Chief Wallabee Receives Class Relief in Curlin

Following fourth-place finishes in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), Chief Wallabee  is set to receive some class relief Aug. 2 when facing seven 3-year-olds in the $150,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The 1 1/8-mile dirt race is restricted to horses who have not won a graded stakes race.

Originally scheduled for July 29, the Curlin Stakes was rescheduled for Sunday after racing was canceled Wednesday at Saratoga following torrential rain.

Mike and Katherine Ball's homebred son of Constitution   has been well thought of since a 1 1/2-length debut triumph at Gulfstream Park in January. He then dived into deeper waters immediately with narrow defeats to Commandment🔥  in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1).

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott added blinkers for the Triple Crown races, and believes they have helped keep him running straighter in the stretch. Although he's proven himself as one of the leading 3-year-olds, he still lacks a second career win and, with the Travers Stakes (G1) approaching Aug. 29, the Curlin provides an opportunity for a confidence booster.

Among his chief competition will be BR Thoroughbreds, Lance Gasaway, and Magdalena Racing's Blackout Time🔥 , who, after receiving his own class relief after finishing off the board in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1) to start the year at Oaklawn Park, dominated a field of allowance rivals by 6 lengths June 27 over a sloppy (sealed) Churchill Downs track.