Star Fortress wins the Cardinal (G3) in her stateside debut last fall (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Medalla Match Could Try G2 Intercontinental
Northern Invader Shooting for G3 Arlington
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services’ graded stakes-winner Star Fortress is pointing to a start in the Grade 1, $750,000 New York presented by Rivers Casino, a 1 3/16-mile turf test for older fillies and mares on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the 5-year-old Sea The Stars mare made her first seven starts in Europe for conditioner Ralph Beckett before making a memorable stateside debut for current connections when a 10-length winner of the nine-furlong Grade 3 Cardinal in November over good going at Churchill Downs.
Star Fortress has made four starts this year, beginning with a troubled off-the-board effort in the Grade 2 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park. She was most recently a close second in the 11-furlong Grade 3 Sheepshead Bay here, rallying from last-of-5 to miss by a head to the pacesetting winner Royalty Interest.
DeVaux said the moderate splits of 52.08 and 1:18.20 didn’t help her mare.
“It wasn’t ideal, but she came with a really nice kick to just miss,” DeVaux said. “She seems to relish the distance. Even though this is a step back, the farther the better for her.”
Twisted Chaps Racing Stables’ stakes-winner Medalla Match could make her next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Intercontinental presented by MTV Solutions, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares on June 7 at Saratoga.
The 6-year-old Summer Front mare spent her first 21 career starts with trainer Michael Biehler, taking the Ricks Memorial in September at Remington Park. She debuted last out on May 3 for DeVaux in the Grade 3 Unbridled Sydney traveling 5 1/2-furlongs over yielding Churchill turf to finish a good fourth, one length back of the victorious Ova Charged.
“She came with a nice run. It would be more ideal if this race was six furlongs, but we have to run in the races that are there,” DeVaux said.
DeVaux said she will wait to see how the mare breezes this week before her status is confirmed.
DeVaux said that West Point Thoroughbred Racing and David Ingordo’s stakes-winner Northern Invader will point to the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3, $275,000 Arlington after his impressive pacesetting allowance win on April 19 at Keeneland.
The now 4-year-old Ontario-bred son of Collected won the Gio Ponti in October here ahead of runner-up efforts to Gigante in the off-the-turf Commonwealth Turf in November at Churchill and the Woodchopper in December at Fair Grounds.
“He ran well,” DeVaux said of the Keeneland effort. “It was his second time facing older and we just wanted to make sure before we put him back in stakes company that he was going to be able to handle that.”
