BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Wathnan Racing’s Spiralizer will make his first start on the grass Friday when the Florida-bred colt goes in the $150,000 Skidmore at Saratoga Race Course. Scheduled for five-and-a-half furlongs, the Skidmore has attracted seven 2-year-old colts, including main track only entrant Soontobeking.
Spiralizer was a two-length winner at five furlongs on debut against special weight maidens at Churchill Downs on June 12 before trainer Steve Asmussen sent him against stakes competition in his next start. However, the son of Twirling Candy disappointed with a seven-place finish in the $217,000 Bashford Manor won by Politicallycorrect going six furlongs at Churchill on June 30.
Bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm, Spiralizer was a $550,000 purchase by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management out of the Eddie Woods consignment at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale. He is the only starter for the unraced mare Jotown, by Speightstown and has earned $44,000 in his two starts.
Spiralizer is 8-1 on the morning line and Flavien Prat will ride for the first time. They have post five.
The 7-5 morning line favorite is Governor Sam, a winner of his last two including a neck victory over Skidmore rival Jet Sweep Joe in the $100,000 Tyro going five furlongs on the Monmouth Park turf on Aug. 3.
Governor Sam started his career with a sixth-place finish behind Florida-bred Gabaldon in the $110,000 Royal Palm Juvenile going five furlongs on the grass at Gulfstream Park but rebounded to win a maiden special weight on the Saratoga turf on July 19.
Another OBS graduate, Governor Sam sold for $275,000 to Bregman Family Racing and Ivan Cabrera at the Spring Sale where he was consigned by Wavertree Stables. He leads the Skidmore field with $117,850 in earnings for owners Bregman Family Racing LLC and Swinbank Stable LLC.
He is trained by George Weaver, who will be looking for career win 1,000 and Tyler Gaffalione will ride from post three.
Raise the Bar is the 9-5 second choice in the program for trainer Wesley Ward.
The son of Maclean’s Music makes his second lifetime start after winning a maiden special weight going four-and-a-half furlongs on a sloppy track at Keeneland on April 10.
Raise the Bar is owned by Douglas Scharbauer and John Velazquez will be aboard from post six.
Completing the field are Jet Sweep Joe with Joseph Bealmear riding, Out On Bail and jockey Jose Ortiz and Dylan Davis rides Classic Time. Eric Cancel has been named on Soontobeking should he draw in.
In eight previous runnings of the Skidmore, Golden Pal is the only Florida-bred winner having taken the 2020 running.
