Saratoga Special winner Rhyme Schemes is pointed to Hopeful
Talented juvenile Rhyme Schemes has won two of three lifetime starts with each score coming by a margin of 9 1/2 lengths, led by a romp in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Herb Moelis Memorial Saratoga Special, a 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for juveniles at Saratoga.
“Everything looks good this morning and he seems happy, no complaints,” said trainer Norm Casse, who celebrated his fifth career graded victory. “Overall, it’s so rewarding. I’ve been doing this for a long time and Saratoga is an iconic place – the Saratoga Special is an iconic race. Just to be involved is humbling, and to win it is something to be really proud of.”
Rhyme Schemes finished an even sixth on debut in May at Churchill Downs when attempting to close from mid-pack, but he relished a frontrunning trip and the addition of blinkers to claim victory at second asking on June 15 at Ellis Park. He proved his versatility in the Saratoga Special when stalking and pouncing from third, one length off the pace, to draw clear down the stretch under regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr.
“He’s a true professional,” said Casse. “We don’t have to do too much with him because he’s so talented. We just let him go through the motions between races, and that’s good enough for him. That’s what’s most exciting about him is the fact that we haven’t really had to grind on him to get him to this place where he is now.”
The son of Ghostzapper was awarded an 86 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form for the his Saratoga Special coup and will be pointed to the Spa’s seven-furlong $300,000 Hopeful (G1) on Sept. 4, which will likely be used a springboard to Keeneland’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) going a two-turn 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 7.
“Unless he suggests otherwise, I think that’s the most rational thing to do,” said Casse. “I know he’s still a fresh horse, and I can’t imagine why he can’t come back in three weeks and run just as well. Ideally, the Hopeful will be next and then the Breeders’ Futurity after that. The way he trains and his overall demeanor suggests he’s a two-turn horse. The horses have the answers, so we’ll figure it out as we do it.”
In the juvenile filly division, Casse could see promising maiden winner Empire Island attempt Grade 1 company in the $300,000 Spinaway on Sept. 3 after a gutsy debut graduation on August 6. Empire Island pounced from 2 1/2 lengths off the pace to land a 3/4-length score over Lady Moscato in a six-furlong maiden special weight.
“There’s a slight chance she could come back in the Spinaway, but she’s going to have to train herself into that spot,” said Casse. “I feel like she’s kind of the opposite of Rhyme Schemes in that we had to press on her a little bit more. It seems like the race took a little more out of her. That’s a pretty salty spot, and I need a fresh, ready horse for that.”
Casse added that Robert Masterson’s graded stakes-winner Southlawn remains possible for Saturday’s Alabama (G1), but is also considering the Cathryn Sophia on Aug. 22 at Parx. The Pioneerof the Nile bay won the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in March before finishing a respective 10th and fifth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).
“There’s an outside chance she could run in the Alabama, but she’s got multiple options,” said Casse. “I’m leaning towards running her in something a little less demanding. I feel like she’s lost her mojo a little bit, and it’s my job to get that back. Sometimes, the best way to do that is a little bit of class relief.”