Speaktomeofsummer, Enola Gay Meet in Saratoga Oaks

Not even the New York Racing Association's Turf Triple Series could stave off the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What started last year as a series of three separate rich turf stakes for 3-year-old colts and fillies was greeted with extensive optimism over large fields, international shippers, and the development of Concrete Rose within an often overlooked 3-year-old filly grass division.

Yet this year, much like the famed Triple Crown on dirt, the Turf Triple encountered some setbacks due to New York racetracks being closed for 80 days during the pandemic.

As a result, the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) and the Belmont Oaks Invitational  Stakes (G1T), which kicked off the series in 2019, were not contested in their usual spots in early July and most likely will be moved to the Belmont Park fall meet. The fate of the two final legs, the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes and Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes, are in limbo because of concerns over the fall purse levels due to the casino at Aqueduct Racetrack remaining closed.

In the meantime, what were the two middle legs at Saratoga Race Course a year ago are slated to open the series this weekend, with the $500,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes Aug. 15 and the $500,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes for fillies Aug. 16 to begin what was known as the Turf Tiara a year ago.

The Saratoga Oaks drew a field of seven for a 1 3/16-mile trip on the Spa's Mellon turf course, topped by recent grade 2 winners Speaktomeofsummer and Enola Gay.

Owned by Waterford Stable, Speaktomeofsummer was last seen taking the July 19 Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga for trainer Christophe Clement. A winner of two of three starts at 2, capped by a season-ending victory in the Chelsey Flower Stakes, the daughter of Summer Front  opened 2020 with a fourth in the Wonder Again Stakes (G3T) but then took a big step forward and rallied from sixth to take the 1 1/8-mile Lake Placid by a head under Joel Rosario, who will ride her Sunday.

"The Wonder Again helped her get in shape, but we made a mistake by putting blinkers on her," Clement said. "We took them off and she won. She was a stakes winner at 2, so coming into this year we knew she had talent."

Though Speaktomeofsummer rallied to win her most recent start at a slightly shorter distance, Clement has some slight concerns about the added sixteenth of a mile.

"She's had two works since her win and has been training forwardly," said Clement, who also trained Summer Front for Tom Moore's Waterford Stable. "The small question mark is the distance, but she's doing well, we don't have to travel, and she'll get her regular rider. So we're excited."

Bred by Brereton Jones out of the graded-winning Harlan's Holiday mare Silver Reunion, Speaktomeofsummer was purchased by agent Steve Young from her breeder for $135,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. She has three wins from five starts and $175,500 in earnings. 

Allen Stable's Enola Gay, a homebred daughter of Uncle Mo , prevailed by a nose in the final stride for trainer Shug McGaughey in the July 11 Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T) at Keeneland in her graded stakes and 3-year-old debut. She has won two of her three starts.

The versatile Antoinette was entered by trainer Bill Mott, who will send out two starters.

Third in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) when switched back to dirt in her previous start, the Godolphin homebred was third in the Wonder Again, finishing 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Speaktomeofsummer. It was the first start on turf for the daughter of Hard Spun  since a maiden win in October.

With a record of two wins and four thirds in seven starts, she has placed in three graded stakes.

A year ago, Spanish Mission shipped in from Europe and won the Jockey Club Derby, and Juddmonte Farms homebred Ricetta will look to duplicate that feat while making her first U.S. start for Mott in the Saratoga Oaks. 

A daughter of Camelot, Ricetta won her first two starts in England before making her stakes debut for trainer John Gosden and finishing third in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (G3) in her most recent start.

The Lake Placid turned out to be a popular prep as Stunning Sky, Queens Embrace, and Key Biscayne—second through fourth, respectively, in that race—will return in the longer Saratoga Oaks.

Entries: Saratoga Oaks Invitational S.

Saratoga Race Course, Sunday, August 16, 2020, Race 9

• STK
• 1 3/16m
• Turf
• $500,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 5:46 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Speaktomeofsummer (KY)	Joel Rosario	121	Christophe Clement	3/1
2	2Enola Gay (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	121	Claude R. McGaughey III	2/1
3	3Antoinette (KY)	John R. Velazquez	121	William I. Mott	6/1
4	4Stunning Sky (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	121	Michael J. Maker	7/2
5	5Key Biscayne (FL)	Manuel Franco	121	Juan Alvarado	15/1
6	6Ricetta (GB)	Javier Castellano	121	William I. Mott	9/2
7	7Queens Embrace (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	121	Kathleen O'Connell	10/1