By Joe Bianca
Woodslane Farm's Grade I winner Sadler's Joy (Kitten's Joy), third by a half-length in the GII Bowling Green S. in both 2017 and 2018, will get a chance to break through in the 11-furlong event as one of a host of contenders in a 13-horse war while making his 6-year-old debut Saturday at Saratoga.
Parlaying his Bowling Green third in 2017 into a conquest of that summer's GI Sword Dancer S., the chestnut was fourth in both the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational and Breeders' Cup Turf to close out his 4-year-old campaign. Scoring his most recent victory in the GII Mac Diarmida S. last March at Gulfstream, the homebred nevertheless acquitted himself well in several big races at five, running second in both the GI Man O' War S. and GI Manhattan S. and third at 37-1 behind superstar Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) when last seen in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Turf.
“He's doing great. He's training really well coming into this race,” trainer Tom Albertrani told the NYRA notes team. “It's been a long lay-up, but it was always our intention to give him a little break after the Breeders' Cup and not run at Gulfstream Park and try to have him ready for the Manhattan. We hit a couple of minor hiccups along the way, but now we're here and he's doing good. We hope to have a good summer and fall campaign with him.”
Chilean G1SW Ya Primo (Chi) (Mastercrafstman {Ire}) makes his North American debut for the omnipotent Chad Brown barn. Scoring just twice in his first six races, the bay caught fire this year in his native land, racking up 4 1/2-length successes in the G2 Copa Juan S. Jackson and G1 El Derby before a 3 3/4-length triumph in the prestigious G1 Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano Mar. 10. The gray has trained steadily on both surfaces at Saratoga going back to May, finishing preparations with a five-furlong breeze in 1:02.55 (13/22) on the Oklahoma turf July 21 (video).
Multiple Grade I victor Channel Maker (English Channel) figures to vie for favoritism. Finishing in a dead heat for the win with subsequent Sword Dancer hero Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in last year's Bowling Green, he powerfully annexed the Joe Hirsch two starts later. Off the board in his next three, he rebounded with a conquest of the Man O' War May 11 before flattening to fourth behind division leader Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) in the Manhattan last out June 8.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
