July 12, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Fly your Flag
Chili Flag (FR) (9-2) is flying high ahead of Saturday’s $500,000 Diana (G1T) at Saratoga.
Currently boasting a streak of three straight graded scores, the 5-year-old mare will need to outduel a deep field of challengers for a chance at number four.
Among the accomplished contenders vying for the top spot are Whitebeam (4-1), Didia (ARG) (7-2), and Moira (5-1), Canada’s horse of the year in 2022.
This who’s who of the older fillies and mare division intend on making life difficult for Chili Flag, who recently surpassed the $1 million career earnings mark with her last victory (Grade 1 Just a Game, turf).
Trained by Chad Brown, who’s won the Diana a record eight times, Chili Flag kick-started her impressive run with tallies in the Honey Fox (G3T) and Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2T).
2-For-1
For a horse still seeking his first career graded trophy, Talk of the Nation has put together a mighty fine career for himself.
Through 10 starts, the 4-year-old colt owns a strong 4-4-1 line with two stakes wins (2023 Columbia and Gun Runner), good for a lifetime earnings tally of $945,610.
The Todd Pletcher trainee can eclipse two major milestones by crossing the finish line first in Saturday’s $175,000 Kelso (G3T) at Saratoga.
Talk of the Nation (2-1) is set to meet Mysterious Night (IRE) (8-5) and Carl Spackler (IRE) (2-1) for the second time in as many races after the trio went head-to-head in last month’s Poker (G3T).
The Irad Ortiz Jr. mount finished third in the one-mile affair, a head behind Mysterious Night but two spots ahead of Carl Spackler.
Record Store
Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes made history earlier this week when he became the first player to make an all-star team just one year after being the first-overall selection in the MLB Draft.
Like the towering LSU product, Mentee also rewrote the history books when she blazed across five furlongs at Aqueduct in a track-record time of :56.97.
Heading into her second career tilt at Saratoga, the $175,000 Sanford (G3), the 2-year-old filly finds herself in prime position for a photo in the winner’s circle.
Backed by the record-holding duo of trainer Todd Pletcher (8) and rider John Velasquez (7), who share a combined 15 Stanford scores, Mentee (6-5) comes equipped with both immense natural talent and a superstar coaching staff.
The rookie runner looks to build on her magical first start this Saturday.
Graduation Day
After a successful 2-for-2 start to her rookie campaign, Do It Divi (6-1) is ready to graduate from the claiming ranks to the stakes tier for the $150,000 Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap.
A pair of wins by three-quarters of a length have the 3-year-old filly’s connections ready to test her abilities against a strong group of competitors on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
The one-mile turf contest features a vast, yet tight 12-horse field led by opening line 3-1 choice Everland (3-0-1 through nine starts with a 2024 Bourbonette Oaks score).
However, a large lot shouldn’t affect Do It Divi, who navigated through fields of 12 and nine to secure her two victories.
Entering at 6-1, the Florent Geroux mount is on a mission to prove she belongs at the next level.
Leave it on Shuffle
It’s been a mixed bag through six starts for American Rascal. The cheeky 3-year-old colt has either landed on the podium or nowhere remotely close (6: 2-1-0).
Heading into Sunday’s $175,000 Quick Call (G3T) at Saratoga, his first graded endeavour, the father-son trainer-jockey duo of Steve and Keith Asmussen are hoping to steer their protégé back into the win column.
After scoring in his professional debut, American Rascal travelled across the Atlantic to Ascot for the Norfolk Stakes (G2). The trip didn’t go according to plan, as the Kentucky-bred faltered to a 13th place finish.
A sixth in his return home wasn’t ideal either, but American Rascal then scored the Zia Park Juvenile before finishing second in the Sugar Bowl.
Another sixth in the Ozark last out on Feb. 10 shouldn’t instill much panic given what we know about the Stonestreet Stables’ product’s tendencies.
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