Breeders' Cup vet Crystalle working towards 3-year-old bow for Kimmel

P. G. Johnson winner Crystalle, owned by Tobey Morton and Chuck Hovitz, posted her second breeze on the Oklahoma training turf at Saratoga Friday, covering a half-mile solo in :48.88 for trainer John Kimmel.

"She had a great breeze this morning with a nice gallop out," said Kimmel. "She was pretty happy back in her stall afterwards and I'm very happy with her progress."

The dark bay daughter of Palace Malice crossed the wire first last August on debut at the Spa but was disqualified and placed third. After earning a stylish redemption to graduate at second asking in the 1 1/16-mile P.G. Johnson, Crystalle went on to finish second in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on Sept. 29 at Belmont ahead of an off-the-board effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Kimmel said the talented filly's return has been delayed and she is not likely to make the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) at 1 ¼-miles, second leg of the filly Turf Triple series, slated for Sept. 19 at Belmont.

"We were disappointed when we brought her back in March and she wasn't right," said Kimmel. "We didn't get to breeze her at Palm Meadows over the winter and the plan was to have her back in the spring. We gave her another 60 days off and now we're back on track.

"I don't think we'll make that [the Belmont Oaks], so we'll look for a non-winners of two," added Kimmel.

Chester and Mary Broman's New York-bred millionaire Mr. Buff will look to defend his title in the $175,000 Empire Classic, a nine-furlong test for New York-breds on October 24 at Belmont Park.

"He's still in training and doing well," said Kimmel. "Our main target will be the Empire Classic."

The Friend Or Foe chestnut boasts a record of 39-14-7-4 with purse earnings of $1,114,536.

The strapping chestnut wintered well at Aqueduct with scores in the Alex M. Robb, Jazil and Haynesfield before his training was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned off a four-month layoff to finish second in the one-turn mile Commentator on June 12 at Belmont and has subsequently posted fifth-place efforts in the Suburban (G2) on July 4 at Belmont and last out in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga.

Tobey Morton's Famished worked a half-mile in 48.50 on the Oklahoma dirt training track Friday.

Kimmel said he is considering sending Famished to the $1 million Queen's Plate, first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown which is re-scheduled for Sept. 12 at Woodbine Racetrack at 1 ¼-miles on the Tapeta.

"He went a half-mile in 48 and 2 and out in 1:01 and 3 and looked very good," said Kimmel. "We'll run him in an 'a other than' here next week and make a decision following that about whether to ship him to Toronto or not."

The sophomore bay son of Uncle Mo has split his time between turf and dirt, racing five times on the grass where he earned a career-best 82 Beyer when fifth on Feb. 29 in the Palm Beach (G3), a 1 1/16-mile turf tilt at Gulfstream Park.

Last out, the Ontario-bred colt earned a 75 Beyer when third in a seven-furlong allowance sprint on the Spa main track against older company.

"I think he might be a little more consistent on dirt," said Kimmel. "He just hasn't quickened as much as he's needed to on the grass and he kind of grinds it out instead of having a real turn of foot finish."

Tobey L. Morton and America's Pastime Stables' Leaky Cup, bred in New York by Kingsport Farm, earned a career-best 95 Beyer last out when taking a restricted six-furlong optional-claiming event on August 14 at Saratoga.

The 4-year-old Central Banker gelding was pulled up in the gallop out by rider Junior Alvarado and vanned off.

"Leaky Cup had a sesamoid fracture and had surgery for it last Monday," said Kimmel.

Kimmel said the hard-trying Leaky Cup, who sports a record of 16-5-2-4, will likely be retired.