Yoshida Seeks Woodward Repeat

The Bill Mott-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) will attempt to defend his title in Saratoga's GI Woodward S. Saturday. Winner of the GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard last spring, the bay was making his first start on dirt when winning the Woodward last year. Kept on the main track for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 3, he finished a respectable fourth behind champion Accelerate (Lookin at Lucky). Sixth to Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) in the inaugural GI Pegasus World Cup Turf over a yielding Gulfstream course Jan. 26, Yoshida filled the same spot in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 30 and again in the GII Stephen Foster S. on the dirt at Churchill Downs June 19. He came running late to be second to McKinzie (Street Sense) in his last trip around the Saratoga main in the GI Whitney S. Aug. 3.

Finishing 4 3/4 lengths behind Yoshida that day was Vino Rosso (Curlin), who sheds his blinkers this time. Kicking off this season with a win in Aqueduct's Stymie S. Mar. 9, the hulking chestnut finished fourth in that venue's GI Carter H. a month later and scored his first victory at the highest level when taking a trip west for the GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita May 27. His trainer Todd Pletcher also saddles Alydar S. runner-up Wooderson (Awesome Again)–a half-brother to Horse of the Year and 2009 Woodward winner Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro)–and GIII Monmouth Cup S. second-place finisher Bal Harbour (First Samurai).

“He breezed super  [5f, :58.60, 1/22] on Friday,” Pletcher told the NYRA notes team. “It was a real strong breeze. He came out of it with some good energy and has been galloping well this week. It seems like he's in good form. I think he's become a more consistent workhorse, although I thought his last breeze was arguably the best breeze he ever had. He galloped out real strongly and looks great. His appetite has been good and his energy has been good.”

Also exiting the Whitney is fourth-place finisher Preservationist (Arch), who seeks his first top-level score in this event. Opening his 2019 account with an optional-claimer score in the slop at Belmont May 23, the bay strolled home a 4 1/2-length winner of that venue's GII Suburban H. July 6, besting last term's GI Travers S. hero Catholic Boy (More Than Ready).

Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike) enters off a win against a weaker group in the track-and-trip Alydar S. Aug. 2, for which he earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. Hard-knocking Mr. Buff (Friend or Foe) jumps up in class off a pair of stakes victories against fellow New York-breds, most recently capturing the Evan Shipman S. over this course and distance Aug. 7. His connections were initially eyeing the Whitney, but bypassed that in favor of the softer state-bred event, a choice which proved prudent and likely showed them enough to convince them to enter here.