Mongolian Saturday Gearing Up for BC Turf Sprint
Even though he never has raced outside North America, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) hopeful Mongolian Saturday embodies the “world” in Breeders’ Cup World Championships because his connections are from Mongolia. Owner Ganbaatar Dagvadorj’s Mongolian Stable and trainer Enebish Ganbat purchased Mongolian Saturday for $60,000 at Keeneland’s 2011 September Yearling Sale.
On Oct. 3, Mongolian Saturday was second in the Woodford (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select, which was rained off the turf course and run on dirt. The performance marked the gelding’s fourth runner-up finish in stakes competition this year, which includes the Parx Dash (G3) and Turf Monster (G3) both on the turf at Parx.
On Tuesday close to 10 a.m., Mongolian Saturday worked for the first time since the Woodford, covering three furlongs in :37.40 under assistant trainer Santiago Aragon.
Ganbat is happy about the prospect of saddling his first Breeders’ Cup starter.
“Everybody is excited,” he said, adding that the owner is to attend the Breeders’ Cup to watch Mongolian Saturday compete.
Ganbat, who is in his fifth year of training in the U.S., said he began training horses in Mongolia in 1995. He has 12 horses in training for Dagvadorj, who keeps several broodmares in Central Kentucky.
Mongolian Saturday became Ganbat’s first Keeneland starter when he ran in the Woodford. The gelding, who has made 30 starts at 13 race tracks in six states and Ontario, has six wins and earnings of $410,926.
Ganbat said a decision on whether to work Mongolian Saturday another time before the Breeders’ Cup would be made at the end of this week. He said the gelding would be ridden in the Breeders’ Cup by Florent Geroux, who was aboard him in the Woodford.
ACCOMPLISHED OSAILA (IRE) POINTED TO CLOSING-DAY PIN OAK VALLEY VIEW
The 25th running of the $150,000 Pin Oak Valley View (G3) on Saturday, closing day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet, marks the first race in which Al Shaqab Racing’s Osaila (IRE) will start for trainer Todd Pletcher. While trained by Richard Hannon, the daughter of Danehill Dancer was third behind Lady Eli and Sunset Glow in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Santa Anita and in her most recent race was fifth in the Sept. 12 Sands Point (G2) at Belmont.
In between, she won a Group 3 race at Newmarket in April and a stakes during the Royal Ascot meet in June.
Osaila is now among the horses Pletcher has for Al Shaqab, joining Mshawish, training here for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on Oct. 31, and Sandiva (IRE), who won the Feb. 7 Suwanee River (G3) at Gulfstream.
“She’s a beautiful filly, very straightforward,” Pletcher said about Osaila, whose second dam is multiple French champion and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Detroit (FR). “(Her) European form is quite good. She seems to be settling into American ways very well.”
Osaila has two works over Keeneland’s turf course. On Oct. 11, she breezed four furlongs on turf in :50.40. She received her second work Tuesday morning, covering four furlongs in :49.60. Clockers caught her in fractions of :13, :26, :49.60 and out in 1:02.
Pletcher won the Valley View in 1996 with Turkappeal to record his first stakes victory at Keeneland. He now has 45 stakes wins here, including the Oct. 4 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) with Got Lucky.
Chasemore Farm’s Mutatis Mutandis (IRE), third in the Flower Bowl (G1) in her U.S. debut and hoping to gain a spot in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), worked a half-mile on the dirt in :48.20 under Joe Bravo.
“This was the first time she has ever worked on the dirt,” said Michaela Carter, assistant to trainer Ed Walker.
The 4-year-old filly posted fractions of :12.20, :24.20 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.
“That was a nice move,” Bravo said. “For a distance turf filly, she has a good turn of foot on the dirt.” …
Natalma Stakes (G2) winner Catch a Glimpse,
headed for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1),
worked five furlongs on the fast main track in 1:01 in company with the
unraced 3-year-old Deep Sea. Owned by Gary Barber, Michael
James Ambler and Windways Farm and trained by Mark Casse, Catch a
Glimpse posted fractions of :12, :24, :36.60 and galloped out six
furlongs in 1:14.20 and seven-eighths in 1:28.
Source: Keeneland Association