Pacific Avenue works for G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing; Connett reflects on retired superstar Rebel’s Romance

• Pacific Avenue works for G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing; Connett reflects on retired superstar Rebel’s Romance
• G1 Belmont Derby-winner Title Role works for G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing
• Local G1 winner Nutella Fella amid a wide-open group expected for G2 Vanderbilt
• Golden Tempo works at Keeneland; leaves for Saratoga on Saturday to prepare for G1 DraftKings Travers
• Heeere’s Johnny aimed at G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing
• De Paz, off to strong start at Spa, looks ahead with stakes contenders

Godolphin’s Irish homebred Pacific Avenue returned to the work tab Friday for the first time following his seventh-place finish in the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby on July 4, at Saratoga Race Course.

The Charlie Appleby trainee, with Richie Mullen up, covered a half-mile over the Oklahoma training turf in 52 4/5 seconds according to NYRA clockers in preparation for the 1 3/16-mile Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing slated for August 8.

Chris Connett, traveling assistant for Appleby, said the breeze went according to plan.

“It was his first piece of work back from his run, so just an easy piece for him to stretch the legs,” Connett said. “He's had a quiet time of it from the race, but he's full of himself. He'll do a strong piece in company next week.”

Pacific Avenue endured a difficult trip in the Belmont Derby under William Buick, breaking slow and traveling in last-of-10 before showing some late interest to finish a 1 1/2-length seventh.

“Given how the race panned out, the way he finished so strongly you have to take a big positive out of it,” Connett said. “Unfortunately, he was having to take back as others were moving forward and he lost a bit of momentum, but he finished off the race really well. Given another half a furlong, he'd be all over them at the finish. That will hopefully bode well stepping up in trip for the Saratoga Derby.”

By Dubawi and out of the Group 1-winning Shamardal mare Lumiere, Pacific Avenue is a half-brother to Group 2-winner Silver Lady and a full-sibling to Group 3-winner Highland Avenue.

Connett has traveled many of Godolphin’s top horses to the U.S. over the years, including the globetrotting superstar Rebel’s Romance, a nine-time top-flight winner, whose retirement was announced by Godolphin on Friday morning.

The 8-year-old Dubawi gelding captured the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2022 at Keeneland and again in 2024 at Del Mar, while his biggest win in New York came in last year’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont at the Big A.

Rebel’s Romance, who earned Eclipse Award honors as Champion Male Turf Horse in 2024, notched top-level scores in the U.S., Germany, Dubai and Hong Kong.

“I was very fortunate to be with him for both of his Breeders' Cup wins, especially the first one at Keeneland was very memorable. The trips to Germany and beyond were special,” Connett said.

Connett said Rebel’s Romance was a true professional.

“His demeanor suited it. When he traveled, wherever he went, he'd just slot into a routine,” Connett said. “A real once-in-a-lifetime horse. To win nine Group 1s and 22 of 32 runs and the longevity, is just phenomenal. You don't see it at that high grade very often. He's a very special horse.”

While Connett lauded the ability of Rebel’s Romance to travel and win, he said it was a victory in last year’s Group 2 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot that resonated most.

“The most emotional one for me was the Hardwicke,” Connett said. “Everyone knows him as a globetrotter, but for him to run at home in one of the premier races at Royal Ascot and for him to go out and win that got me fairly choked up.”

Connett noted that as much as the $17.07 million-earning Rebel’s Romance liked to travel, he was fond of the comforts of home.

“Pam Daily looks after him back in the U.K. and she absolutely dotes on the horse. I don't think he minded being mothered,” Connett said, with a laugh.

Godolphin indicated that plans will be announced in the near future for Rebel’s Romance as part of their Godolphin Lifetime Care program.

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G1 Belmont Derby-winner Title Role works for G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing

Title Role, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby here July 4, returned to the work tab Friday in preparation for the Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing slated for August 8.

The Saratoga Derby, at 1 3/16-miles on turf for sophomores, is part of a stacked card headlined by the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, offering a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland. The August 8 program also includes the Grade 1, $750,000 Fourstardave, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster.

Will Stroud, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Title Role utilized a prominent trip under Hall of Famer John Velazquez to post a nose victory over West End Kid in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby.

Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, the Too Darn Hot colt validated his good form when taking the Jumeirah Two Thousand Guineas in February at Meydan Racecourse and the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas in May at Cologne.

Title Role worked five-eighths in 59 3/5 according to NYRA clockers Friday with Paul Holley, exercise rider and assistant to the Crisfords, aboard.

“It was his first bit back since the run. I was happy with him. He's settled in well here. He's a good doer, eats well,” Holley said. “It's not that much further. I'm sure he'll cope with, and they'll probably ride him a little more conservative.”

Holley indicated a step up in trip shouldn’t be an issue for Title Role.

"They were all closing in on him last time, but we were there till the end," Holley said.

Bred in Great Britain by Hascombe and Valiant Stud, Title Role is out of the Grade 3-winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Valiant Girl and sold for $694,673 at last year’s Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale. He has banked $727,945 through an 8-5-1-1 ledger.

On Thursday, At The Races reported that Ibrahim Araci’s dual Group 3-placed Glacius is under consideration for the Saratoga Derby. Trained by Hugo Palmer, the Too Darn Hot colt has made a pair of starts at 10 furlongs this campaign, including a one-length third in the Group 3 Hampton Court at Royal Ascot in June.

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Local G1 winner Nutella Fella amid a wide-open group expected for G2 Vanderbilt

Bell Gable Stable’s Nutella Fella, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful in 2023 at Saratoga Race Course, is among a compact but competitive group expected for next Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a six-furlong sprint for older horses at the Spa.

This edition of the Vanderbilt is a wide-open affair as last year’s winner, subsequent Champion Male Sprinter Book’em Danno, is set to take on Monmouth Park’s Mr. Prospector in his home state of New Jersey today.

Nutella Fella, now in the barn of trainer Joe Sharp, will make his seasonal bow off a nearly eight-month respite dating to an off-the-board finish in an optional claiming sprint at Tampa Bay Downs in his lone start for conditioner Gregg Sacco. Previously, trainer Gary Contessa conditioned the son of Runhappy to his 1 1/2-length victory from last-of-10 in the seven-furlong Hopeful here and a game third in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun in 2024.

Nutella Fella’s latest victory came in last year’s Listed Pelican in February at Tampa, where he gutted out the neck score over next-out winner Caramel Chip. He landed off-the-board in a trio of Grade 3 sprints to conclude his tenure with Contessa.

The 5-year-old bay joined Sharp's barn this May and turned in a handful of works at Keeneland in June before heading up to Saratoga, where he has posted two five-furlong bullets over the main track. On July 6, he covered the distance in 1:00.54 in the fastest of 17 works at that distance, followed by a fastest-of-4 move in 1:00.82 on July 14.

“He’s a pretty unassuming little horse and you wouldn’t know he won a Grade 1 if no one told you,” Sharp said. “He’s training fine and he’s had plenty of solid works coming back. It’s a bit of deep water for him, but his owner thinks he runs his best race fresh and he’s sure going to have to.”

Other contenders who are likely to join Nutella Fella in the Vanderbilt include Grade 3-winner Just Beat the Odds, who was last seen finishing third in the Alapocas Run on June 13 at Delaware Park for Sacco. That effort was his first since finishing a three-quarter-length second to Imagination in the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in February.

Campaigned by Donna Wright and Omar Ghrghar, the 6-year-old son of Munnings has hit the board in 14-of-15 lifetime starts, including a 2 3/4-length win in the Grade 3 Elite Power in December at Aqueduct Racetrack. He boasts two triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures, earning a 100 for the Elite Power and a 103 for a six-length optional-claiming score last March at the Big A.

“We ran him [at Delaware] in preparation for this race, the timing was right and he ran very well in defeat,” Sacco said. “He came out of the race great, so everything is right on cue for the Vanderbilt – if he works well tomorrow and comes out of it good, we’ll ship him on up to Saratoga mid-week.”

Sacco noted there is a chance that Grade 2-winner Crazy Mason could also enter the Vanderbilt provided he impresses in a work with blinkers tomorrow at Delaware. Owned by Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, the 5-year-old son of Coal Front was a closing sixth last out in the Grade 3 Hanshin on June 28 at Churchill Downs, a rare off-the-board finish for the talented gray who has hit the board in 6-of-8 starts since winning the Grade 2 Carter presented by NYRA Bets last April at the Big A.  

Crazy Mason wore blinkers when graduating by 9 1/2 lengths in a 5 1/2 furlong maiden at the Spa in July 2023, and Sacco removed them following a distant off-the-board finish in the one-mile Listed Sapling. Initially campaigned to be a distance horse in his sophomore year, Crazy Mason had a brief stint on the Kentucky Derby trail before cutting back in distance in his last start of his 4-year-old season. He has been a one-turn specialist with an extreme late foot since, and finished third in the Grade 3 True North and Grade 1 Forego here last year.

Sacco said he hopes the reequipment of blinkers will help Crazy Mason not give himself so much to do late in the race.

“As well as he’s run – and we’ve been so proud of him through all of his efforts – we’re going to work him tomorrow with blinkers and see how that goes,” Sacco said. “He may run in the Vanderbilt. Three-quarters hasn’t been ideal, but he’s won at that. If he shows us what we’re hoping to see out of this work tomorrow, he may run there.”

The prospective Vanderbilt field also includes Cliff and Michelle Love's multiple graded stakes-winner Damon’s Mound, who captured the Grade 2 Saratoga Special here in 2022 and enters off back-to-back restricted sprint stakes wins for Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott. That barn may also send out LRE Racing’s stakes-winner T Kraft, winner of the six-furlong Jimmy Winkfield last March at Aqueduct.

Entries for the Vanderbilt will be taken on Sunday as part of a Saturday card that co-features the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for sophomore fillies traveling nine furlongs.

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Golden Tempo works at Keeneland; leaves for Saratoga on Saturday to prepare for G1 DraftKings Travers

Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable’s dual Classic-winner Golden Tempo worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds Friday at Keeneland in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux and piloted by Jose Ortiz, the Curlin colt captured the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs and followed last out with an emphatic score in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 6 here to become the 13th horse to win both Classic events.

Assistant trainer David Carroll told Keeneland publicity he was pleased with Friday’s solo breeze, which saw Golden Tempo work through splits of 12.80, 24.60, 36.60, out five-eighths in 1:01.40 and out three-quarters in 1:14.80.

“Beautiful work. First work back since the Belmont,” Carroll said. “Normally he breezes in company, but he went by himself today and was in hand the whole way. Couldn’t ask for more - really happy with what I saw.” 

Golden Tempo is expected to leave for Saratoga on Saturday to prepare for the Travers.

DeVaux announced previously that Golden Tempo would aim for the Travers and bypass the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun, a nine-furlong route for sophomores on August 1, at Saratoga Race Course.

The prospective Jim Dandy field currently includes Chip Honcho, Commandment, Emerging Market, Renegade, and Silent Tactic.

Golden Tempo is a sixth-generation Phipps homebred out of the Grade 3-winner Carrumba, with his female line tracing to Reine-de-Course mare Lady Pitt. In addition to his Classic scores, he won the Grade 3 Lecomte in January at Fair Grounds and has banked in excess of $4.6 million through a 6-4-0-2 ledger.

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Heeere’s Johnny aimed at G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing

Magic Carpet Racing, Catherine Coyle and Blue Bison Stable’s Heeere’s Johnny completed his first breeze back on Friday since winning the restricted Listed Saranac as he points towards the Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing at 1 3/16-miles, on August 8 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Ray Handal, the Oscar Performance bay worked a half-mile in 49 and 4/5 seconds over the Oklahoma turf training track, according to NYRA clockers, to the outside of fellow sophomore Chummers. The latter is owned by Handal and expected to enter the $200,000 Rick Violette for New York-breds, which is run next Friday here.

“We are pointing [Heeere’s Johnny] to the Saratoga Derby. That was a great work,” Handal said. “He did that all really nicely in hand, and easily, so I’m excited.”

The dual graded stakes-placed Heeere’s Johnny closed from last-of-11 to win the 1 1/16-mile Saranac on July 3. At that point, he was still winless, entering the race from a fifth versus elders in an 11-furlong maiden over good turf in May at Belmont at the Big A when adding blinkers.

“I don’t think distance is an issue,” said Handal. “The reason he got beat the time before was the soft turf. So if we have soft turf, we might have a problem, but distance isn’t going to be one of them.”

As a juvenile, Heeere’s Johnny finished second in the Grade 3 With Anticipation here and the Grade 2 Pilgrim at Belmont at the Big A ahead of a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in October at Del Mar.

Chummers, a $6,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Yearling Sale, won a $55,000 claimer last out going 1 1/16 miles on June 19 at Belmont at the Big A, edging clear to defeat elders by 3 3/4 lengths. The Combatant gelding earned a career-best 85 Beyer Speed Figure in victory.

“He’s doing awesome. He looked great there,” Handal said after the breeze. “85 Beyer for a 3-year-old New York-bred, I think we’re in good shape.”

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De Paz, off to strong start at Spa, looks ahead with stakes contenders

Trainer Horacio De Paz is off to a strong start at the 2026 Saratoga Race Course meet, having won with four of his first eight starters, including Twenty Six Black’s victory in the Listed Harvey Pack on July 5 and debut scores for New York-bred 2-year-olds B Yutiful Carly and Professor Plum.

“Everybody is just performing well,” said De Paz on Friday. “I think the other thing is that the horses have been within their conditions.”

On Saturday, Triple B Stables’ B Yutiful Carly overcame a slow start and closed from last-of-10 to win by three lengths at 35-1. The following day, Professor Plum, who is owned by John Foster, Dennis O’Neill, and De Paz, made a wide rally to prevail by one length at 18-1. Both juveniles were purchased out of the 2026 OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, with B Yutiful Carly selling for $90,000 and Professor Plum going for $40,000.

“Both horses came from the 2-year-olds in training sale, so we never, per se, laid them down in the morning,” said De Paz. “Everything was well within hand just to maintain fitness. The main goal was just to get to a race and let them develop from there. Both seemed very classy. [B Yutiful Carly] showed a little more in the morning than [Professor Plum]. The colt was a little inconsistent with his works, but everything we did with [B Yutiful Carly] was in hand, gate was good. So, it kind of surprised me that she missed the break because she was always very good in the morning. I figured the colt would be the one who would miss the break a bit and be way far back, but he ended up breaking well and was in the mix early and made a good move. They exceeded our expectations and they should develop from there. Sometimes you really gear them to win first time out, but these just were horses who had the fitness to have a good performance and build off it.”

De Paz said the New York-bred Twenty Six Black, a Roger Cimbora, Jr. homebred, came out of his 2 3/4-length victory in the Harvey Pack at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf in good shape and is pointed toward the Grade 2, $300,000 Troy over that course and distance on August 9. Depending on how he exits that race and his eligibility, he could be considered for a title defense in the Disco Partner, a turf sprint restricted to non-winners of a graded stakes in 2025-26, on closing weekend. De Paz added that Twenty Six Black is scheduled to breeze this Sunday.

Club Sixty Five Racing’s Sounds Like a Plan continued a hot streak of his own on Saturday, picking up his fifth win in six starts when he held on to win an open second-level optional claimer at one mile on the turf by a half-length. The lone loss for the New York-bred during that span was a third-place finish in the Mohawk at Aqueduct Racetrack last October.

De Paz said Sounds Like a Plan likely will make his next start versus fellow state-breds in the $200,000 West Point presented by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on August 28, but will also be considered for open races.

“He’ll probably go in the [West Point] at the end of August,” said De Paz. “He just ran against open company. We’ll look and see what’s available for him open company as well. We gelded him over the wintertime. I always thought highly of him, and since he had his conditions — not they would be easy — but he could develop through his conditions. And he’s really doing tremendously.”

Other stakes contenders for De Paz are Awesome Czech, entered in today’s Listed De La Rose; A Little at First, who is probable for Rick Violette for New York-breds on July 24; and Striker Has Dial, who is aiming for the Grade 2, $250,000 Honorable Miss presented by Mionetto on July 26.