Calumet Farms’ Vexatious worked for the second time since upsetting reigning Champion Older Female Midnight Bisou in the G1 Personal Ensign with a half-mile breeze in 49.65 over the Saratoga main track Saturday for trainer Jack Sisterson.
The royally bred daughter of Giant’s Causeway, who is a full sister to G1-winning millionaire Creative Cause and half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Destin, beat this morning’s rain by breezing early.
“Vexatious worked at 5:30 so it was pretty dark and hard to see,” Sisterson said. “It was a typical work for her. She strode out well. She’s an efficient mover and switched leads well. I couldn’t be happier with her. It was her second work since running and she seemed to come out of her race well.”
Initially, Sisterson said he was planning on pointing Vexatious to the G1 Spinster on October 4 at Keeneland, where the conditioner is primarily based, but the veteran mare could take a crack at another champion next out and face Monomoy Girl in the G1 La Troienne on September 4 at Churchill Downs.
“The original plan was the Spinster, which is two months after the Personal Ensign, but now we’re strongly considering the La Troienne against Monomoy Girl,” Sisterson said. “She’s telling us that she’s up for it. She’s doing better than ever at Saratoga so why take her job away from her? Obviously, the Breeders’ Cup is the main goal and you worry about running her back too many times. But she’s by Giants Causeway and he was a fighter and battler and she has that trait in her.”
Calumet Farms color bearer Everfast breezed a half-mile in 49.33 Saturday under Ricardo Santana, Jr. on the Saratoga main track in preparation for the G1, $300,000 Forego presented by America’s Best Racing on August 29 at Saratoga.
The son of Take Charge Indy last raced when besting a first-level allowance field going seven furlongs on August 8, one race preceding Vexatious’ winning effort in the Personal Ensign.
“He came out of his seven-eighths race well,” Sisterson said. “We had Ricardo breeze him and that was the first time he breezed him on the dirt. He’s on go for the Forego.”
Sisterson also will be saddling graded stakes winner Lexitonian and multiple graded stakes placed True Timber in the Forego next Saturday. Both horses recorded half-mile works on Friday morning at Keeneland with Lexitonian going the distance in 49.40 seconds and True Timber completing his four-furlong work in 47.40.
“Lexitonian and True Timber worked down at Keeneland yesterday and looked super. All three are doing great so we’re excited for next weekend,” Sisterson said.
NYRA Press/ Photo Credit: NYRA
