Micromanage Looks to Defend Title in Birdstone
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Wednesday's $100,000 Birdstone Stakes for 3 year olds and up at 1 ¾ miles features a field of eight older horses looking to jump start a summer campaign with a coveted stakes victory at the Spa.
From the barn of current meet leading trainer Todd Pletcher is defending champion Micromanage for owner Mike Repole. A 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro, Micromanage has a flawless two-for-two lifetime record at the Spa and stretches out for the Birdstone following a third place finish in the Carl Hanford Memorial Stakes at a mile and 70 yards on July 18 at Delaware Park.
"I think a mile and three quarters is something he can do," said Pletcher. "We're hoping to get him back on track. His race in Delaware last time was a step in the right direction getting him stretched back out to a marathon-type distance. Hopefully, we'll move him forward."
Drawing post position 2, Micromanage will be ridden by Javier Castellano.
Also entered by Pletcher for Repole Stable is Village Warrior. Last out, the 4-year-old colt by Majestic Warrior stalked a tepid pace to run third in an optional claimer on July 11 at Mommouth Park. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will have the mount from post 8.
Entering off a victory in May is Northeast Bound for trainer Dale Romans. Last out, the 5-year-old son of Dehere was impressive drawing away in the stretch to win an allowance race at Churchill Downs by 2 ¼ lengths.
Also entered by Pletcher for Repole Stable is Village Warrior. Last out, the 4-year-old colt by Majestic Warrior stalked a tepid pace to run third in an optional claimer on July 11 at Mommouth Park. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will have the mount from post 8.
Entering off a victory in May is Northeast Bound for trainer Dale Romans. Last out, the 5-year-old son of Dehere was impressive drawing away in the stretch to win an allowance race at Churchill Downs by 2 ¼ lengths.
Northeast Bound will depart from post 3 with Julien Leparoux in the irons.
Winning Move Stable's Turco Bravo returns to stakes competition after running third at Laurel Park in an optional claiming race on July 18. Previously, the 6-year-old gelding started in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap and Grade 3 Excelsior where he finished seventh and fifth, respectively.
Winning Move Stable's Turco Bravo returns to stakes competition after running third at Laurel Park in an optional claiming race on July 18. Previously, the 6-year-old gelding started in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap and Grade 3 Excelsior where he finished seventh and fifth, respectively.
Rounding out the field is Gridley Here for trainer Ken McPeek and owner Harold Lerner, third in the Saginaw Stakes at Belmont Park on July 18; Cary Street for trainer Brendan Walsh; Desvelo; and Tacticus for Flaxman Stable and trainer Graham Motion.
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Fields are taking shape for next weekend's graded stakes action, which kicks off with the 32nd running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Maker's Mark Lake Placid for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the grass. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who won last year's Lake Placid with Crown Queen, has a pair of candidates in Daring Duchess, an allowance winner at the distance in May, and Wonder Again Stakes runner-up Heath. Hilltop Stakes winner and multiple Grade 3-placed Miss Temple City is set to go out for trainer Graham Motion, as is Sentiero Italia for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Miss Chatelaine is possible.
The Mott-trained Seek Again looks to defend his title in Saturday's 32nd renewal of the Grade 2, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap for 3-year-olds and up going one mile on the turf. The 5-year-old son of Speightstown has gone winless in four starts since last summer, most recently finishing third in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile. Trainer Todd Pletcher will be well-represented with Grade 1 winners Jack Milton and Mshawish, while graded stakes winners Grand Arch, Grand Tito, Ironicus, King Kreesa and Skyring are also expected. Vyjack is listed as possible.
Also part of Saturday's program is the 99th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack for 2-year-old fillies going 6 ½ furlongs on the main track. Pletcher has won three editions of the race, most recently with Kauai Katie in 2012, and is looking to run debut winners Delicate Lady for Dianna and William Shaffer and Tonasah for StarLadies Racing. Bell Racing's Kandoo, Chadds Ford Stable's Lookout Sister and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Taxable, all first-time maiden winners, are also expected. Come to Mischief, winner of the My Dear Stakes at Woodbine June 28, is possible.
Juvenile colts will be back in the spotlight on Sunday in the 110th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Toyota Saratoga Special, also at 6 ½ furlongs. Exaggerator, Holding Gold, Mid Life Crisis, Paratrooper and Saratoga Mischief all make their stakes debuts off maiden victories. Also expected is John Q. Public, a maiden winner in July who was last seen finishing 10th following a troubled trip in the Grade 3 Sanford July 25.
Wrapping up the third full week of the meet is the $100,000 Saratoga Dew for New York-bred fillies and mares 3 and up on Sunday, August 17. Carameaway, Flipcup, Hot Stones, Jcs American Dream, Sathreehailmary's, Smitten by Gold, Tahoe Tigress and possibly Get Gorgeous are slated for the 1 1/8-mile main track test.
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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