BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Miss Vyvyanne, a winner of seven of her last nine including a two-lengths score in the Grade 2 bet365 Highlander on the Woodbine turf last time, heads to Saratoga Race Course for Friday’s $200,000 Smart and Fancy. Ten fillies and mares, including one on the also-eligible list, have entered to race five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf.
A stake victory outside Florida at this level by Miss Vyvyanne would earn breeders Tom McCrocklin and Gerald Martin a $4,000 Export Incentive from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
The now 6-year-old Miss Vyvyanne has been white hot since June 7 of last year when she won a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming sprinting on the turf at Woodbine. She was claimed for $32,000 by trainer Gail Cox and owner Ralph R. Murray at Woodbine on June 28 after winning by three-and-a-half-lengths be was fifth next out on Woodbine’s synthetic main track on Aug. 9 from the new barn. She then rattled off five straight culminated with a length-and-a-quarter victory in the $75,000 Golden Beach overnight handicap going five furlongs on the Gulfstream Park turf on April 11. She was then second, beaten less than a length by Little Teddy in an upper tier, $80,000 optional claiming on Woodbine’s all-weather course on May 9 before resuming her winning form last out in the Highlander on June 27, winning by two lengths after leading from the start.
Miss Vyvyanne is by Rainbow Heir out of Caribean Beat, by Half Ours. She has won 12 with three seconds and a third while earning $504,971. She is now owned by Murray and Calstar Farm Inc. and remains in the barn of Gail Cox.
Pietro Moran will ride Miss Vyvyanne from post six and they are the second choice on the morning line at 5-2.
Favored at 2-1 in the program is Zeitlos, who exits a second to Movin’ On Up in the Grade 2 Caress Stakes going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Saratoga turf on July 11, a race in which she was second to Future is Now last year and fifth in 2024. This year’s Caress also her first start on grass since fifth in the Grade 2 Never Say Die Ladies Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs in August of last year.
In four other starts this year, her best effort was a second to Usha in the Grade 2 Winning Colors going six furlongs on the dirt at Churchill Downs on May 25.
The 6-year-old Zeitlos is trained by Steve Asmussen for Peter Leidel and has won nine with seven seconds and three thirds in 28 starts with earnings of $1,452,740.
The chestnut daughter of Curlin has post nine and jockey Jose Ortiz.
Also set to line up for the Smart and Fancy are Me Governor and with Manny Franco named to ride, Delightful Flame and jockey Katie Davis, John Velazquez has the call on Praying, Junior Alvarado will take the reins on Le Amazonia, Capturing will have Irad Oritz Jr. up, Itzel will be guided by Tyler Gaffalione and Ratu Jawa will have Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons. Munnings Express is entered under main track only conditions.
Return to the August 12 issue of Wire to Wire
