SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – https://pastthewire.com/trainer-todd-pletcher-closing-in-on-5000th-career-victory/Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a trio of 2-year-olds Saturday at the Spa as he looks to add to an impressive ledger that has already seen two juveniles post maiden scores this summer.
Last Saturday, Repole Stable’s Midnight Worker, an Outwork colt, prevailed by a head at first asking, and a day later Starlight Ladies’ Miss Interpret, by Street Sense, arrived in the final stride for a head score. Both wins came in six-furlong maiden special weight events.
Breeze Easy’s Master Game, a $300,000 purchase from the Denali Stud consignment at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Sale, will make his career debut in the Saturday opener – a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight on the main track.
Master Game is a son of freshman stallion Mastery, who was unbeaten in four starts and stands at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky for a $25,000 stud fee.
Bred in Kentucky by Elm Tree Farm and Brookfield Stud, Master Game is out of the Exchange Rate mare Exchange Cat, who was dual stakes placed on the turf at Belmont Park and produced turf sprint graded stakes placed Grit and Curiosity.
Master Game worked from the gate in his last two recorded moves, logging a sharp half-mile move in 48.61 on July 17 ahead of a five-eighths breeze in 1:00.65 on July 26.
“We have a couple of Mastery babies and they appear to be forward training horses,” Pletcher said. “This horse has been training well. If he breaks alertly, he seems like the type that could be successful first time out.”
Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride from post 2.
Five races later, Pletcher sends out Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Royal Spirit [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 5-2] and Donegal Racing’s Sweeping Giant [post 1, Joel Rosario, 6-1] in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight over the Mellon turf course.
Royal Spirit, a son of leading sire Into Mischief, was bought for $450,000 from the Claiborne Farm consignment at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Sale and is out of the Malibu Moon mare Don’tforgetaboutme, who is a half-sister to graded stakes winners Mo Tom and Red Ruby, as well as Grade 1-placed Beautician.
Since arriving from Stonestreet Training Center, Royal Spirit has settled into a consistent work pattern for Pletcher, including two works over the Oklahoma training turf.
Sweeping Giant, a chestnut son of Curlin out of multiple graded stakes winning Eskendereya mare Isabella Sings, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was hammered down to $350,000.
After arriving from Elloree Training Center in South Carolina, Sweeping Giant also has worked consistently for Pletcher with his last two moves over the Oklahoma training turf.
“They seemed to work well on the grass,” Pletcher said. “These type of races are hard to win on debut. Not sure if they’ll be on or off the turf, but they’ve been training well.”
Pletcher conditioned Isabella Sings, who captured all four of her graded stakes triumphs when commanding through every point of call.
“He’s not as headstrong as her, she was kind of a free-running filly,” Pletcher said. “Often times she would open up many lengths on the field and just try to keep going. He’s a little more relaxed than her. I wouldn’t think he would be aggressive as her.”
Breaking from the rail, Sweeping Giant will be ridden by jockey Joel Rosario.
NYRA Press Release
Photo: Todd Pletcher (NYRA/Coglianese)
