BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Through the first nine days of racing this year at Saratoga Race Course during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in June and the recently concluded July 4 Racing Festival, Florida-breds have already racked up five victories including a win by John Ropes’ homebred Dorth Vader in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 6. 

Other Florida-bred stakes winners at the Spa this year include Arindel homebred Mythical in the $145,000 Tremont (Listed) on June 5 and Live Oak Plantation’s homebred Bring Theband Home, winner of the $150,000 Harvey Pack (Listed) on July 4. Resolution Road Racing’s Diblasi stormed home to win a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds on June 8 while Flying P Stable’s Chess Master won a $50,000 optional claiming starter allowance on July 3.

As the traditional summer meet begins Thursday, four Florida-breds will attempt to add to the list of Saratoga winners from the Sunshine State including trainer Linda Rice’s All Class and Arindel homebred Olga, the 8-5 morning line favorite and 9-2 choice in the program respectively in the day’s fourth race; Our Liberty Belle, the 3-1 morning line favorite for owner Elliot S. Logan’s TEC Racing in the race nine; and Live Oak Plantation homebred Billionaires Row at 12-1 in the program for the second race.

All Class and Olga are entered for a $40,000 claiming for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older. The six-furlong contest has a purse of $68,000. 

All Class looks for her second win in three starts after taking a first condition, $50,000 optional claiming over a sloppy six furlongs during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 9. The 5-year-old daughter of Kantharos finished fifth last out in a second condition, $75,000 event going six furlongs on the turf during the Belmont at Big A meet on June 13.

 

All Class has four wins and three seconds and third in 11 starts with earnings of $183,511. She is out of Commentary, by The Factor and was bred in Florida by George and Karen Russell’s Rustlewood Farm Inc.

Jose Ortiz will ride from post two in the field of seven.

Olga makes her first start in two months after winning her last two at Gulfstream Park for trainer Carlos David. 

She took a $25,000 claiming on March 14 and a first level, $25,000 optional claiming on May 3. 

 

Olga is by Arindel’s stallion Brethren out of Sweet Khaleesi, by Maimonides. The 5-year-old mare has six wins, five seconds and six thirds with earnings of $273,320.

Flavien Prat has the mount on Olga and they have drawn post six.

Our Liberty Belle is among eight fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older in a $20,000 starter allowance going six furlongs.

Trainer Wayne Potts claimed the 5-year-old daughter of American Pharoah for $32,000 in April the promptly won a $40,000 claiming race going a mile during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 2. In one start since, she was second in a $25,000 starter allowance optional claiming going a mile during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 26.

 

Our Liberty Belle is out of Successful Song, by Successful Appeal and was bred in Florida by Live Oak Stud. She has seven wins, three seconds and a third in 25 career starts while banking $247,236

She has post five in the $58,000 contest and Chris Elliott will be aboard.

Billionaires Row goes in a $50,000 starter allowance with an optional claiming price also set at $50,000. Eight 3-year-olds and older have entered the five-and-a-half-furlong turf race including two under main track only conditions. The purse is $63,000.

Billionaires Row has one win in a maiden, $40,000 optional claiming in three starts for trainer Michael Trombetta and looks to add to his $35,450 bankroll.

 

The 3-year-old son of Munnings is out of Souper Scatdaddle, by Scat Daddy and will be ridden from post three by John Velazquez.

Return to the July 8 issue of Wire to Wire