SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Eight of the nine juveniles in today’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special have maiden victories to their credit. The ninth, Touchy, was a strong second in his debut against winners in the June 6 Tremont Stakes during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. Touchy’s debut effort, although resulting in defeat, has him pegged as the morning-line favorite at 5-2 in the $200,000 Special, a 6 1/2-furlong contest on the main track.
A Three Chimneys Farm homebred, Touchy (post 5, Joel Rosario) made an ambitious first outing in the 5 1/2-furlong listed Tremont. Trained by Wesley Ward, the Nyquist bay showed the way before being overtaken by the victorious Studlydoright, who won by 1 3/4 lengths and subsequently finished second in the local Grade 3 Sanford.
Out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Touch the Moon, Touchy is a half-brother to graded stakes-winner Royal Approval.
St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Thoroughbreds’ Keep It Easy was strong in his last effort. Trained by Dale Romans, the Hard Spun dark bay graduated at second asking when drawing off to win a six-furlong sprint by four lengths on June 27 at Churchill Downs.
“I think this is a good spot. He is a good horse,” said Romans. “Physically, he is a big, strong, pretty horse. He was a pretty horse at the yearling sale when we bought him. He just continues to get better. He is a good workhorse and a good horse all around.”
Keep It Easy returned to the work tab on July 20 with a half-mile bullet in 47.85 seconds over the Spa main track, fastest of 77 workers at the distance. He has since worked twice more, including a breeze over the same course and distance in 49.96 on Aug 4.
Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. William L. Pape, Keep It Easy, out of the stakes-winning English Channel mare Boxwood, was a $435,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Junior Alvarado has the call from the outermost post 9 at 4-1 odds.
Stepping up in class after a maiden win is the story for Showcase, who delivered in a 7 1/2-length debut romp traveling 5 1/2 furlongs on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the Uncle Mo gray stalked the pace under Irad Ortiz, Jr. before drawing off with ease, earning a 58 Beyer in victory.
“He trained very well and it was a very professional debut. We were hopeful,” said Pletcher. “He kind of came in advertised as being pretty forward, and he’s been very professional — relaxed, but professional at the same time.”
Showcase, a $300,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of graded stakes-placed Violence mare Buy Sell Hold, a full-sister to Grade 1-winner Volatile.
Ortiz, Jr. will be back aboard from post 2 at 6-1 odds.
Hall of Famer Mark Casse will be represented by K E M Racing Stable’s debut-victor Global Legend (12-1). The Global Campaign dark bay graduated by three comfortable lengths sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs versus fellow Florida-breds on sloppy and sealed footing in June at Gulfstream Park. Dylan Davis is up for the first time from post 3.
Louisiana-bred Smoken Wicked (post 1, Tyler Gaffalione, 9-2) is also stakes-placed, finishing second last out in the six-furlong Bashford Manor on June 30 at Churchill Downs. The Bobby’s Wicked One chestnut was making his first start for trainer Dallas Stewart after a debut score for conditioner Sturges Ducoing in a state-bred sprint on June 1 at Evangeline Downs.
“It was very good. He’s a nice horse who has trained very well here, so we are looking forward to the Special,” said Stewart.
Noble Force (post 7, Ricardo Santana, Jr., 15-1) was an eye-catching 9 1/2-length winner going five furlongs on June 21 at Monmouth Park. Trained by Jorge Delgado, the Cairo Prince gray sported blinkers for the big debut victory. Noble Force, a $110,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, is out of the winning Proud Citizen mare Guess What. His second dam is multiple Grade 1-placed Biofuel, Canada’s 2010 Horse of the Year.
Rounding out the field is first-out maiden winner First Resort (post 4, Flavien Prat, 7-2), a Godolphin Kentucky homebred for trainer Eoin Harty; maiden-winner Good Directions (post 8, Manny Franco, 15-1) for conditioner Kevin Rice; and fourth-out maiden claiming winner Ace It (post 6, Luis Saez, 30-1) for conditioner James Chapman.
Originally Published: August 9, 2024 at 11:30 p.m.
Source link : https://www.saratogian.com/2024/08/09/horse-racing-touchy-looks-for-breakthrough-in-saratoga-special/
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Publish date : 2024-08-10 15:29:45
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