Saturday's big winners at Saratoga Race Course all came out of their races in good order Sunday. 4-year-old Arthur's Ride (Tapit), provided a timely update to his family tree for his breeders Joe and Helen Barbazon with a win in the GI Whitney Stakes.
“Oh, we're just tickled to death,” said Joe Barbazon. “We've got two of his half-sisters and of course this helps their value. We still have his mama here and it's a huge plus for us. It was very exciting, and there was a lot of yelling. Me and the wife were very happy.”
With his 'Win and You're In” effort, Arthur's Ride will get the Barbazon's back to the Breeders' Cup for the first time since the they were second with Presious Passion (Royal Anthem) in the GI Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf in 2009.
“It's just great. It was a thrill when Presious Passion went to the Breeders' Cup, and I think now we're getting another thrill,” continued Barbazon. “For small people like us, it's just an honor. I'm so happy for Mr. Glassman.”
Whitney runner up Crupi (Curlin) posted a career best 106 Beyer Speed Figure Saturday for Todd Pletcher as he finished 2 1/4 lengths behind Arthur's Ride.
“He came back good, and I thought he ran super,” said Pletcher. “I thought for a second he was going to still have a shot, but we're very pleased with the effort. It put him over the million-dollar mark yesterday, so it's pretty cool to see him achieve that.”
Pletcher noted that the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup may be in play for the 4-year-old.
The other Grade I winner on the day, Ways and Means (Practical Joke) found victory in the GI Test Stakes en route to a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for trainer Chad Brown as a homebred for Klaravich Stables.
“She broke good, and [jockey Flavien Prat] put in her a good spot and then it was her race to lose from there,” Brown said. “Luckily, she gave a great performance, and everything worked out good. She looks good this morning.”
Another on track towards the Breeders' Cup, Ways and Means will look to have one more start between now and the first weekend in November.
“We've spaced her races out and she's doing better with less,” Brown said. “We'd like to get her to the [GI Breeders' Cup] Filly and Mare Sprint, and we'll probably run her one more time between now and then, but I'm not sure where or when.”
Friday's GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes winner Neat (Consitution) also bounced back well after his win for Rob Atras and had already shipped back to his Belmont Park base.
“He came out of the race really good,” said Atras. “We gave him a day and then sent him back down to Belmont where he got ready for that last race. We'll give him a couple of days and then get him back to the track. So far, so good.”
Neat could be in line for a next start in the Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8.
“Nothing for sure yet. With him being Kentucky-bred, we will definitely take a look at the Kentucky Downs race on the eighth of September, but that's not for sure yet,” Atras said.
Linda Rice, who had the top two finishes in the Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes Saturday, noted that a bump back into graded company was possible for winner Film Star (Flatter).
“We are going to take a look at the [GI] Jockey Club Gold Cup. I opted out of the Whitney with him,” Rice said. “I felt like he was coming off a layoff. He had one race earlier in the meet and I felt like he wasn't up to that yet. Instead, I opted to be an MTO in the Lure and that worked out pretty well for us, but we are going to take a strong look at the Gold Cup.”
Rice also confirmed that runner up Pioneering Spirit (American Pharoah) would return to the turf.
“Back to the grass with him. I think his best distance is 1 1/8-miles. He won the Bernard Baruch here last year, so we are going to go try and defend that,” she said.
Out at Del Mar, GI Clement Hirsch Stakes winner Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) was also doing well after successfully defending her title from last year.
Pasqual Rivera, longtime barn foreman for trainer Bob Baffert, noted that she was “super good” Sunday morning but that no further discussions had been had on where the mare will race next.
Also confirmed to be no worse for wear Sunday were fellow Clement Hirsch starters Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) and Scylla (Tapit) who will both ship back to their Kentucky bases this week.
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