Kandoo Getting Ready for Adirondack
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Photo:
chelsea durand, NYRA
After a year away, Gulfstream Park-based trainer Ralph Nicks is back in Saratoga this summer with a string of 12 horses including Grade 1, $200,000 Adirondack contender Kandoo.
Bell Racing's Kandoo has had two works at the Spa, most recently going a half-mile in 50.34 seconds Sunday over the main track. The juvenile Kantharos filly cruised to a maiden victory July 18 at Gulfstream in her only start. She will stretch out from 4 ½ furlongs to 6 ½ furlongs for the Adirondack.
"She seems to be fine," Nicks said. "She already ran, so we weren't looking for fast works, just trying to get a little more fitness to run the six and a half."
Nicks has made three starts at the meet, finishing off the board with Ultimate Shopper in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss and Sweet Basil in the Shine Again Stakes. On Sunday, 3-year-old filly Crown d'Oro stumbled badly at the start and hit her nose on the track before going on to finish ninth in a one-mile optional claiming allowance over the inner turf.
"She's fine," Nicks said. "I don't know how she didn't grab something or tear something up, but she's OK."
In addition to Kandoo, other horses Nicks plans to run at the meet are Cult Classic, a 3-year-old Quality Road filly that was second in a Gulfstream Park allowance June 13 off a seven-month layoff; and Hollywood Idol, a 4-year-old son of Smart Strike currently on a two-race win streak, both at Gulfstream, May 22 and July 1.
"We've been here before, but we just missed last year," Nicks said. "Horses and clients, both [brought us back]. We had some horses that needed to take a step forward, so here we are. Kandoo, Cult Classic, Hollywood Idol; those horses will be competitive."
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The New York Stallion Series continues at Saratoga with the 12th running of the $100,000 Statue of Liberty division for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on the inner turf Thursday.
Dreamboat Annie will look to rebound for trainer Leah Gyarmati. Stretching out following a ninth-place finish at 5 ½ furlongs against open company in the Coronation Cup Stakes on August 3, Dreamboat Annie has two wins from three starts on the turf, including a victory in the Cupecoy's Joy Stakes on June 21 at Belmont Park, in that race she bested fellow Statue of Liberty entrants Loon Riverand Freudie Anne, who ran 4-5 respectively.
In addition to Loon River, trainer Gary Sciacca is also set to enter Perfect Freud. Both daughters of Freud, Perfect Freud will be making her first turf start since April 24 at Aqueduct Racetrack when she was claimed by her current connections after finishing third. Last out, she raced five-wide most of the way to finish fifth in a New York-bred optional claimer on July 18 at Belmont. Loon River enters after most recently showing a good effort in a New York-bred allowance on July 27 closing strong to finish second by a half-length.
Trainer Tom Morley is hoping to pull off a NYSS Stakes double with Amazing Anne. Entered in Monday's Cab Calloway division, should she come out of the race in good order, Morley plans to also enter back in the Statue of Liberty on Thursday. With two starts on the turf at Saratoga, Amazing Anne has one win and one third-place finish. Last out, in a New York-bred allowance race, she placed third.
Trainer Tom Morley is hoping to pull off a NYSS Stakes double with Amazing Anne. Entered in Monday's Cab Calloway division, should she come out of the race in good order, Morley plans to also enter back in the Statue of Liberty on Thursday. With two starts on the turf at Saratoga, Amazing Anne has one win and one third-place finish. Last out, in a New York-bred allowance race, she placed third.
"I'm planning to run her in both races if she comes out of today well," said Morley. "It's a great opportunity for her to pick up black type twice within a week. She's very sound, very straight-forward and recovers from her racing very quickly, so I'm excited to see how she gets on today. She's shown a real affinity for this grass course especially."
Rounding out the field is Psychiatry for Westbury Stables and trainer Tom Bush after recently breaking her maiden in her third career start on July 8 at Belmont;Cosmic Serenity for trainer Phil Serpe, Arietta for trainer James Bond; Rockin Alli and Ragazza Piu' Bella.
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A tardy start didn't stop Jeff Herold in Sunday's Low Roller handicapping tournament at Saratoga Race Course. Despite being the last to sign up, Herold played the last five races of the day and bested a field of 223 entrants.
For his victory, Herold took home $1,115 in prize money, in addition to the $96.80 in earnings he amassed over the course of the live bankroll event.
Playing as partners, Dan Tordjman and Victoria Garofalo of America's Best Racing finished second with a bankroll of $78.80, bringing home $446 in prize money. The pair were followed closely by Robert Weir in third with a score of $76.40 and winnings of $334.50.
John Creighton and Tim Aschoff rounded out the top five on the leaderboard.
Source: NYRA Comminications
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