Full Field of 12 Set for Saratoga Special
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Doctor Jeff captures his career debut at Belmont Park
Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso's Doctor Jeff looked like he could be a horse of any kind as he sailed down the stretch in his career debut, ears pricked for the competition that lie scrambling behind him and jockey Joel Rosario sitting motionless on the colt as he captured a July 10 off-the-turf maiden special weight at Belmont Park.
Video: Race 1 (MSW) at BEL on 7/10/21
The son of Street Boss , picked up for $90,000 as a yearling at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale, tackles stakes company in his second career outing in the Aug. 14 $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2). The Saratoga Special is contested over 6 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga Race Course main track, and is one of three open graded stakes events on the dirt held for 2-year-olds at the Spa. Often the race serves as a key prep for the historic Hopeful Stakes (G1), the marquee race for juveniles of the meet, held on Labor Day weekend.
Under the care of trainer Rudy Rodriguez, Doctor Jeff blazed five furlongs in a bullet :59 3/5 Aug. 8 over the Saratoga main track.
"(Doctor Jeff) breezed great this morning (Aug. 8), and we're very happy with the way he's been training over here," Rodriguez said following the breeze. "We're just living the dream right now."
Joel Rosario, who partnered with the chestnut colt in his debut victory, has the call from post 8.
Double Thunder wins the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs
Doctor Jeff faces no small task in the Saratoga Special, as he tackles Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) hero Double Thunder and a full field of 10 other juveniles on Saturday.
Owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III, Double Thunder chases his second graded stakes win for the newly enshrined Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
Double Thunder graduated first time out at Monmouth Park going 4 1/2 furlongs before shipping out west to Churchill Downs, drawing away to victory in the Bashford Manor after a less than desirable start that left the Super Saver colt trailing the field for the first quarter mile. Overcoming a 10-length deficit, Double Thunder rallied home a powerful 4 3/4-length winner under jockey John Velazquez. In that effort, he defeated Saratoga Special rivals Glacial and Red Run .
Video: Bashford Manor S. (G3)
"(Double Thunder) had a very good set up (in the Basford Manor), they went fast early," said Pletcher. "He was pretty professional in his second start and finished up strongly. I don't know that he'll be quite that far off the pace this time. It will depend on how fast they go, but it's nice that he won his debut close to the pace and came from out of it the second time. He seems versatile."
Double Thunder will again be piloted by Velazquez from post 7.
Pletcher will also saddle Repole Stable's Midnight Worker in the Saratoga Special. The son of Outwork was tenacious in his career debut, fending off an inside challenge late to prevail by a head.
Pletcher likened Midnight Worker to his sire, who was also campaigned by Repole and Pletcher throughout his career. Outwork was a precocious 2-year-old, breaking his maiden in April of his juvenile year.
"(Outwork) was a very good 2-year-old himself and very precocious for a big horse," said Pletcher. "This is a big, leggy colt as well, but he's been very straightforward and professional. I thought he was game on debut."
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. picks up the mount from post 5.
Richie's World Stables' Dance Code and the Thomas Amoss-trained Ottoman Empire were the third and fourth place finishers, respectively, from the July 17 Sanford Stakes (G3) at the Spa behind juvenile division standout Wit . Both runners, making their third career starts, will be looking to rebound in the Saratoga Special.
The Wesley Ward pupil Nakatomi makes a return to the dirt after a failed Royal Ascot bid in the June 17 Norfolk Stakes (G2). The Firing Line gelding defeated June 3 Astoria Stakes victress Happy Soul in his career unveiling at Keeneland April 14.
Last out maiden special weight winners Gunite , Kitodan , Stolen Base , and High Oak complete the field.
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 14, 2021, Race 9Entries: Saratoga Special S. Presented by Miller Lite (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Nakatomi (KY)
Javier Castellano
120
Wesley A. Ward
8/1
2
2Gunite (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
120
Steven M. Asmussen
5/1
3
3Ottoman Empire (KY)
Dylan Davis
120
Thomas M. Amoss
15/1
4
4Kitodan (KY)
Chantal Sutherland
120
Jorge Delgado
30/1
5
5Midnight Worker (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
Todd A. Pletcher
10/1
6
6Stolen Base (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
120
Michael J. Maker
8/1
7
7Double Thunder (KY)
John R. Velazquez
122
Todd A. Pletcher
6/1
8
8Doctor Jeff (KY)
Joel Rosario
120
Rudy R. Rodriguez
2/1
9
9Dance Code (PA)
Jose Lezcano
120
Juan C. Vazquez
15/1
10
10Glacial (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
120
Norm W. Casse
15/1
11
11High Oak (KY)
Junior Alvarado
120
William I. Mott
12/1
12
12Red Run (KY)
Manuel Franco
120
Steven M. Asmussen
30/1
