Spring to the Sky Eyes Troy

For the second straight year, trainer Bruce Brown won an opening-weekend turf sprint stakes, this time taking the $100,000 Lucky Coin with 5-year-old Spring to the Sky.

Last year, Brown won the $100,000 Fiddlers Patriot with Strong Impact, with Spring to the Sky finishing last of nine. In the Lucky Coin, Spring to the Sky won by three-quarters of a length, with Strong Impact, who now races for David Jacobson after being claimed off Brown for $80,000 out of a half-length win in an optional claimer in May at Belmont, finishing third. Spring to the Sky was second in that optional claimer, beaten a half-length by Strong Impact.

Following that race, Spring to the Sky was ninth in the Grade 3 Jaipur on June 7 at Belmont before leading from start to finish when taking an optional claimer by 2 ¾ lengths on June 29.

"[The Lucky Coin] was the first time he has won two races in a row," said Brown. "That's always been his thing: he'll run a big race, and then it knocks him out or something happens. It wasn't quite his fault. He'd run a big race, and then we'd put him in over his head. But this shows he's in form and he's getting better. The fact he can put in two good efforts in a row is a good thing."

Alone or in partnership, Spring to the Sky's owner Anthony McCarthy has raced horses since 2008 but had never posed for a winner's circle photo with one of his horses until yesterday.

"The owner, Anthony McCarthy, he's from Saratoga," said Brown. "He's won a dozen races or so, but he's never been in the winner's circle for any of his horses. He lived in Europe, but he finally moved back, so that was the first time he was in the winner's circle with one of his horses."

Spring to the Sky now will be pointed toward the $100,000 Troy on August 13. Like the Lucky Coin, the Troy is a 5 ½-furlong turf dash.

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Bill Pape's Bluegrass Summer, the reigning novice steeplechase champion, returns to the races Thursday against a full field of contenders for the $75,000 Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes at 2 1/16 miles over national fences. Post time is 12:25 p.m.

Trained by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard, Bluegrass Summer won an optional allowance at Saratoga last year and will be making his first start since finishing fourth in the AFLAC Supreme Hurdle last November. He will be coupled in the wagering with Anne Pape's Fog Island, who is trained by Richard Valentine and will be ridden by Robbie Walsh. Valentine also entered Gil Johnston's Awesome Pearl.

Jack Fisher entered Schoodic, last year's 3-year-old champion. The homebred Tiznow gelding fell from the unbeaten ranks over fences when third in the Marcellus Frost. Reigning champion jockey Paddy Young has the mount.

Willie McCarthy, the current leading jockey, has the mount on Top Striker, who opened the year with a victory in the Carolina Cup on March 29. He subsequently finished third in the Queen's Cup MPC 'Chase near Charlotte on April 26. Trainer Arch Kingsley Jr. tightened Top Striker with a third on the Belmont Park turf on July 4.

Saratoga will be the proving ground for several imported hurdlers including the Irish-bred Saint Jerome; Gmac, who made his U.S. debut with an allowance hurdle in May, and Bob Le Beau, an Irish hurdler who will be making his first 2014 start under Jack Doyle. Bob Le Beau will be coupled in the wagering with Kingdom.

Completing the field are Tempt Me Alex, winner of the Iroquois Steeplechase's Bright Hour Stakes, and Sporty, third in the Bright Hour.