut for trainer Brendan Walsh, finishing just one length back to Rastafara in a one-mile contest on July 24 over the Saratoga turf. The daughter of No Nay Never will now look to build on that experience as she competes as part of a six-horse field in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid for sophomore fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon turf course in Race 9.
The Irish-bred Ego Trip ran second going seven furlongs in March at Newcastle in Great Britain for trainer Kevin Ryan before shipping across the Atlantic and entering Walsh’s care.
Walsh said she has progressed nicely as she readies for her graded stakes debut.
“She was very unlucky last time; she ran a really nice race,” Walsh said. “The first time racing in this country, I think she found the track a little tight and things a little faster for her. But she’s been working great since that race, so we decided to go straight to this one and take a shot at it. It’s six runners. I can’t see why she couldn’t at least place.”
Ego Trip drew post 3 in the Lake Placid with Tyler Gaffalione, aboard for her start last month, back in the irons. She is listed at 6-1 on the morning line in a field that includes 6-5 favorite Technical Analysis out of post 2.
Since that runner-up performance, Ego Trip has continued to train at Saratoga, breezing twice on the Oklahoma training turf, including a four-furlong work in 49.09 seconds on August 13. After running over firm going last out, Walsh said he’s hoping the rain will subside heading into the weekend.
“She’s a very nice filly. From what we’ve seen, we think she can be really good as time goes along,” Walsh said. “We’re going to take our chance. Hopefully, the weather dries out a little bit for us.”
Godolphin homebred Maxfield came out of his runner-up effort to Knicks Go in the Grade 1 Whitney in good order and could return to the work tab in the next week, Walsh said.
Maxfield tied a personal-best 105 Beyer, first set in his win in April in the Grade 2 Alysheba in April at Churchill, for his effort in the five-horse Whitney on August 7 in the Saratoga’s meet premier race for older horses. The 4-year-old Street Sense colt is 7-1-1 in nine career starts with earnings of more than $1.4 million.
“He came back out of the race really well and is still in Saratoga,” Walsh said. “We haven’t worked him back yet, but we’ll probably work him in the next few days. We haven’t really decided where we are going to go next. We want to see him work back and give it a week or two and see what happens with everything else.”
La Signare also continues to train at Saratoga and is a possibility for the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl on the final Saturday of the summer meet on September 4. Previously held during the Belmont fall meet, the 1 3/8-mile Flower Bowl was moved to the Saratoga turf slate this year. It is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the Grade 1, $4 million Breeders’ Cup Longines Turf on November 6 at Del Mar.
Owned by Madaket Stables, the Cambrons and Bradley Thoroughbreds, La Signare has earned black type in three consecutive Grade 1 appearances, starting with a third in the Jenny Wiley in April at Keeneland before running second in the Gamely in May at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old French-bred daughter of Siyouni has already ran once at Saratoga this meet, finishing behind Summer Romance and winner Althiqa in a third-place effort in the 1 1/8-mile Diana on July 17.
La Signare has stayed at Saratoga since that effort, making registering her first workout since the Diana when breezing four furlongs in 50.64 on August 11 on the Oklahoma main track.
“We’ll probably think about the Flower Bowl. She’s been doing well and been really good in her works,” Walsh said.
NYRA Press Release
Photo: La Signare winning the Wonder Again June 7, 2018. (Chelsea Durand)
