Saratoga Notebook

Cloud Computing | Sarah K Andrew

Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music), the GI Preakness S. winner who was fifth in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 29, breezed a half-mile over the main track Friday morning in :49.09 and remains underconsideration for the GI Travers S. Aug. 26.

“The horse went great,” trainer Chad Brown told the NYRA press notes team. “It was an easy half-mile, but he was moving very well. I'm very pleased with it. I just wanted to see how the horse was moving over this track because clearly he didn't run his race in the Jim Dandy, but it's a much different track today than it was that day; a lot tighter, in better condition. I thought the horse was moving extremely well, galloped out strong, it was just what I was looking for.”

As regards the “Midsummer Derby,” Brown added, “I haven't made my mind up yet. Initially, I would have said after his Jim Dandy race [that] I probably would not go on after a poor effort like that,” Brown said. “But now, evaluating it in hindsight; how deep the track was that day, and how he wasn't the only horse that struggled that day and how he's come back and trained well since, we have to at least consider it.”

New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro), last-start winner of the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. July 9, drilled five furlongs over the Saratoga main track Saturday morning in 1:01.34 to Brown's satisfaction.

“She's training great on the main track,” Brown said. “We're going to try her on the dirt for the first time in the [GI] Alabama S. [Aug. 19].”

Winner of four of her six career appearances, including last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf, the $450,000 Keeneland September yearling was sixth in the GIII Appalachian S. and a two-length winner of the GIII Wonder Again S. before narrowly defeating European import and stablemate Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in the Belmont Oaks.

A total of 18 sophomore fillies were nominated to the Alabama, headed by GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Acorn S. and GI CCA Oaks winner Abel Tasman (Quality Road).

• Brad Grady's Girvin (Tale of Ekati) continues to thrive following his razor-thin defeat of 'TDN Rising Star' McCraken (Ghostzapper) in the GI betfair.com Haskell Invitational S. July 30, and went a leisurely four furlongs in :50.45 over the Oklahoma training track Saturday morning. The colt, who got his opening quarter-mile in :24 4/5, galloped out five-eighths of a mile in 1:04 1/5 according to NYRA clockers. Girvin is set to make his next start in the Aug. 26 Travers.

“He worked excellent,” said Sharp. “He just went a maintenance half and he appears to come out of it super so far. We're all systems go.

“He'll come back and work next weekend, probably next Saturday, depending on the weather,” he added. “He'll probably work in company for his last work before the Travers. We're still on the fence whether we're going to work over the main track or Oklahoma. He did gallop over the main track this week and will again this week. We'll make a decision as the week goes on.”

Petrov (Flatter) has emerged from a smashing four-length allowance victory Aug. 4 none the worse for wear and is being pointed for a start in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. (ex King's Bishop S.) over seven furlongs on the Travers undercard Aug. 26. Petrov returned to Churchill Downs a few days following the victory and is scheduled to return to the Spa in the week leading up to the Jerkens.

“He's been doing well since his allowance win,” said trainer Ron Moquett, who owns Petrov in partnership with Rialto Racing Stables and Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners. “We've been used to running our horses here and shipping back to Kentucky following the race, so he's done there for now where I expect to work a week out from Sunday and then he'll ship up.”

Petrov, fifth as the favorite in the GIII Iowa Derby July 7, was cutting back to the Jerkens distance of seven furlongs last time, and that trip and slightly further is where Moquett believes his colt will be at his best.

“I think that up to one-mile is where he's most effective,” said Moquett. “He certainly has the ability and has had success going further, but we feel most comfortable with him up to a mile and the H. Allen Jerkens fits. He ran well up here already so it fits in being the next logical spot for now.”

Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) clocked five furlongs in 1:01.40 over the Churchill Downs main track Aug. 10 in preparation for her upcoming appearance in the $700,000 GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Aug. 26. A close third in last year's renewal, the daughter of 2006 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Lemons Forever (Lemon Drop Kid) has one run under her belt this season, a highly confident 1 3/4-length success in the GII Fleur de Lis H. at Churchill Downs June 17.

“She galloped out great and everything seems on target for her to run here,” Bentley Combs, assistant to trainer Dallas Stewart, said from Stewart's Saratoga barn on Saturday morning.

A full-sister to 2015 GI Ballerina S. winner Unbridled Forever and a half to the SP Forever d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), Forever Unbridled was a dual Grade I winner in 2016 and finished a good third to Beholder (Henny Hughes) and Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

 

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