Fourstardave Winner Halladay Could Target Shadwell Mile

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Harrell Ventures' Halladay was in good order Aug. 23 following his wire-to-wire victory Saturday in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course, the first graded stakes win for the gray son of War Front .

The six-time winner broke a step slow but quickly found his footing and commanded the pace of the one-mile event on the Spa's inner turf, holding off a challenge from defending winner Got Stormy.

Halladay arrived at the Fourstardave off a fourth-place finish in the Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2T), where he stalked the pace and finished 1 1/2 lengths behind frontrunning winner Somelikeithotbrown.

"I was very happy with the way he looked this morning," Pletcher said. "It took him a few strides to get his legs underneath him, but once he did, he did everything easy. It appeared on paper that we were the primary speed, so our strategy was to go ahead and let him do his thing. If someone were to have gone cruising, we could have adjusted, but he made the lead the way he did and moved comfortably after not getting off to a great break. But once he got to the first turn, he moved excellent."

Pletcher said the turf was not as kind to frontrunners during the early portion of the meet but that it has become fairer as the season has progressed.

"At the very beginning, it didn't seem like it was, but now that things have balanced out, it's become a more fair turf course," Pletcher said. "I was happy to see him handle some give in the ground. When it rained in the morning, I was concerned because I think he's even better on firm ground, but he seemed to handle that just fine yesterday."

Halladay earned an automatic entry into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Pletcher said Halladay could return in the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) Oct. 3 at Keeneland.

"We're in no rush to make a decision, but the Shadwell would make a lot of sense if we decide that we want to run between now and the Breeders' Cup," Pletcher said.

The win also marked 23 consecutive years that Pletcher has won a grade 1, dating to 1998.

Got Stormy Comes Back Strong After Runner-Up Effort in Fourstardave

Gary Barber's multiple grade 1 winner Got Stormy returned to her stellar 2019 form with a game runner-up effort in the Fourstardave.

The 5-year-old Get Stormy  chestnut set a course record in 1:32 flat last year, highlighting a campaign in which she notched six triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures from eight starts, including a score in the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar along with second-place finishes in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) and TVG Breeders' Cup Mile.

Returning to Saratoga in search of tighter turns on the inner turf and firm footing, Casse said his plans were nearly scuppered when an early-morning storm left the turf course rated good.

"I was proud of her. I was a little worried when the storm happened, though you'd think with her name, she'd like that," Casse said. "She's back to her triple Beyers, which is good."

Utilizing a stalking trip under Tyler Gaffalione, Got Stormy tipped out for the stretch run and pushed Halladay to the limit while garnering a seasonal-best 101 Beyer, her first triple-digit effort in five starts this year.

"I think the turf was fast yesterday but still not 100% hard," Casse said. "I think a lot of it has to do with being at Saratoga. She trains well up there."

While Casse said a trip to Keeneland in the fall for a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event is under consideration, the chestnut mare may turn back in distance for the $500,000 Spendthrift Farm Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T) going 6 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs.

"We're flirting with the idea of running her at Kentucky Downs going 6 1/2 against fillies," Casse said. "We've thought all along she could get a mile if the turf is perfect, but I've always thought she's a better seven-eighths type of horse, and at Kentucky Downs 6 1/2 is like running seven-eighths."

Casse said a return trip to the Breeders' Cup Mile may not be suitable for Got Stormy.

"I don't know that she can go a mile at Keeneland," Casse said. "Normally in the fall, the ground is a little soft there."