To be represented by Life Is Good, Americanrevolution and Happy Saver
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will have three chances to win his fourth Grade 1 Whitney when he saddles Life Is Good, Americanrevolution and Happy Saver in Saturday’s $1 million nine-furlong test for older horses. The 95th renewal of the Whitney will offer a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Keeneland.
CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm’s Life Is Good, a 4-year-old Into Mischief Bay, boasts a record of 9-7-1-0 for purse earnings in excess of $3.5 million. He notched Grade 1 wins in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Del Mar and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park.
Life Is Good, who enters from a win in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud on July 2 at Belmont, breezed a half-mile in 48.25 Saturday over the main track under exercise rider Amelia Green.
“He was his normal impressive self,” Pletcher said.
CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm’s Americanrevolution, a New York-bred son of Constitution, captured the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap in December at Aqueduct Racetrack. He has posted four triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in his last five starts, including a 108 for his runner-up effort to Whitney rival Olympiad last out in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster on July 2 at Churchill Downs.
He worked in company with Happy Saver on Saturday over the Saratoga main track, covering a half-mile in 49.75.
“I thought it went well and we were very happy with the breeze,” Pletcher said.
Wertheimer and Frere’s Kentucky homebred Happy Saver boasts a ledger of 10-5-4-1 for purse earnings of $988,300. He captured the 2020 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont and finished second last year in his title defense to Max Player at Saratoga.
Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Life Is Good, while Luis Saez retains the mount on Americanrevolution. A rider for Happy Saver, most recently piloted by Ortiz, Jr., is yet to be determined.
Whisper Hill Farm’s Charge It breezed a half-mile in 49.06 Saturday over the Saratoga main track in his first breeze back following a 23-length win in the one-mile Grade 3 Dwyer on July 2 at Belmont.
Pletcher said he was pleased with the effort as he readies the Tapit grey for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 27 at the Spa.
“We’re very pleased. We’re right on target,” Pletcher said. “We set out to have four breezes like we did before the Dwyer and the first one went really well. We’ll do a little more in the next couple weeks. So far, so good.”
Repole Stable’s Fearless posted a three-quarter length score in the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone on Thursday at Saratoga. The 6-year-old Ghostzapper gelding rallied strongly down the rail to secure the narrow win over a good main track that was soaked by intermittent showers.
“I don’t think he liked it out there at all. We had that downpour, and the track was a little funny and pretty much won it on pure courage,” Pletcher said.
Pletcher said the millionaire bay exited the race in good order and would consider turning him back for the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at 12 furlongs on September 24 at Parx.
NYRA Press Office
Main Photo; Life Is Good in a work at Saratoga on Saturday. (Janet Garaguso)
