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Charlie Appleby embraces New York with strong contingent for Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

by NYRA Press Office

• Charlie Appleby embraces New York with strong contingent for Belmont Stakes Racing Festival
• Sierra Leone works for G1 Belmont Stakes; Domestic Product could target G1 Woody Stephens
• Honor Marie works at Churchill Downs for G1 Belmont Stakes
• Soul of an Angel sharp before G1 Ogden Phipps; Skippylongstocking possible for G2 Suburban
• Brion steeplechasers Freddy Flintshire and Jimmy P ready for inaugural G1 Beverly R. Steinman

There is no real magic as to why or how Charlie Appleby and his Godolphin regiment have done so well, worldwide and especially in the United States. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s operation breeds and buys the best it can, its most prolific trainer trains them as well as one can, and the collective hopes for the best.

Still, deeper within that equation is the catalyst of a conditioner who recognizes what works nearly as quickly as he commits to re-strategizing when something does not. Enter: New York and a racing jurisdiction in which the Appleby pride has increasingly roared over the past few years, to the tune of multiple Grade 1 victories, and with plans to turn up the volume, so to speak, a few decibels. Quality certainly worked in the past, so why not a little quantity?

“There should be about 18-or-so horses at Saratoga, when it’s all said and done,” the 48-year-old Newmarket-based trainer confirmed. “It’ll be a nice team. We think the program suits them really well, especially the older horses. Obviously, we’ve sent some 3-year-olds over, and some will be coming over and it suits them, as well, hopefully.”

A winner of seven-figure races in 10 countries - possibly 11 if 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf champion Rebel’s Romance takes Sunday’s Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong - Appleby already has boots on the ground in the form of traveling assistant Chris Connett, who is currently overseeing seven horses at Godolphin’s Greentree property adjacent to Saratoga Race Course. The group will more than double when nine more horses clear quarantine, all having arrived in New York on Friday, May 24 with an eye towards the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

While Rebel’s Romance is expected to join the ranks later this summer with an eye toward the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer – a “Win and You’re In” event offering a berth in the Grade 1 Breeder’s Cup Turf in November at Del Mar -, half-brother Measured Time leads the incoming legion. By Frankel, the 4-year-old was originally slated for a stateside run that never came to pass in 2023.

Like many by his sire, he has improved markedly with seasoning over the past year, going from a Listed-placed runner to a Group 1 winner when taking the Jebel Hatta at Meydan Racecourse in January. Five weeks prior to that, he annexed the Group 2 Al Rashidiya over the same nine furlongs. He was last seen finishing fourth in the Group 1, $5 million Dubai Turf and has since circled the 1 3/16-mile Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan as his next target. He will be joined by Grade 1 Canadian International winner Nations Pride, who exits a third to stablemate Silver Knott in the Grade 2 Man o’ War on May 11 at Belmont at the Big A. Plans for Silver Knott are currently tied up.

“Measured Time heads to the Manhattan off of a very good performance, finishing fourth in the Dubai Turf. It was a really solid run. He had two good wins in Dubai, including, obviously, the Jebel Hatta being his Grade 1 win,” Appleby said. “Nations Pride ran a good, solid race in his last start there in the Man o’ War. He will definitely come forward and head to the Manhattan.”

A familiar face to New York fans returns in turf stayer Siskany, a popular winner of last year’s Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup. The 6-year-old gelded son of Dubawi repeated in February’s Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy over 14 furlongs before a fourth in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup over the same two miles as his Belmont defense test. He was a neck second in the 2023 edition of the Dubai Gold Cup.

Siskany will look to defend his title in the Belmont Gold Cup which this year offers a ‘Golden Ticket’ for an automatic berth into the Group 1, AUD$8.4 million Lexus Melbourne Cup on November 5 at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria, Australia.

“Siskany was last seen in Dubai in the Gold Cup running his usual solid race,” Appleby said. “He’s a past winner of the Belmont Gold Cup last year, so he’s coming back for a renewal of that. He’s in good form and hopefully he can get it done again.”

Filly sprint ‘stars’ will be heading over, as well. Star Guest, a 4-year-old Dubawi daughter, exits a third as favorite in the Listed Kilvington Stakes on May 4 and will head to the Grade 2, $200,000 Intercontinental presented by MTV Solutions on June 7, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.

Well-regarded Star of Mystery, a blue-blooded half-sister to Appleby’s 2021 Grade 1 Just a Game and Grade 1 Diana winner Althiqa, has proven a lethal late-runner, taking Meydan’s Group 2 Blue Point over five furlongs against older horses this winter.

She was last seen finishing a three-quarter-length second in Meydan’s Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint to Hong Kong luminary California Spangle and takes on the proverbial big boys again on June 8 in the Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur Presented by Resolute Racing which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

She will be joined by 2022 Breeders’ Cup Grade 1 Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Mischief Magic, also a deep-closing sort, who exits a pair of stateside graded placings in Kentucky after victory in Meydan’s Listed Dubai Sprint.

“Star Guest ran a solid race there at Newmarket in what was her first start of the year. She will definitely come forward for it. We feel that the trip and conditions of the Intercontinental will suit her,” Appleby explained. “Star of Mystery, being out in Dubai, was a model of consistency. She just got touched off in the Al Quoz against older horses and I feel that the five and a half should suit her well at Saratoga in the Jaipur. Obviously, she has to gain some experience from it all in her first run in America. Mischief Magic is already over there and doing well since April. He’s a solid, old horse and just needs a bit of luck.”

Star of Mystery’s overachieving dam, Mistrusting, has another progeny heading over in Canadian Grade 1-winner Mysterious Night, a son of Dark Angel last seen finishing a disappointing 13th of 14 in the Group 2 1351 Turf Sprint on Saudi Cup Saturday on February 24 as market favorite. Prior to that, he landed Meydan’s Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort over seven furlongs on a mere week’s rest. The 4-year-old seeks to improve upon a disappointing seventh of nine in last August’s Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame at the Spa. The one-mile Grade 3, $350,000 Poker is on tap for said opportunity.

“Mysterious Night heads for the Poker and had a good winter in Dubai, winning the Fahidi Fort,” Appleby said. “He’s a solid-enough old campaigner at this point and he goes in well.”

A phalanx of longer-winded fillies establish a bit of depth to the detail, including Cinderella’s Dream, an exciting winner of the Listed Jumeirah 1000 Guineas, despite William Buick’s saddle slipping and having neither iron in place. She was seventh in Newmarket’s Group 1, 1000 Guineas on May 5 and points to the Grade 1, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks at 1 3/16-miles for sophomore fillies on July 6 at Belmont at the Big A. She was joined on the plane by last year’s Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational winner Eternal Hope, who has been unseen since backing up to win the Grade 2 Sands Point in October, as well as Dazzling Star, a sophomore unseen since finishing a third as favorite in September’s Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine.

Lightly raced Group 2 Balanchine winner English Rose, on the other hand, will indeed run on June 7 at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, but the final petal has yet to drop on which Grade 1 older-filly and mare race she will attempt with the 1 3/16-mile, $750,000 New York presented by Rivers Casino and the one-mile $500,000 Just a Game under consideration. The Frankel filly was second in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Jenny Wiley last out on April 13.

“Cinderella’s Dream is coming over with an eye toward the Belmont Oaks and she’s coming along with a couple others with later targets, being Eternal Hope and Dazzling Star. There are no set firm plans as of yet for them. They’ll just be joining the team over there and getting settled and then we will choose our spots for them,” Appleby said. “English Rose had a nice solid first run at Keeneland in the Jenny Wiley. She has good form this winter in Dubai, winning the Balanchine. We will decide closer to the race which race she’ll run in between the Just a Game and New York.”

Another filly, Dubai Carnival winner Beautiful Love, who was second to Cinderella’s Dream in February’s Jumeirah Fillies Classic, is also pointed for a summer campaign.

The 2023 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile champ Master of The Seas is targeting the Spa's Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap on August 10. The one-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up offers a “Win and You’re In”’ berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar - a race Master of The Seas captured last year at Santa Anita Park.

Padding out the troupe are the likes of Group 3 Earl of Sefton winner and recent Grade 2 Fort Marcy runner-up Ottoman Fleet, Group 2 Singspiel winner and Grade 1 Turf Classic runner-up Naval Power, and Group 2 Dubai City of Gold and Grade 3 Sycamore winner Bold Act. Sophomores Legend of Time and Musical Act, each looking to improve upon disappointing runs in Kentucky over ground arguably less than to their liking, will seek firm redemption in the Empire State—the former in today’s Grade 2 Pennine Ridge. Plans for many in the Appleby army are fluid at this point, but it is vividly clear that he has success in mind for all. And there are plenty.

“We’re getting to know more about the racing program there in the summer, year-on-year should we say, and we like the racing,” Appleby concluded. “I feel that we have the right horses to be competitive, which is most important, and everyone’s enjoying it.”

~ International reporting provided by Michael Adolphson.

***

Sierra Leone works for G1 Belmont Stakes; Domestic Product could target G1 Woody Stephens

Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook T. Smith’s dual graded stakes-winner Sierra Leone posted a five-furlong breeze in company with Grade 3-winner Domestic Product Saturday over Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma dirt training track.

Sierra Leone, who is targeting the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 8 at the Spa, worked in his typical blinkers to the inside of Domestic Product as NYRA clockers caught the pair through splits of 13.28 seconds, 25.87, 37.95 and through five furlongs in 1:02.64 before galloping out in 1:15.78 and 1:28.64 over the fast footing.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown said he was pleased with the work from both horses.

“It was good. It was just what I wanted – a steady five-eighths and let them gallop out,” said Brown. “I want to maintain where I’m at with the horse [Sierra Leone] and I’m thrilled with how he’s moving.”

Sierra Leone, who was runner-up in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby after a dramatic three-way stretch battle with Forever Young and the victorious Mystik Dan, sported a new type of bit – a cage bit – for his work Saturday in hopes of a more controlled ride.

“We’re experimenting a little bit,” said Brown. “I tried it a little bit in the winter, and I wasn’t sold on it, so we went with just some blinkers in the Risen Star and he responded well. But I’m thinking about tweaking a little bit – not positive yet – to give the rider some more control. It could potentially help a little bit.

“He’s never done much in the mornings, and sometimes it’s hard to recreate [afternoon issues] in the mornings,” Brown continued. “The horse had never had us worried about steering issues in the mornings. All we try to do is – as they show us more in the afternoons – is to be prepared.”

Along with a possible equipment change for the Belmont, Brown noted that regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione will not ride the son of Gun Runner in the 10-furlong test, instead opting for the services of Flavien Prat.

“Tyler, from where he was, worked out a very good trip [in the Derby],” Brown commented. “He paused a few times – in the first turn, he paused behind some horses who were in his way, and around the five-sixteenths pole, there were some tired horses who came up on him and he had to get around them. It cost him a little bit, but I thought those decisions were good. I’m moving forward with the change [to Prat] and we’ll see how it goes.”

As for Klaravich Stables’ Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby-winner Domestic Product, Brown said a cutback is likely for the son of Practical Joke after finishing a troubled 13th in the Kentucky Derby.

Brown, who won the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens with Practical Joke on a cutback three starts after a fifth in the Derby in 2017, said Domestic Product could be following the same trajectory as his sire. His next target could be the seven-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun on June 8.

“I’m not sure, but I’m probably going to cut the horse back in distance,” said Brown. “He’s possible for the Woody Stephens. Obviously Practical Joke was cut back late in the year and did good. We’re thinking about that.”

While Domestic Product will skip the Belmont Stakes, Brown could have one other contender in William Lawrence, Walmac Farm and Stonestreet Stables’ Tuscan Gold, who finished fourth in the Grade 1 Preakness last Saturday.

“I’m going to work the horse next weekend and then decide,” said Brown. “The work and how he’s bounced out of the race will let me know.”

The Medaglia d’Oro bay graduated at second asking in January at Gulfstream Park and finished third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in March ahead of his Preakness effort, where he made a mild bid from sixth-of-8 to land 8 1/4 lengths back of the victorious pacesetter Seize the Grey.

Also on Saturday’s work tab at Saratoga for Brown was dual graded stakes-placed Ways and Means, who covered a half-mile in company with Nikitis in 49.49 seconds with a gallop-out in 1:02 and 2/5. Just after them followed a solo work from multiple graded stakes-winner Carl Spackler, who covered a half-mile in 50 and galloped out in 1:03.58.

***

Honor Marie works at Churchill Downs for G1 Belmont Stakes

Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein, and Dave Fishbein’s Honor Marie breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 Saturday at Churchill Downs as he prepares for the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Whit Beckman, the Honor Code bay was a last out eighth after a troubled trip in the 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs. There, Honor Marie, who closed for second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in April at Fair Grounds and to win the Kentucky Jockey Club in November at Churchill, was jostled hard at the start and raced in last-of-20 after a half-mile.

Beckman said his colt came away from the frustrating trip in good order and has seemed well going into the Belmont Stakes, which this year will be contested at 1 1/4-miles.

“Despite that tough trip in the Derby, he popped out of that race in fantastic order. We got one more work between now and then,” said Beckman. “If everything goes as well as it has been going, we are planning on shipping up early next week.”

Beckman said Saturday’s work, his second breeze back since the Derby, was well within himself going in company with maiden-winner Anthem King.

“The work went great, kind of a right down the middle five-eighths, 1:01 and change,” said Beckman. “Just what we were looking for: nothing quick, nothing slow, just well within himself. He did it fairly easily with good energy throughout, galloped out in 1:14, came back, cooled out quickly, and looked good.”

Honor Marie, who broke from post 7-of-20 in the Derby, will seek more running room in the Belmont, which Beckman believes could be aided by a smaller field.

“It’s just less horses. The Derby gates open and it’s a cavalry charge. If you catch a position like we were, getting pushed from the inside and outside, getting ping pong-ed, our shot was pretty much blown there,” said Beckman. “I don’t think we got 50 free yards during the whole race to run clear or free. With less horses in the Belmont, I feel like this horse is a very good closer and can run with the best 3-year-olds in the country.”

Honor Marie’s Derby-rider Ben Curtis has been sidelined with an injury, and Beckman said no rider has been named yet for the Belmont mount.

Out of the graded stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Dame Marie, Honor Marie holds a lifetime record of 6-2-2-0 with $526,175 in earnings.

Also on the work tab this morning at Churchill Downs was possible Belmont Stakes contender The Wine Steward, who covered a half-mile in 48 flat.

Trained by Mike Maker for Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher, the New York-bred Vino Rosso colt was last seen finishing a strong second in the Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 11 at Belmont at the Big A.

Bred in the Empire State by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker, The Wine Steward is a dual stakes-winner with additional placings at Keeneland when second in both the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity in October and the Grade 3 Lexington in April.

***

Soul of an Angel sharp before G1 Ogden Phipps; Skippylongstocking possible for G2 Suburban

Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. has multiple contenders under consideration for the lucrative Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, headlined by Soul of an Angel in the nine-furlong Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford on June 8 Belmont Stakes Day, at Saratoga Race Course.

C Two Racing Stable and Agave Racing Stable’s Soul of an Angel ran the best performance of her 36-start career last-out in the one-mile Grade 2 Ruffian on May 4 at Belmont at the Big A. There, the 5-year-old Atreides mare traveled 7 1/2-lengths back before steadily advancing and flying by the pacesetting Grade 1-winner Randomized in the stretch to win by 4 3/4-lengths.

Soul of an Angel has worked twice since the effort, including a half-mile in 47 seconds flat on May 24 at the Palm Meadows Training Center.

“She is doing well. She’s going to run in the Ogden Phipps,” said Joseph, Jr. “Obviously, she ran well [last-out]. She’s a filly that’s kind of run some really good races before and for her to break through in that Grade 2– we had just purchased her– it was very gratifying.”

Previously, Soul of an Angel finished sixth in the Grade 2 Azeri at Oaklawn Park and second in the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park, in March and February, respectively, both when in the barn of Gerald James.

Joseph, Jr. added that he hopes Soul of an Angel runs a big race in a tough field that may feature last year’s Champion Older Dirt Female Idiomatic.

“She has to improve again in the Ogden Phipps. It’s going to be a tougher race. You got Idiomatic in there to take care of,” said Joseph, Jr. “We’re going to give it a shot. You can’t have it unless you are in it.”

Daniel Alonso’s multiple graded stakes-winner Skippylongstocking, who finished third in the 2022 Belmont Stakes, may return to Belmont Stakes Day action in the Grade 2, $350,000 Suburban, a 10-furlong test for older horses.

The 5-year-old Exaggerator bay has won his last two starts in April’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at its namesake course and Tampa Bay Down’s Grade 3 Challenger in March. He earned a career-best 107 Beyer Speed Figure in the nine-furlong Oaklawn Handicap, and Joseph, Jr. believes options are open at longer distances down the line, including the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.

“We’re going to nominate there [the Suburban]. There’s a possibility he could run there, we’re going to decide this week,” Joseph, Jr. said. “The [Breeders’ Cup] Classic at the end of the year is 10 furlongs. We’d like to run him 10 furlongs, and timing-wise this works out pretty good, just want to keep our options open and see where we are at.

“We are going to decide this week. If not, he will definitely run during the Saratoga meet,” added Joseph, Jr.

Last November, Skippylongstocking was third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park.

A new addition to Joseph, Jr.’s barn is 2-year-old filly The Queen’s M G, who is likely to contest the 5 1/2 furlong, $150,000 Astoria on June 6 at Saratoga.

The Thousand Words dark bay won her lone start when launching a 46-1 upset over next-out Kentucky Juvenile winner West Memorial in a 4 1/2-furlong sprint on April 7 at Keeneland when in the care of Israel Acevedo.

She has worked three times since the effort, including a three-furlong breeze in 36.04 on May 19 at Gulfstream Park and a half-mile in 47.97 Saturday.

“She’s a private purchase. She came back and worked well. I’m excited to see her run,” said Joseph, Jr. “The filly that she beat there came back to win a stake at Churchill. That obviously made the form look pretty good.”

Dailey Double Racing’s New York bred Saratoga Flash has competed in two turf stakes events this year at Gulfstream Park, finishing fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Canadian Turf ahead of a head-defeat to the well-regarded Smokin’ T in the one-mile Listed Appleton last-out on March 30.

Joseph, Jr. said the 6-year-old Laoban gelding may next appear in the 1 1/16-mile $125,000 Kingston when New York-breds take center stage for a special New York Showcase Day on June 9 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms’ Mystic Lake was a last-out 4 1/2 length winner of the six-furlong Grade 3 Miss Preakness on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course. The Florida-bred Mo Town dark bay made the grade after past stakes wins at Tampa Bay Downs in the Gasparilla in January and Sophomore Fillies in March.

Joseph, Jr. said she is under consideration for the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3, $175,000 Victory Ride on July 4 at Belmont at the Big A.

***

Brion steeplechasers Freddy Flintshire and Jimmy P ready for inaugural G1 Beverly R. Steinman

The Grade 1, $150,000 Beverly R. Steinman, a new 2 3/8-mile steeplechase event created to honor the career of Beverly R. “Peggy” Steinman, will be contested for the first time on Sunday, June 9, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Keri Brion may hold a strong hand in the inaugural running with a pair of Grade 1-placed jumpers in Freddy Flintshire and Jimmy P. In addition to seeing her duo compete, Brion said she is also excited for steeplechase as a whole to be at the center of the racing world during the lucrative Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

“It’s great. It is awesome we are going to be on display during this festival. It is great NYRA is letting us put it on,” said Brion. “I have Freddy Flintshire and Jimmy P for that race. Both should be very live.”

Upland Flats Racing’s Freddy Flintshire has not raced since the 2 1/16-mile Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial on July 19 at Saratoga. There, the Flintshire gelding found himself 11 lengths back early before steadily making up ground and closing for third in the event won by Belfast Banter.

The now 6-year-old boasts a perfect 8-for-8 on-the-board record over the jumps, including a win in the Queen's Cup MPC Chase last year at Charlotte and in a Saratoga allowance in summer 2022.

While Freddy Flintshire hasn’t recorded any official work times, Brion confirmed he has worked extensively at her Fair Hill-base, adding that he seems primed for his seasonal debut.

“We were just letting him mature and grow up. He just had a point-to-point run where he just dominated on Sunday actually,” Brion said. “He’s prepping and getting ready, looking good. He’s been working, just unpublished here at Fair Hill.”

Madaket Stables, Molly Willis, and Paul Willis’ Jimmy P made his seasonal debut in the Grade 1 Iroquois at Percy Warner, finishing off-the-board in the event won by the well-regarded Snap Decision.

The 6-year-old Slumber bay was second last August in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard at Saratoga, being caught late to finish one-length back of Awakened, who went on to become a finalist for the Eclipse Award for American Champion Steeplechase Horse.

“Jimmy P was second in a Grade 1 last year up there for me, and Freddy has won in Saratoga for us,” said Brion regarding her pair in the new event. “I think both of them going into that race should look pretty good in there.”

On the flat, Brion confirmed that Charles Blanford’s Crabs N Beer is doing well after a strong second-place effort in the Grade 3 Dinner Party, a nine-furlong turf test on the May 18 Preakness Day Card at Pimlico Race Course.

The 5-year-old Blofeld gelding, a 14-1 shot in the nine-horse field, came with a powerful five-wide run to finish 1 1/2-lengths back of Balnikhov, who got the jump on him during the stretch drive.

Brion said a New York two-other-than allowance could be next for the Maryland-bred, with an eye towards a stakes race at Saratoga such as the 1 5/8-mile, $135,000 John’s Call on August 21.

“He came out of it great. That was such a huge run. We are over the moon. I mean I knew the horse had a big one in him, but you need it to all come together,” Brion said. “I think he is a horse that the farther he goes, the better. Maybe a John’s Call type of race. We’ll see, that was an exciting race and I’m excited to have a horse of his level in the barn.”