Englehart hopes Tuggle can 'step up to the plate' in Saratoga Special

Conditioner Jeremiah Englehart has started week five at Saratoga in strong fashion, saddling two juvenile winners along with one second and a third-place finish from seven starters this week.

Englehart will try and keep his hot streak with 2-year-olds going on Saturday when he saddles maiden debut winner Tuggle in the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special.

Purchased for $160,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale for August Dawn Farm, the Point of Entry colt is regally bred for the turf.

Englehart intended Tuggle to debut on the grass, but instead he impressed when the race was moved off the grass, winning by 1 ¾ lengths over a sloppy main track.

"Our 2-year-olds have run really well, and you don't always get to be so fortunate up here with that. It's been a good meet so far," Englehart said. "Tuggle is probably the best he's been coming into this race. Hopefully, he can step up to the plate and run well.

“I was a little disappointed the race was taken off the turf that day, but he showed that he can handle the dirt. Hopefully, it can carry into this race."

Another juvenile that has given Englehart success this summer at Saratoga is Gold Square LLC's New York-bred My Italian Rabbi.

The Competitive Edge filly is perfect in two starts, winning her debut May 30 at Belmont Park by 2 ½ lengths and returning to win the Stillwater on July 18 at Saratoga.

My Italian Rabbi returned to the work tab Friday morning at Saratoga, breezing five furlongs in 1:01.89 over the Oklahoma training track.

"She's continuing to do well and develop," Englehart said. "This was her second breeze back, so we'll look to get one more in before making a decision on where we'll spot her next."