Munnings highlights dynamite King’s Bishop; Sara Louise
returns in Victory Ride
MUNNINGS (Speightstown) proved no match for Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro)
when finishing a distant third in the Haskell Invitational (G1) at 1 1/8 miles,
but the talented sprinter figures to relish the cutback to seven furlongs in
Saturday’s $300,000
King’s Bishop S. (G1), which will take place one race before the $1 million
Travers S. (G1) on the six-stakes program at Saratoga. Earlier on the
blockbuster card, SARA LOUISE (Malibu Moon), the last filly to defeat Rachel
Alexandra, will make her highly anticipated three-year-old debut in the $100,000
Victory Ride S. (G3) at six furlongs.
Prior to the Haskell, Munnings recorded convincing wins in both the Tom Fool
H. (G2) and Woody Stephen S. (G2) at seven furlongs. The Todd Pletcher-trained
colt arguably towers over his eight sophomore rivals with 108 BRIS Speed ratings
in all four starts this season, but the chestnut will need his best effort
against a talented cast of opponents that includes CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Candy
Ride [Arg]), BIG DRAMA (Montbrook) and VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Arg]).
Regular rider John Velazquez will guide Munnings from the rail.
Grade 2 winner Capt. Candyman Can threw a scare into Quality Road (Elusive
Quality) in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam S. (G2) last time before settling for
runner-up honors, four lengths clear of third, and is a candidate to move
forward off the stellar effort. The Ian Wilkes-trained gelding loves the Spa,
recording a 7 1/4-length debut win last summer, and he’s three-for-three at the
distance. Javier Castellano returns to the saddle.
Grade 3 scorer Big Drama would be three-for-three at seven furlongs if not
for a disqualification in the Swale S. (G2), and the David Fawkes-trained colt
figures to relish the cutback off a narrow miss in the 1 1/8-mile West Virginia
Derby (G2). The Florida-bred will likely show speed from the far outside with
Eibar Coa.
Vineyard Haven will return to the scene of his impressive Hopeful S. (G1)
score over this track and trip, and the gray colt added the Champagne S. (G1) to his record before
being shipped to Dubai for the winter. He’s made only one start this year, a
fourth to Desert Party (Street Cry [Ire]) in the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas
(UAE-G3) last February, but
the Saeed bin Suroor runner has trained forwardly for his return. Vineyard Haven
will run coupled with his Godolphin stablemate, Grade 3 hero EVERYDAY HEROES
(Awesome Again).
NOT FOR SILVER (Not for Love), a smashing 4 1/2-length winner of the Carry
Back S. (G2) in his last outing, is also entered.
Sara Louise broke her maiden at Belmont Park last fall and shipped to
Churchill Downs for a comfortable victory in the Pocahontas S. (G3) in her next
start, defeating Rachel Alexandra by 3 3/4 lengths. That rival has not tasted
defeat since, winning eight straight stakes, and she was able to exact a measure
of revenge upon Sara Louise when capturing the Golden Rod S. (G2) by 4 3/4
lengths in late November. Sara Louise has not started since that runner-up
effort.
Now trained by bin Suroor, the bay fill will face eight rivals in the Victory
Ride beneath Edgar Prado. Top rivals include stakes winners BOLD UNION (Dixie
Union), SELVA (Forest Wildcat) and SKY HAVEN (Sky Mesa).