Saratoga: Thursday card includes Jersey Girl, Astoria, Tremont

Gray Lightning will look to add to two romping allowance-level wins when making her stakes debut in Thursday’s $150,000 Jersey Girl, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

The Jersey Girl is one of four stakes slated for Thursday at Saratoga Race Course to kick off the four-day Belmont Stakes racing festival, which is highlighted by the 156th edition of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes next Saturday. The festival will include 24 stakes races with purses totaling $10.25 million, the highest purse levels and number of stakes offered since the launch of the multi-day Belmont Stakes racing festival in 2014.

The Pennsylvania-bred Gray Lightning was an eye-catching open-lengths winner of her last two outings for trainer Tyler Servis, taking a six-furlong open-company optional-claimer by 14 1/2 lengths on March 18 at Parx Racing ahead of a similar 12 1/4-length score against state-bred elders on April 29 at the Bensalem oval. Both efforts, which were engineered by Jorge Vargas, Jr., were awarded a field-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.

Gray Lightning has worked three times since her latest effort, most recently covering a half-mile handily in 47.24 seconds Friday over the Parx main track.

Servis said speed comes easy to the daughter of Social Inclusion.

“She’s doing great and she breezed very well this morning,” said Servis. “She’s a great gate horse and that makes it a lot easier on her. She does things so effortlessly, even this morning – I looked at my clock and thought maybe she was going too slow for what I wanted going into the race, but then I looked again and saw 35 and change (for three furlongs) and I was confident she was going to finish up the work good.”

The talented gray has won 3-of-4 starts, including a pacesetting win on debut in November. Her lone loss came next out in her first effort against winners when Servis experimented with getting her to rate early on. She finished second, beaten 4 3/4 lengths, but flourished next out to win the aforementioned March 18 tilt with pacesetting tactics again.

“I always knew from the get-go that she was a good filly,” said Servis. “We ran her for a maiden $40,000 first time out because with the way the purses are structured here, you actually make more money running there. We sneaked by with that one, and then the only time she got beat was because of some instruction error. With all the speed she has, I think that was negative to her advantage. She has really blossomed this year and has shown that on the racetrack.”

Gray Lightning was purchased for $370,000 by her current owners during this year’s Fasig-Tipton April digital sale. She is out of the winning Cat Thief mare Fairy Gray and is a maternal descendant of multiple graded stakes-winner and prolific broodmare Cherokee Frolic.

Vargas, Jr. retains the mount.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sends out two contenders in undefeated Group 3 winner Manama Gold and maiden-winner Roman Grace.

Manama Gold makes her American debut on the heels of an impressive score for previous trainer Fawzi Nass in the UAE Oaks (G3) in February at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The daughter of Star Guitar notched two allowance-level victories this winter en route to her 1 1/4-length UAE Oaks score where she dictated the tempo for the 1 3/16 miles.

Manama Gold has posted three works at Saratoga, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:01.25 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

Roman Grace makes her stakes debut off a runner-up effort to Dame Cinco in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance on May 3 at Belmont at the Big A. The Munnings chestnut graduated at second asking in a seven-furlong maiden at Keeneland with a wire-to-wire trip under Tyler Gaffalione to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Graded-stakes winner Becky’s Joker could make her return from a 10-month layoff in the Jersey Girl, but will also be entered in the $500,000 Acorn (G1) according to trainer Gary Contessa.

“If the Acorn is void of speed, we might consider that,” said Contessa. “A lot of it comes down to the owner, Lee Pokoik. If he has a strong feeling about one or the other, I would honor his request. He has been a long-time owner and he deserves that right.”

Becky’s Joker was a memorable winner on debut last summer at the Spa in the six-furlong Schuylerville (G3) with an off-the-pace trip under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, cruising home a 3 1/4-length winner over Saratoga Secret. She followed with a distant off-the-board finish in the Adirondack (G3) in August ahead of her extended respite that was due in part to mental fragility.

Contessa said the talented filly has relished sprinting despite her large frame.

“She is huge. She is seventeen-two (hands) on the tape. She is as big as they get,” said Contessa. “Distance is a God-given ability. I have had huge horses that won’t run over three-quarters. I’ve had tiny, little horses that will run all day. There’s not a body type that makes a horse run long or not. It is just a God-given ability to run long or be a sprinter.”

Becky’s Joker has worked extensively over Saratoga’s Oklahoma dirt training track, and most recently covered six furlongs in 1:14.65 in company with Grade 1 winner Nutella Fella, who is targeting the $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1) on June 8.

Almostgone Rocket puts her undefeated record on the line for two-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Brad Cox.

The Into Mischief bay is 2-for-2 after a dominant debut in April at Oaklawn Park that saw her battle for the early lead in the six-furlong sprint before drawing clear with ease in the turn and powering home an 11 3/4-length winner. She followed with another prominent victory last out on May 3 at Churchill Downs to annex a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer by 4 1/4 lengths over sloppy and sealed footing, garnering a 93 Beyer.

The $250,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase is out of the multiple stakes-winning Jump Start mare Bound, a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Justice for Auston and stakes-winner Lune Rouge, as well as Soleil Rouge, dam of graded stakes-winner Battle Bling.

Multiple stakes winner Carmelina looks to regroup after a distant off-the-board finish in the Miss Preakness (G3) on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.

Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., the Pennsylvania-bred Maximus Mischief bay won the state-bred Keswick and Shamrock Rose, and open-company Gin Talking in December for her most recent win. This year, she was a pacesetting second to Jody’s Pride in the Busher Invitational ahead of off-the-board efforts in the Gazelle (G3) and the Miss Preakness.

The Jersey Girl is slated as Race 4 on Thursday’s 10-race card

French Horn steps up for stakes debut in Astoria

Impressive maiden winner French Horn will look to make her stakes debut a winning one in Thursday’s $150,000 Astoria, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies, on opening day of the Belmont Stakes racing festival at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, French Horn was a gate-to-wire winner at first asking traveling 4 1/2-furlongs over Tapeta on May 12 at Woodbine, breaking sharp and drawing clear to a 1 3/4-length score under Sofia Vives. French Horn, bred in Ontario by Narola, exited the outermost post 4 and marked off splits of 23.41 seconds and 46.43 before stopping the clock in 52.26 to garner a field-best 69 Beyer.

By first-crop sire Complexity, who already has three 2-year-old winners, French Horn is out of the dual graded stakes-winning Congrats mare Emma’s Encore, who in 2012 won the Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont Park and the Prioress (G1) at Saratoga for the late Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens.

“She’s a real pretty filly and trained well from the beginning,” Casse said. “She trained well on the dirt at Ocala for us and we sent her to Woodbine as she is a Canadian-bred.

“We’ve done a lot more with our young horses this year at Ocala trying to be prepared,” added Casse. “Some break fast and some don’t but we definitely worked on that, and she came away from there running. She broke fast and settled. Sofia asked her to go, and she accelerated, and they weren’t getting to her. Her pedigree is a little more dirt than anything. I think she’ll run well in the Astoria.”

French Horn breezed back five-eighths in 58.6 seconds Saturday over the Woodbine dirt training track.

“She worked phenomenal. She’s a filly that’s always trained well,” Casse said.

Flavien Prat picks up the mount.

Long Neck Paula was ridden out an impressive debut winner on May 2 at Churchill Downs, exiting the outermost post 11 to make every pole a winning one under Hall of Famer John Velazquez for trainer Wesley Ward.

“She’s all speed. Just a fast-looking rocket ship,” Ward said. “We’re going to hopefully take advantage of the early stakes races being short distances and judge each race one at a time and go from there.”

The Uncle Mo bay, out of the graded stakes-winning Take Charge Indy mare Take Charge Paula, was selected by Ward for $500,000 at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training.

“It’s always a question when they come from the 2-year-old sales how they’re going to break because they don’t go into the program like I do with my yearlings,” Ward said. “It’s a good thing she’s a quick learner.”

Velazquez was aboard Long Neck Paula for a half-mile breeze in 50.25 seconds Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training in company with Touchy (49.75 seconds), who is entered in Thursday’s $150,000 Tremont at 5 1/2 furlongs for 2-year-olds.

“She came out of her race well and breezed well here this morning,” Ward said.

The Queens M G hopped at the start of her April 7 debut at Keeneland and brushed with a rival before making the lead through splits of 22.30 and 45.84 seconds. She stayed on stubbornly to score at odds of 45-1 in a final time of 52.44 seconds, outdueling next-out Kentucky Juvenile-winner and returning rival West Memorial by a head.

Initially trained and owned by Israel Acevedo, The Queens M G was purchased privately and transferred to the care of conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr. She has worked back twice at Gulfstream Park, including a half-mile effort in 47.97 Saturday.

The $3,500 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling sale purchase is by Thousand Words, who has also produced three 2-year-old winners this year. She is out of the Grindstone mare Show Queen. Her third dam is dual graded stakes-winner Parade Queen.

West Memorial graduated in style in the five-furlong Kentucky Juvenile on May 2 at Churchill, stalking from third position and closing wide down the lane to take command in the final furlong to win by 1 3/4-lengths. The winning effort earned a 63 Beyer.

West Memorial is out of the Super Saver mare Vita Bella, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Mo Town. She was purchased for $45,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

The Astoria will go as the ninth race on Thursday’s card.

Touchy gets ready for career debut for Ward in Tremont

Touchy is set to make his racing debut in Thursday’s $150,000 Tremont, a 5 1/2 furlong main track sprint for juveniles, on opening day of the Belmont Stakes racing festival at Saratoga.

Trained by Wesley Ward, the Nyquist bay has prepared for his first race extensively at Keeneland, including a sharp half-mile from the gate in 47.0 seconds on May 25, good for the second fastest of 111 timed works at the distance.

Touchy completed his first bit of work on the Saratoga grounds Friday, covering a half-mile in 49.75 over the Oklahoma dirt training track. There, he was a half-second faster than workmate Long Neck Paula, an unbeaten juvenile filly set to contest the $150,000 Astoria, also on Thursday at the Spa.

Ward seeks his third Tremont victory after past scores with Overbore (2021) and Bessie’s Boy (2014). He will call upon Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, who piloted Overbore to Tremont glory, to get the job done.

Trainer Patrick Biancone will saddle debut-winner Classic of Course as he also seeks a third-career Tremont after past scores with Henny Hughes (2005) and Zavata (2002). Classic of Course will have the services of five-time Eclipse Award-winner for outstanding jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who will look to engineer a winning trip from the outermost gate.

The Awesome of Course bay was an impressive 6 1/2-length winner when sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs on May 3 at Gulfstream Park. There, he tracked a close second under Emisael Jaramillo before coming with a two-wide bid and driving home powerfully to graduate at first asking.

“He was sitting a half-length off a horse and he took the lead at the quarter pole. When he switched leads, he was gone. He’s definitely fast, but I guess at five and a half (furlongs), everyone will be fast,” said Biancone. “We have the chance to have the leading rider in the country ride him. As long as he travels well, we will be confident.”

Classic of Course breezed a half-mile solo in 48.75 seconds Friday at the Palm Meadows training center in Florida, his last work before shipping North on Sunday.

“We want to see how he improves. I would think he’d improve a lot. This morning his work was really, really good,” Biancone said. “They are babies, still developing and growing, but we have been happy all the way. Today was not the test, but he did it very well. He is a very peaceful horse, quiet and relaxed.”

Three Echoes will wheel back quickly after winning his lone outing by three-quarter-lengths traveling five furlongs on May 24 over good dirt at Churchill Downs. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the Echo Town chestnut stalked from third position after being bumped at the start, slipping through a seam in the stretch to victory.

The final time of 58.09 seconds was awarded a field-best 73 Beyer. Out of the winning Dixie Union mare Bayou Miss, Three Echoes was a $130,000 purchase at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Owner/breeder Lee Pokoik and trainer Gary Contessa will look to repeat the success they enjoyed last July at Saratoga when 2-year-old filly Becky’s Joker won the Schuylerville (G3) in her racing debut, now turning to Dew to mount a similar feat.

“Last year, I ran Becky’s Joker in the Schuylerville first time out and she won. That was for Lee Pokoik and Dew is for Lee Pokoik. He’s a believer,” Contessa said. “There’s not an Option B. If you want to run a 2-year-old during that week, then you have to run in the Tremont or the Astoria. We are going to take a shot.”

Dew, the first horse to work over the Oklahoma in 2024, has worked extensively there since April, including a five-eighths breeze in 1:02.25 on May 28, comfortably ahead of usual workmate and fellow juvenile Sky Masterson.

Contessa said the Frosted gray, who is out of the Will Take Charge mare Charge It Please, is advanced at this stage but can be a bit temperamental at times, something he believes hails from the Tapit line.

“He’s got that attitude that Tapits tend to have. I’m not going to label Frosted as throwing horses with attitude, it goes back to Tapit. When you see a horse like him, and Tapit in the pedigree, you know,” said Contessa. “He’s been ornery in a good way because when we say go, he goes.” 

The Tremont is slated as the second race on Thursday’s card.