A trio of prominent sophomores took to the Saratoga main track Saturday morning to register their final serious works ahead of next Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S.
Godolphin's Frosted (Tapit), winner of the GI TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial S. and most recently runner-up to American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Belmont S. June 6, partnered with exercise rider Rob Massey for a half-mile drill that was accomplished in :47.91. It was the gray's fourth work at the Spa.
“We were planning to work him in company, but the company couldn't keep up. It got him going, anyway,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “He worked great. We were pleased. He galloped out strong and kept going.”
McLaughlin admitted he'll be shedding no tears that the Triple Crown winner will be racing 24 hours later at the Jersey Shore.
“We're happy where we are and happier that American Pharoah isn't going to show up this time,” McLaughlin said. “I'm sure there's others out there that will be tough enough competition. Everything's all set.”
Competition in the Jim Dandy figures to come from a few rivals, including Upstart (Flatter), who is set to make his first appearance since finishing last of the 18 to contest the GI Kentucky Derby May 2.
“Whatever happened in the Derby stays in the Derby, because he didn't run. He didn't pick up his feet,” said trainer Rick Violette Jr. “Maybe the winter got to him, I don't know, but he cooled out today like he just went to school in the paddock. We kind of gave him a few weeks just because we weren't going to run back in the Preakness off that effort and also weren't going to run back in the Belmont because if you're wrong, you can end a horse. We did the right thing and, hopefully, it pays dividends.”
The flashy New York-bred was out for a five-furlong move Saturday morning beneath exercise rider Rodney Payne and covered the distance in :59.89.
“He looked excellent,” Violette said. “He went the last eighth in 12 [seconds] flat, and I don't think the track is all that fast; it hasn't been in the morning. He was exceptional.”
Owned in partnership by Ralph Evans and WinStar Farm, Flatter was third behind Texas Red (Afleet Alex) in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and returned to drill Frosted by 5 1/2 lengths in the GII Holy Bull S. Jan. 24. First, but placed second in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 21, the dark bay was runner-up in the GI Florida Derby ahead of his 15-1 disappointment in the Derby.
Texas Red, second last time to 'TDN Rising Star' Speightster (Speightstown) in the GIII Dwyer S. July 4, went five-eighths of a mile in :59.92.
'TDN Rising Star' Materiality (Afleet Alex), who defeated Upstart in the Florida Derby, worked in the company of his Todd Pletcher stablemate, the GII Peter Pan S. victor Madefromlucky (Lookin at Lucky) in a time of :48.85. Materiality is expected to remain in Saratoga for the Jim Dandy, while Madefromlucky is a candidate for the GII West Virginia Derby the same afternoon.
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