A trio of expensive 2-year-olds, two of them with spectacular wins already at this assembly, will go for graded stakes glory within the $300,000 Hopeful Stakes (G1) on Sept. 2 at Saratoga Race Course.
Main by each worth and odds, favored Ferocious (8-5) will break from put up 2 following his 7 3/4-length maiden win at Saratoga Aug. 3. A $1.3 million buy at this 12 months’s Ocala Breeders’ March Sale of 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching, the son of Flatter is slated to be ridden by Javier Castellano, who was aboard for the colt’s debut. Castellano was off his mounts on Aug. 31 following a driving accident on the prior day’s card.
Descended from 4 generations of Juddmonte homebreds, Ferocious is educated by Gustavo Delgado and was bred by Gentry Secure.
“You do not typically get that sort of Juddmonte pedigree at a 2-year-old sale,” mentioned Ramiro Restrepo following Ferocious’s maiden win. Restrepo’s Marquee Bloodstock owns the darkish bay/brown colt in partnership with JR Ranch, Excessive Step Racing, and OGMA Investments. “He seems to be like good Flatter colts, like Flat Out and Upstart, and we purchased him out of the identical consignment, Sequel, that we purchased Mage from. His work on the sale was extraordinary.”
Coach D. Wayne Lukas brings a $900,000 maiden to the Hopeful, searching for his ninth win within the conventional closing day stakes. His first win got here in 1990 with Deposit Ticket, the latest in 2017 with Sporting Probability .
Innovator (Genuine ) was bred by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds and bought by BC Stables on the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. After a Seventh-place end by 14 1/4 lengths in his debut at Churchill Downs June 20, Innovator (15-1) has turned in two runner-up performances, each at Saratoga. The darkish bay/brown colt will break from put up 3 beneath Manuel Franco.
Flanagan Racing went to $725,000 for morning-line second selection Chancer McPatrick (5-2), a winner at Saratoga July 27 for coach Chad Brown. Chancer McPatrick is by first-crop sire McKinzie and was bred by Rigney Racing. Bloodstock brokers Nick Sallusto and John Kimmel chosen the colt from the OBS April Sale of 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching.
“John and I proceed to see a variety of constructive issues from the McKinzies on the gross sales,” mentioned Sallusto. “He is a horse that basically pursuits us.”
Unraced Mr. Mendelslew (50-1) additionally represents a first-crop sire in Mendelssohn . Bred by Chris and Mackenzie Johnson and owned by DAT Racing Secure, the bay colt offered for $20,000 on the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. Educated by Carlos Mancilla, he’ll be ridden by José Gomez from put up 1.
Rounding out the Hopeful subject in put up place are Robust Catch (8-1, put up 4); Smoken Depraved (15-1, put up 5); Studlydoright (12-1, put up 6); Mentee (5-1, put up 7); and Incentive Pay (8-1, put up 9).
The Hopeful is the tenth of 12 races on Saratoga’s closing day card with a scheduled put up time of 5:43 p.m. ET.
Entries: Hopeful S. (G1)
Saratoga Race Course, Monday, September 02, 2024, Race 10
- Grade I
- 7f
- Filth
- $300,000
- 2 yo
- 5:43 PM (native)
