Vosburgh Could be Scotland's Chance to Shine

After just failing to catch sprint division leader Book'em Danno  in the Forego Stakes (G1), LNJ Foxwoods' Scotland  may finally get his moment in the sun in the $200,000 Vosburgh Stakes (G3) Sept. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

A two-time stakes winner, Scotland has been highly-regarded since breaking his maiden as a 3-year-old for trainer Bill Mott, but has never taken his photo at the graded level. The son of Good Magic   was second in last year's Vosburgh to a buzzsaw in Mufasa .

Last month's Forego was only the second start of the year for the 5-year-old, who had returned to the races in a Saratoga Race Course allowance optional claimer July 12 with a closing third-place effort in the mud. With the presence of front-running speedsters Baby Yoda , Super Chow , as well as Light the Way , a gate-to-wire allowance victor two starts back for trainer Linda Rice, there should be plenty of pace to set up for the late-running Scotland.

Junior Alvarado has the mount.

Despite being downgraded to a grade 3 in 2024, the seven-furlong Vosburgh remains a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Cody's Wish   captured the Vosburgh in 2023 en route to his second Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) title and Horse of the Year honors.

Finishing three-quarters of a length behind Scotland in the Forego was the Gregory Sacco-trained Crazy Mason . The son of Coal Front , victorious in Aqueduct's Carter Stakes (G2) this April, rallied from last to get third at odds of 16-1 in the biggest test of his career.

"With come-from-behind horses, things have to set up. (Jockey) Manny (Franco) got off him last time and said, 'I wish I had a seam at the quarter pole where I didn't have to go nine wide,' but it didn't materialize," Sacco said. "He just kept coming and it was a great race, but 'Danno' is at the top of his game and has had an incredible year. Scotland is a horse with some nice accomplishments, and he was coming back second off the layoff."

Doc Sullivan , a two-time New York-bred stakes winner over seven furlongs, is another returning from the Forego. The Tristar Farm runner was a length behind Crazy Mason in fourth. He was exiting a career-best 109 Equibase Speed Figure-earning victory in the John Morrissey Stakes July 31 at Saratoga.

George A. Mellon's three-time stakes winner Patriot Spirit  steps up to graded company off a 4-length win in the Reigh Count Stakes at Colonial Downs, where he went 7 furlongs in 1:21.01.

New York-Breds Top Field for Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes

Earlier on the card, the improving Twenty Six Black  eyes his first graded glory in the $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T).

Trained by Horacio De Paz for Roger Cimbora Jr., Twenty Six Black enters off a 2 1/4-length tally in the restricted, 5 1/2-furlong Disco Partner Stakes at Saratoga. The Disco Partner followed a notable runner-up effort facing open company in the Aug. 3 Troy Stakes (G2T) behind Bring Theband Home , in which the War Dancer   gelding finished ahead of key rivals Senbei  and Alogon .

Veteran turf sprint specialist Senbei, from the barn of Miguel Clement, captured last year's Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes when under the care of Miguel's father, Christophe Clement. The New York-bred, 3-for-5 over the Aqueduct grass, won the Ashley T. Cole Stakes here June 28, speeding six furlongs in 1:07.47.