There’s a lot to play in Saturday’s $600,000 GI Alabama S. Run in Saratoga, where Nest (Curlin) and Secret Vow (Arrogate) face off for the third time – each with a well-deserved victory – with division supremacy awaiting the winner.
An 8 1/4-length vote count at Keeneland Ashland S.’s GI Central Bank awarded Nest a biased role in GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, but she didn’t fit the now-forgotten Oath of Secrecy. forget a bit, drop one point two- decide the length. A well-deserved second for stable teammate Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the GI Belmont S., the $350,000 Keeneland September score reversed Oaks form with a 12 1/4-length smash of the Oath of Secrets during the GI CCA Oaks July 23, well for Figure 104 Beyer Speed is a half-dozen stronger than whatever points her six opponents have earned and nine points more than the top of Secret Oath. HOLD Runhappy Travers S. starts as an option next weekend, but she’s sticking with the path of less resistance for Alabama.
Coach Todd Pletcher, who won his third Alabama with ‘Rising star TDN’ Malathaat (Curlin) last year. “But, in her case, she did well because the race was no excuse not to.”
Wayne Lukas, who won Alabama twice in the 1980s with Life’s Magic in 1984 and with Oaks Open Mind winner five years later, looks on par with his former student. Secret Oath’s second clash of the season with the boys in GI Preakness S. resulted in a non-threatening fourth, and she thinks will knock out CCA Oaks, her first start in 63 days. .
“She really has had a good month since her failure in [CCA Oaks],” Lukas said. “In fact, I feel like she’s better now than I’ve ever been with her. She has really grown here in Saratoga. [Jockey] Luis [Saez] worked with her three times since that race, so he also became more familiar with her every day. So that will help us as much as anything. We can’t wait to run her.”
Gerrymander (Into Mischief) defeats the next GIII heroine Monmouth Oaks and ‘Rising star TDN’ Shahama (Munnings) in the June 25th GII Mother Goose S., but it will probably need to find a few lengths to trouble the heavy giants.
GI CCA Oaks NEST winner who will run in the GI Alabama S. on Saturday in Saratoga @TheNYRAphotobombed by @kentuckyderby Winner and GI Travers S. The Hopeful Rich Attack… Spa Only!
Great shot by @SarahKAndrew. pic.twitter.com/807ChVlCH1
– TDN (@theTDN) August 18, 2022
Spendarella Vulnerable in Del Mar Oaks?
Gainesway Stable’s Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}) has set her career record with three wins from multiple starts with a convincing 1/4th success at GII Appalachian S. in Keeneland in April and with coach Graham Motion no afraid to cross the deepest waters, bring that undefeated mark to the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot on June 17. The $220,000 purchase of Keeneland in September was unfortunately met with a perfect match for the company. she is Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who scored 4 3/4 lengths before being fired and has since beaten the boys in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois in Deauville.
But GI Del Mar Oaks on Saturday calculated something other than a walk in the park for Spendarella, who is facing a new challenge from Euro imports. Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Gulf, previously coached by Philippe Decouz, was staked in France earlier this season on synthetics and on grass and was last seen posting a mild annoyance as he proved 3/ 4 is too strong in the G2 German 1000 Guineas in Duesseldorf June 12. Most recently, the bay topped the Arqana Summer Mixed Sale with a €1.2 million bid from BBA Ireland on behalf of Yulong Investments. She made her US debut for the John Sadler warehouse and could be the fly in her favorite ointment.
With moonlight supporting Lake Placid
Godolphin’s With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) started for the third time in the past six weeks as the GII Lake Placid S. favorite back to Spa. After being unable to see the G1 Cazoo Oaks’ 12-long distance on June 3, the domestic cross completed a Frankel exactly behind McKulick (GB) in the July 9 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational but turned the tide against that enemy last time in the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational. The second barn went missing around this time, but the Chad Brown barn was represented by a quartet – each lined up next to the other – including GIII Lake George S. one of the two finishers. Dolce Zel (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}, port 5) and Famous Victor (Mr. Z, lesson three); Consumer Spending (More than ready, post four), winner of GII Wonder Again S. and third in the Belmont Oaks; and ‘Rising Star TDN‘Haughty (Empire Maker, port number six).
In Saturday’s no-scoring action, the winner of Class I Rattle N Roll (Link), who lost all chances at the start of the GIII Indiana Derby on July 9, looking to return victorious in the St. Louis Derby $250,000 at FanDuel Racing (results on Monday TDN), while 2-year-old boys and girls prepare for GI Pattison Summer S. and GI Natalma S. next month, in Soaring Free S. and Catch a Glimpse S. at Woodbine, respectively.
