Concrete Rose, Morticia give trainer Arnold formidable female duo

A perennial resident of Saratoga for the summer racing season, conditioner Rusty Arnold was in good spirits returning to stable at the historic racetrack.

The mood is justifiable as he conditions a pair of talented graded stakes winners in 3-year-old phenom filly Concrete Rose for owners Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing and 5-year-old Morticia for owner G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.

"It's always fun to be up here," Arnold said. "I've had good meets and I've had bad meets up here, and it's not so bad coming up here knowing you have some talented runners to compete."

Concrete Rose is undefeated in three starts this year, capturing the Florida Oaks (G3) at Gulfstream and the Edgewood (G3) at Churchill Downs ahead of her victory in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1), the first leg of the newly created Turf Tiara for fillies.

Arnold said the daughter of Twirling Candy had shipped and settled into Saratoga well with the goal of racing in the second leg of the Turf Tiara, the $750,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, on Friday, Aug. 2.

"She really came out of her race well," Arnold said. "We'll run back in the Oaks if everything goes well. She has really progressed.

“She's 3-for-3 as a 3-year-old and each time she's run I feel she's gotten better. Hopefully, by the end of the meet we can say we still have the top 3-year-old turf filly in the country. Certainly, as of right now, she's proven herself that so far."

Arnold also reported seven-time stakes winner Morticia, who won an allowance race June 2 at Churchill last out, would work Sunday and is expected to enter the $200,000 Caress on July 20.

"She's doing really well," Arnold said. "Everything's a go so far and she works on Sunday. We were very happy we found a race for her to run in when she got back to Churchill. She shipped in here good and continuing to do really well.

“We'll target the Caress, and she'll breeze here on Sunday."