Speaking Scout assertively scoring the Hollywood Derby. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Nagirroc Rerouted To G2 Secretariat
Saratoga Race Course Notes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Speaking Scout, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, on the back of six consecutive graded stakes starts will drop into restricted company in Saturday’s $135,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test restricted to older horses who have not won a graded event this year, at Saratoga Race Course.
“He’s really good,” said trainer Graham Motion. “He’ll come up tomorrow and I think it’s a little shorter than maybe he wants to do, but I think it’s a good spot for him with the restriction. It helps, especially since he won a nice race last year.”
The son of Mr Speaker enters from a rallying third in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Monmouth on June 17 at its namesake track. He pounced from 4 1/2 lengths off the pace under Jorge Ruiz to make a five-wide bid and settle for show honors 1 1/2 lengths back of the victorious Catnip.
Motion said patience is key with Speaking Scout, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat from post 5 [9-2 ML] on Saturday.
“We gave him a lot of time between races this time. He’s pretty honest,” said Motion. “He was a little unlucky at Monmouth last time – the race kind of unfolded awkwardly where he and another horse moved early in the race. He wasn’t beaten much, and I think if Flavien is patient with him, he can be right there.”
In addition to the Hollywood Derby, Speaking Scout boasts a five-length win in last year’s Hawthorne Derby, as well as graded placings when second, beaten a half-length, in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby in October, and third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January. He has banked $637,993 in total purse earnings through a record of 18-4-4-2.
Motion added that Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables and William Strauss’ graded stakes-winner Nagirroc will skip Friday’s Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga and instead target the Grade 2 Secretariat on August 12 at Colonial Downs.
The Secretariat would give Nagirroc extra time to prepare for his first start since finishing third in the Grade 3 Manila on July 7 at Belmont Park, as well as a chance to avoid a softer turf course as rains are forecasted for Friday in Upstate New York.
“I think he’ll run at Colonial next weekend. We were kind of on the fence, but I think that’s what we’re going to do,” said Motion. “There’s the weather, and it gives him an extra week.”
The son of Lea boasts a perfect in-the-money record from eight lifetime outings, including a win in the Grade 3 Futurity in October at Belmont at the Big A, and a game third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in November at Keeneland.
