Hard Rye Guy Breezes Over Oklahoma Turf
Mira Mission Could Target G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bourbon Lane Stable and Circle N Thoroughbreds’ Our Dream Rye’d took home the bread when coming from last-of-10 and 14-lengths off the pace at odds of 21-1. Piloted by Julien Leparoux, the son of More Than Ready graduated by 1 1/4-lengths in a maiden special weight event for juveniles travelling 1 1/16 miles on the Saratoga Race Course lawn.
Our Dream Rye’d arrived at the Spa already having a race under his belt. He finished sixth when sprinting over the Churchill Downs dirt on June 19, finishing behind debut winner and next out Grade 3 Sanford winner Mo Strike.
Trainer Ian Wilkes said that Our Dream Rye’d’s previous effort was key to his success at Saratoga.
“That was the idea of it, to get the race in down at Churchill,” said Wilkes. “We got a race in him and then got him where I felt was his preferred distance and surface.”
According to Wilkes, Our Dream Rye’d’s only flaw thus far is breaking.
“He broke a little tardily. That’s the mistake he’s making at the moment,” said Wilkes. “But, stretching him out and running him long on the grass for the first time was very good.”
Wilkes said that the win earned Our Dream Rye’d an opportunity to step up to graded stakes company where he will be pointed towards the Grade 3 $175,000 With Anticipation, a 1 1/16-mile test for juveniles over the Saratoga lawn August 31.
Purchased out of the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training for $210,000, Our Dream Rye’d is out of the Bernardini mare On the Trail.
Bourbon Lane Stable’s Hard Rye Guy breezed five-eighths over the Oklahoma Turf Sunday morning. NYRA clockers captured Hard Rye Guy going 1:04.33 in his first work since finishing an even fourth in an allowance event last month at Belmont Park.
“Everything was good. I didn’t want much except a nice maintenance work and it was perfect,” said Wilkes.
The 4-year-old gelding by Hard Spun will look to return to the races in allowance company later in the Saratoga meet.
Wilkes also said that Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust’s graded stakes-winner Mira Mission could make his next start in the Grade 1 $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational. Contested at 1 1/2-miles on the August 27 Runhappy Travers undercard, Saratoga Race Course’s prestigious turf race for older horses is a “Win and You’re In” event to the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Keeneland.
Mira Mission, last seen finishing an even sixth in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple at Saratoga on Opening Weekend, has shown graded stakes success since being transferred to Wilkes from former conditioner Thomas Bush. Mira Mission missed Grade 1 glory by just a neck two starts back when second to Santin in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
“He’s come out of the race good,” said Wilkes. “We’ve got a little bit of time, about four weeks, so that’s where I’ll run him.”
The 4-year-old gelding by Noble Mission became a graded stakes winner in March, capturing the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park. A lifetime winner of over $470,000, Mira Mission has compiled a record of 13-5-2-2, including 6-2-1-1 since joining Wilkes’ barn.
Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Walkathon is possible for the Grade 3 $700,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, a 1 3/16-mile turf test for sophomore fillies on August 7 at Saratoga Race Course.
Wilkes also reported that Bourbon Lane Stable and Six Column Stables’ Bourbon Resolve, who was a vet scratch out of Saturday’s first race, would require time off.
“He’s going to go home, and we’ll re-evaluate him. It’s something minor,” said Wilkes. “Just have to take care of the horse. The horse comes first.”
NYRA Press Office
Photo of Our Dream Rye’d in a work at Saratoga by Susie Raisher.
