SARATOGA SPRINGS – Trainer Doug Fout’s steeplechase star Hirapour, coming off knee surgery during eight-month layoff, was even money under staggering 158 pounds and jockey Matt McCarron making first start since Nov. 26 in A.P. Smithwick Memorial at 2 1/16 miles. Classy jumper overcame all obstacles, launching late rally to win by four lengths.
In field of five NY-breds going 6 ½ furlongs for $70,000 in John Morrissey Stakes, Gold and Roses, 9-5 second choice, turned projected two-horse race between him and 3-5 favorite Big Apple Daddy into runaway. Under Garrett Gomez, who rode three winners on card to tie for lead in riders’ standings with Cornelio Velasquez, who won two, Gold and Roses dueled with Casper Peterson through quick splits, took command top of stretch, drew off to score by six lengths over Big Apple Daddy, who was never in contention, was all-out to get up for place.
“Grand Slam” wager will have guaranteed 100G pool on Travers Day, Aug. 2. To cash Grand Slam, you must “load bases” by picking horse to show in first three races, then hit “home run” by picking winner in fourth race of sequence.
SECOND RACE: First-out 2-year-olds sprinting on dirt used to be bread & butter for Team Pletcher-Velazquez at Old Spa, but oddly enough, they hadn’t won one of those here since last summer. So what-have-youdonefor-me-lately bettors flocked to Sharp Susan, 8-5 making second start for Bill Mott, and Autobahn Girl, 9-5 debuting for Nick Zito, ignoring Pletcher’s Panty Raid, daughter of Include, at 4-1. So of course, Panty Raid rushed through between horses down backside to duel with Mostbeautifulstorm, edged to fore heading into turn, kicked clear turning for home, ran off TV screen.
Autobahn Girl rallied for second in promising effort.
THIRD RACE: All that unwanted publicity Barclay Tagg got from training Funny Cide through Triple Crown three years ago is finally paying dividends, as Barclay’s barn is loaded to gills with runners. Here, 3-year-old filly Miracle Moment, up-track in last two allowance starts on lawn at Belmont, dropped in first time for 75G claiming tag, gunned to lead under Cornelio Velasquez, quickly opened daylight around clubhouse turn, down backside, got breather around far turn, kicked away again to win by pole; no other horse in race ever got within sniffing distance.
SIXTH RACE: Imperial Reign, $1M 2-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie trained by Eoin Harty for Darley Stable, got good education in debut as 2-1 second choice with Garrett Gomez up. As Shug McGaughey’s Five Star Daydream, 6-5 favorite under Edgar Prado coming off sharp second first time out at Belmont, dueled for lead with All Giving, Imperial Reign settled inside off pace, was in behind horses turning for home; then, when Five Star Daydream took off, Imperial Reign followed her, coming through tight quarters mid-stretch to be easily second best.
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 6-4-6-3-1-12
39 winners each receives $1,481
827 cons. (5 of 6) winners paid $23.20
No carryover.
