Todd Pletcher. (Susie Raisher)
Pletcher Debuts Regally-Bred Pair In Saturday Maiden Test
Saratoga Race Course Week 5 Stakes Probables
Saratoga Race Course Notes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A field of 10 potential rising stars, plus one also-eligible, will line up for Race 2 on Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney Day card in a six-furlong maiden special weight over the Saratoga Race Course main track.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle two blue-blooded first-time starters in Be You [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Locked [post 4, Jose Ortiz].
Owned by Repole Stable, Be You was a $320,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale. By multiple Champion-producing sire Curlin, he is the fifth progeny out of the graded stakes-winning Congrats mare Jacaranda, who produced stakes-placed American West.
Be You has fired a pair of bullets from the gate, most recently covering a half-mile over the main track in 47.11 seconds on July 29 – the fastest of 101 recorded works at the distance.
“He seems like a Curlin that has some speed. He had a very good gate work, and he’s a professional colt that’s been training well since his arrival,” said Pletcher, who has already won three juvenile maiden tests this meet. “He drew the rail, so we need to be away alertly. I was happy with his last gate work, so hopefully he has a good debut.”
Be You’s dam Jacaranda is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning Pletcher alumnus and leading sire Constitution. Pletcher said Be You and Constitution have, “different physical types, but hopefully similar talent.”
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm’s Locked, by leading third crop sire Gun Runner, enters his debut from a string of half-mile moves. He most recently went 48.82 seconds over the main track on July 29.
A $425,000 acquisition from the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Locked is out of the Malibu Moon mare Luna Rosa, whose dual-continent stakes-winning dam Gabriellina Giof also produced dual Grade 1-winner Gabby’s Golden Gal and graded stakes winner Always a Princess.
“I think he’s a really nice colt,” Pletcher said of Locked. “It seems like the further he goes, the better he gets. It’s a good starting point, but I think he’s a two-turn horse that has a lot of promise.”
Saratoga Race Course Week 5 Stakes Probables
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9
Johnston Mile (NYB)
Probable: Bustin Bay (Linda Rice), Early Edition (Stacy Machiz), Know It All Audrey (Oscar Barrera, III), Mia Bea Star (Randi Persaud), Sunset Louise (Bruce Levine), Sweetie (Gary Sciacca), Venti Valentine (Jorge Abreu)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
John Morrissey (NYB)
Probable: Rotknee (Mike Maker), Scilly Cay (Patrick Reynolds), Sheriff Bianco (Rice), Today’s Flavor (George Weaver), Who Hoo Thats Me (Abreu)
Possible: Ny Traffic (Saffie Joseph, Jr.)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
Union Avenue (NYB)
Probable: Bank On Anna (Phil Serpe), Betsy Blue (Rice), Grannys Connection (Tom Morley), Kant Hurry Love (David Duggan), Vallelujah (Robbie Davis)
Evan Shipman (NYB)
Probable: Americanrevolution (Todd Pletcher), Bankit (Steve Asmussen), Barese (Maker), Dr Ardito (Chad Brown), Lobsta (Rachel Sells)
Possible: Sundaeswithsandy (Michelle Nevin), Whittington Park (Jeremiah Englehart)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
G1 Fourstardave (BC WAYI)
Probable: Annapolis (Pletcher), Casa Creed (Bill Mott), Emmanuel (Pletcher), Ice Chocolat (Mark Casse)
G2 Herb Moelis Memorial Saratoga Special
Probable: Divieto (Antonio Sano), Edified (Asmussen), Haul (Pletcher), Lasso (Juan Alvarado), Market Street (D. Wayne Lukas), Rhyme Schemes (Norm Casse) South America (John Kirby)
Galway
Probable: Daring Do (Wesley Ward), Isabel Alexandra (Gustavo Delgado), Love Appeals (Christophe Clement), Redifined (Michelle Lovell), Secret Money (Brendan Walsh), Stone Silent (Asmussen), Unified Alliance (Morley), Weekend Rags (Abreu), You Gotta Have Fun (Maker)
Possible: Anna’s Arabesque (Philip Bauer)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
Mahony
Probable: Eye Witness (Ward), Harry Time (Saffie Joseph, Jr.), No Nay Hudson (Ward), Private Creed (Asmussen), Uncashed (Larry Rivelli)
