Top Billing Will Try Turf for First Time at Saratoga
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Looking to shake things up following a pair of fourth-place finishes in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special and an allowance race on July 12 at Belmont Park, 4-year-old Top Billing will try turf for the first time Saturday in an allowance race at 1 3/16 miles. The son of Curlin has raced four times this year, with his best finish coming in April at Keeneland when he lost by a nose to multiple graded stakes winner Noble Bird.
According to Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, Top Billing has trained well on the surface warranting him a try on the grass. Most recently, the chestnut colt worked four furlongs in 50.04 seconds to rank ninth out of 35 horses at the distance on the surface on August 14.
"I wasn't getting anywhere with him on the dirt, except for the one race at Keeneland," said McGaughey. "I worked him on the turf back at Belmont, he seemed to go good. He wants to go the distance, so that's the thinking behind it - sort of change things up a little bit. He looks good, breezed well on the turf here so we'll just keep our fingers crossed and see how he does and go from there."
Scheduled to be ridden for the first time by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, Top Billing drew post 5 from a field of nine at morning-line odds of 5-1.
According to Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, Top Billing has trained well on the surface warranting him a try on the grass. Most recently, the chestnut colt worked four furlongs in 50.04 seconds to rank ninth out of 35 horses at the distance on the surface on August 14.
"I wasn't getting anywhere with him on the dirt, except for the one race at Keeneland," said McGaughey. "I worked him on the turf back at Belmont, he seemed to go good. He wants to go the distance, so that's the thinking behind it - sort of change things up a little bit. He looks good, breezed well on the turf here so we'll just keep our fingers crossed and see how he does and go from there."
Scheduled to be ridden for the first time by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, Top Billing drew post 5 from a field of nine at morning-line odds of 5-1.
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Sunday's $100,000 Tale of the Cat at six furlongs features a field of eight headed by David Jacobson's 5-year-old Stallwalkin' Dude. With five wins from 12 starts this year, and a lifetime record of four wins from eight starts at the distance, in his most recent race at six furlongs, he finished second by head to multiple graded stakes winner Wildcat Red in the Teddy Drone Stakes at Monmouth. Jacobson will also saddle Saturday's Charm for Final Turn Racing Stables LLC. A 6-year-old son of Any Given Saturday, he will make the jump to face stakes competition after impressively winning by 6 ½ lengths at Saratoga on August 2 in a claiming race.
Making a return to the races for the first time since June, Red and Black Stable'sWeekend Hideaway will look to get back in the winner's circle from the barn of trainer Phil Serpe. A 5-year-old son of Speightstown, Weekend Hideaway began the year winning the Sunshine Millions Sprint by four lengths on January 17 at Gulfstream Park while recording a lifetime-best Beyer Speed Figure of 107, tops in the field. Following that win he entered the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint, where he finished fifth racing five-wide most of the way.
Loki's Vengeance, who bested Weekend Hideaway in the Affirmed Success at Belmont on May 3, will enter for trainer Mike Hushion and Blue Bison Stable. Most recently, the 4-year-old son of Frost Giant finished third in an optional claiming race at Belmont on June 18. Hushion will also enter Scarly Charly, for Silver Ranch and Wachtel Stable, who has two wins from three starts this year and comes off a victory in an optional claiming race on July 16 at Belmont.
Completing the field are A.P. Indian for trainer Arnaud Delacour, who enters with a two-win race streak, most recently capturing the Donald Levine Memorial Handicap on June 20; last year's Grade 1 King's Bishop runner-up Fast Anna, making his first start for Wayne Catalano; and Catron for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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