Aqueduct: Clement's Bottas makes 2nd start in Friday's Pilgrim

Bottas steps up in class for his second career start in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juveniles, at Belmont at the Big A. 

The Pilgrim, a win-and-you're-in for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, is slated as race 8 on Friday’s nine-race card, which also features the Futurity, a win-and-you're-in for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, in Race 6. First post is 1:10 p.m. EDT.

Click here for Belmont at Aqueduct entries and results.

Trained by Miguel Clement and owned by Dahman, Bottas debuted Aug. 23, Travers day, at Saratoga with a stylish win in the opener. In the 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight, the Vekoma dark bay traveled in last of six during the early going before launching a wide bid at the quarter-pole under Flavien Prat en route to a 2 1/4-length victory over Franklin Delano. The final time of 1:41.70 earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.

“That was a very impressive performance,” Clement said. “We do believe he has improved since his debut.” 

Bottas worked back three times over the Spa’s Oklahoma training turf since returning to the tab on Sept. 5 and most recently covered a half-mile over the dirt training track in 49.03 seconds on Sept. 26 there.

“He is doing very well,” Clement said. “I’m very much excited to see him run. His works have been encouraging, and we are expecting a big performance.” 

Formula 1 fans may have a hunch play as the well-respected driver Valtteri Bottas is signed to the new Cadillac team for 2026. The equine Bottas, a $300,000 purchase at the OBS spring sale of 2-year-olds in Training, is a half-brother to stakes-winner Parenting out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Iadorakid, a half-sister to Canadian champion turf male El Tormenta and Grade 3 winner Zero Tolerance. 

“This horse was a great purchase by Case Clay at the 2-year-old sale,” Clement said. “His development has been more mental than physical. Mentally, he is more mature now. He is really starting to understand the routine that we are asking of him. We are seeing another dimension in his turf works at the moment, so this is exciting.” 

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher sends out Teleport and Scope, the 1-2 finishers from a 1 1/16-mile maiden Aug. 17 at Saratoga as both colts made their debuts. 

Repole Stable and breeder Newtown Anner Stud Farm’s Ireland-bred Teleport was favored in the maiden race, setting the pace before being bumped solidly by his stablemate late and crossing the wire one length back. After review, the stewards deemed that Scope interfered with Teleport, elevating the latter to victory. 

Teleport, a Lope de Vega chestnut, is a half-brother to this year’s Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) runner-up Juweiler out of the Galileo mare Gravitee, a full-sister to Group 1 winner Intello. 

Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert LaPenta’s Scope is still a maiden after his disqualification to second, but he did show a nice turn-of-foot in that event. The Maryland-bred Gun Runner bay was a $400,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale and is out of the Grade 3-placed Street Sense mare Nasty. 

Pletcher has won the Pilgrim a record six times, including from 2021-23 with Annapolis, Major Dude and Agate Road, as well as with The Leopard in 2007, Eskendereya, off the turf in 2009, and Seabhac in 2017.