Godolphin, Appleby Bring Two in Overflow Jaipur Field

Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby will fire their best shot, and they hope it's a quick one, with a pair of well-traveled individuals in the $500,000 Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course June 8.

Shortened from six furlongs at its usual Belmont Park home to 5 1/2 furlongs to fit the Saratoga track, the Jaipur had no problem finding entries, receiving 16 for the 12 spots. Not only does a grade 1 on the résumé make the Jaipur a hot commodity, but as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, the winner will take home the automatic "Win and You're In" qualifying spot for the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar.

The Breeders' Cup is no stranger to Godolphin's Mischief Magic , winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland in 2022. After an unsuccessful 3-year-old season in Europe, the Exceed And Excel  gelding is getting back on track since returning to the United States for two graded placings, most recently in the May 4 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs.

Video: Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. presented by Sentient Jet (G2T)

William Buick travels across the pond to ride, but will need to overcome the far outside post if he hopes to aid his mount in crossing the million-dollar earnings mark.

Should Mischief Magic falter, Godolphin still has another homebred, Star of Mystery , to take up the challenge. The only filly in the field, the daughter of Kodiac  also needs to overcome the challenge of being a 3-year-old against her elders.

No stranger to either task, Star of Mystery turned in four high-quality performances in Dubai over the winter, including a group 2 win and a second in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1T) at Meydan Racecourse. More favorably drawn in post 6, Flavien Prat will have the mount.

Americans With Something to Prove

Surprisingly, the filly is not the lone 3-year-old in the gate. Directly to her outside is Bregman Family Racing, Ivan Cabrera, and Edge Racing's No Nay Mets . A three-time stakes winner at age 2, the son of No Nay Never  ran second in the May 1 William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs but was disqualified for interference and placed fourth. He adds blinkers and picks up Frankie Dettori for the Jaipur.

Sonata Stable's Arzak  ran sixth, beaten two lengths in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint last November, and would become one of the early favorites for this year's should he pick up the automatic entry. The son of Not This Time   sandwiched that Breeders' Cup effort between two grade 2 victories at Keeneland, including his 6-year-old debut April 6 in the Shakertown Stakes (G2T). Breaking from post 2, he acquires the riding services of Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Jaime Torres.

Both No Nay Mets and Arzak were ridden in their last start by Irad Ortiz Jr., who retains the mount on Clark Brewster and William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Cogburn  for the Jaipur. Ortiz piloted the 5-year-old son of Not This Time to a 2 1/4-length win over Filo Di Arianna  in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint. Cogburn has won four of his last five and is 7-for-13 lifetime with earnings of $962,730.

The Jaipur is race 9 with post time at 4:08 p.m. ET.