Holy Boss Gets Stern Class Test in King's Bishop
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Photo:
Susie Raisher/NYRA
The 31st running of the Grade 1, $500,000 NYRA.com King's Bishop for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, one of seven stakes races on Saturday's Travers Day card at Saratoga Race Course, features a highly competitive field of 11 runners.
A winner of four straight and coming in off an impressive 2 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2 Amsterdam on August 1 at the Spa is Holy Boss for trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Jerry Durant. Although the son of Street Boss has yet to race beyond 6 ½ furlongs, he picked up a co-field-high 102 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort in the Amsterdam and Asmussen is happy with the way his horse is coming into the race.
"I'm very pleased with how he's done since the Amsterdam," said Asmussen. "I expect a huge race on Saturday in the King's Bishop. Last year, first time out, it looked like he could be any kind of horse, but he got a little bit off track. This spring, he's won four in a row in some impressive sprint races. I thought his last race was his best yet, and the way he ran in the Amsterdam at 6 ½ [furlongs], this seems very doable."
A winner of four straight and coming in off an impressive 2 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2 Amsterdam on August 1 at the Spa is Holy Boss for trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Jerry Durant. Although the son of Street Boss has yet to race beyond 6 ½ furlongs, he picked up a co-field-high 102 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort in the Amsterdam and Asmussen is happy with the way his horse is coming into the race.
"I'm very pleased with how he's done since the Amsterdam," said Asmussen. "I expect a huge race on Saturday in the King's Bishop. Last year, first time out, it looked like he could be any kind of horse, but he got a little bit off track. This spring, he's won four in a row in some impressive sprint races. I thought his last race was his best yet, and the way he ran in the Amsterdam at 6 ½ [furlongs], this seems very doable."
The 3-1 morning line favorite, Holy Boss will leave from post position 7 with Ricardo Santana Jr. in the irons.
Cutting back from 1 1/8 miles for the King's Bishop is 7-2 morning-line second choice Competitve Edge. Unbeaten at Saratoga with two wins in two starts and a lifetime record of two wins from three starts at the distance, Competitive Edge will look to rebound off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Haskell on August 2 at Monmouth Park, where he set the pace but weakened.
Cutting back from 1 1/8 miles for the King's Bishop is 7-2 morning-line second choice Competitve Edge. Unbeaten at Saratoga with two wins in two starts and a lifetime record of two wins from three starts at the distance, Competitive Edge will look to rebound off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Haskell on August 2 at Monmouth Park, where he set the pace but weakened.
"I like the cutback," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "His biggest win was here in the [Grade 1] Hopeful a year ago at seven furlongs, and backing up out of a mile and eighth should prove to be beneficial."
Drawing post 3, Competitive Edge will reunite with Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez.
Making his first start since a second-place finish in the Indiana Derby on July 18, Mr. Z will start for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas Calumet Farm. With 16 lifetime starts, and $1,095,778 in career earnings, Mr. Z is the most seasoned runner in the field.
"He's doing really well," said Lukas. "It's a very tough spot. Shortening him up from those route races from a mile and an eighth to seven-eighths is probably a little bit of a concern. I'm trying to freshen him up with the cutback, but there's so much speed in the race; that's my concern. It's a very good race. Anytime you run for $500,000 in a Grade 1, you're going to attract good horses."
Entering a pair for Cheyenne Stables and Godolphin Racing is trainer Kiaran McLaughin with Classy Class and Watershed, respectively.
Classy Class, who will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, enters the King's Bishop following a 1 ½-length optional claiming victory on July 9 at Belmont Park. Prior to that race, he finished fourth racing four-wide most of the way in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on June 6 at Belmont.
Watershed, a Darley-bred son of Bernardini, will take a shot in his second career start versus Grade 1 after impressively winning his debut at Saratoga on August 7 by four lengths, while picking up a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
Rounding out the field are Grand Billi, who last out won the Grade 3 Carry Back onJuly 5 at Gulfstream Park; Grade 2 Woody Stephens winner March, who most recently finished a disappointing sixth in the Amsterdam for trainer Chad Brown and owner Robert LaPenta; Loose On the Town for trainer Brian Lynch; Limousine Liberal for owner Katherine Ball and trainer Ben Colebrook; and Commute for trainer Mark Casse, and Runhappy for trainer Maria Borell.
Source: NYRA Communications
Drawing post 3, Competitive Edge will reunite with Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez.
Making his first start since a second-place finish in the Indiana Derby on July 18, Mr. Z will start for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas Calumet Farm. With 16 lifetime starts, and $1,095,778 in career earnings, Mr. Z is the most seasoned runner in the field.
"He's doing really well," said Lukas. "It's a very tough spot. Shortening him up from those route races from a mile and an eighth to seven-eighths is probably a little bit of a concern. I'm trying to freshen him up with the cutback, but there's so much speed in the race; that's my concern. It's a very good race. Anytime you run for $500,000 in a Grade 1, you're going to attract good horses."
Entering a pair for Cheyenne Stables and Godolphin Racing is trainer Kiaran McLaughin with Classy Class and Watershed, respectively.
Classy Class, who will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, enters the King's Bishop following a 1 ½-length optional claiming victory on July 9 at Belmont Park. Prior to that race, he finished fourth racing four-wide most of the way in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on June 6 at Belmont.
Watershed, a Darley-bred son of Bernardini, will take a shot in his second career start versus Grade 1 after impressively winning his debut at Saratoga on August 7 by four lengths, while picking up a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
Rounding out the field are Grand Billi, who last out won the Grade 3 Carry Back onJuly 5 at Gulfstream Park; Grade 2 Woody Stephens winner March, who most recently finished a disappointing sixth in the Amsterdam for trainer Chad Brown and owner Robert LaPenta; Loose On the Town for trainer Brian Lynch; Limousine Liberal for owner Katherine Ball and trainer Ben Colebrook; and Commute for trainer Mark Casse, and Runhappy for trainer Maria Borell.
Source: NYRA Communications
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