Survie set to take on males in G1 Christophe Clement Turf

• Survie set to take on males in G1 Christophe Clement Turf
• G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing victor Glacius likely to return stateside for next run
• G1 Preakness-winner Napoleon Solo breezes over Saratoga main track
• Cy Fair pointing towards G2 Music City
• John the Beer Man equals career-best 100 BSF for G2 Troy victory

Michael B. Tabor’s talented 5-year-old mare Survie returns on short rest to face males in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf, a 12-furlong inner turf test for 3-year-olds and up, at Saratoga Race Course. The Christophe Clement Turf offers a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in October at Keeneland.

Trained by George Boughey, the Churchill mare made her stateside debut a winning one over course and distance last out against her own sex in the Grade 2 Glens Falls on August 2. There, with Flavien Prat up, she saved ground in sixth position as Storm Miami set moderate splits of 52.61 seconds and 1:18.91. Prat gave the bay her cue nearing the quarter-pole and once tipped out for clear racing room, Survie responded with a wicked turn-of-foot to secure a 1 3/4-length score in a final time of 2:31.21. The winning effort earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

Survie [post 7, Manny Franco, 6-1 ML] will square off against six rivals on Saturday, including fellow Europeans Ancient Egypt [post 1, David Egan, 5-1], last-out second in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris on July 14 at Longchamp for trainer Charlie Johnston; and Group 3-winner Fort George [post 5, Kieran Shoemark, 9-2], who was a nose second to returning rival Ole Crazy Bone here last out in the Grade 2 Bowling Green presented by Emerald Ecovations for conditioner Ed Walker.

“It looks a competitive race with a couple different form lines to the usual American race. I thought Charlie Johnston's horse was an interesting addition,” Boughey said. “It looks a different race to what she ran against her own sex in the Glens Falls and I was pleased to see what looks to be a bit of a stronger pace than what she had a couple of weeks ago. We're delighted with how she's trained into it.”

Survie was purchased for $2,636,068 at last year’s Tattersalls December Mare Sale and won first up for Boughey in January at Lingfield in England ahead of a deep-closing third against males in the 1 5/16-mile Group 1 Neom Turf Cup in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia. Three starts later she landed sixth in the 10-furlong Wolferton against males again on June 16 at Royal Ascot, demonstrating good courage to rally from off the pace and finish 3 1/2 lengths back of the victorious Map of Stars ahead of her Glens Falls win.

Boughey said he’s not concerned with the quick turnaround for Survie, who has been overseen in her local training by traveling assistant Antonia Peck.

“In America, it's a bit of a quick turnaround but we've run horses back within a couple of weeks pretty regularly,” Boughey said. “Her first start for us was on the all-weather before she went to Saudi Arabia back in the winter - I think it was a 13-day backup and she travelled from England to the Middle East to Saudi Arabia, so to me that doesn't pose any questions.

“Antonia has looked after the filly for the entirety of her career with us and the videos I'm getting of her work have been very good,” Boughey added. “She looks fantastic, her skin looks like glass. I must admit, when she was with us in Newmarket, she never looked so well, so, credit to them. They're doing a super job and it’s making my job easy from afar.”

With Prat committed to riding the Chad Brown-trained Program Trading, Boughey signed up Manny Franco for Saturday’s assignment, doing so just one day before the talented rider captured six races on August 7 here topped by a win with Bottas in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.

“Flavien did a fantastic job for us first time out in America, but we were always likely to lose him with his commitments riding elsewhere,” Boughey said. “We're delighted to get the services of Manny and for him to ride six winners on the card the day after we jocked him up gave us huge confidence.”

Boughey said Franco should have options to work out a trip from the outermost post 7.

“If you could have asked me what gate I'd have liked, I'd have chosen six or seven,” Boughey said. “She's a filly who jumps the gate clean and can find whichever position he likes. With a couple of likely speed angles in the race, if we're able to be one off the rail and wherever he's in a comfortable position, I think it should give us a clear run down the outside and we'll be able to get a full assessment of whether she's good enough.”

Boughey is hopeful that a strong result on Saturday will propel Survie to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

“That's been the plan for some time,” Boughey said. “I do think Keeneland will suit her as well as Saratoga. She's very versatile ground wise. She's been a winner on slower ground, and she obviously handled a quick track as well. The fact that she's enjoying American racing is a massive bonus for us.

“If she was to win, it looks the obvious step to freshen her up and take her to Keeneland but there are options,” he added. “We'll endeavor to do what's right by her most of all.”

Boughey has another potential Breeders’ Cup horse in Ibrahim Araci’s 2-year-old filly Libertango, a $569,797 purchase from the 2026 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale.

The Irish-bred daughter of No Nay Never won her first two starts, besting males on debut on May 26 at Leicester and following on June 19 with a strong rally in the Group 3 Albany at Royal Ascot where she dwelt at the start in the 25-horse field but got up in time to best the fancied Sun Goddess.

Last out, Libertango landed a three-quarter length second to the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Senorita Bonita in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge on July 10 at Newmarket. Senorita Bonita entered that event from a runner-up effort in the Group 2 Saint Mary at Royal Ascot.

Libertango will return to action in the Group 2 Lowther on August 20 at York as part of a campaign that could possibly see her take on males once more in the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on October 30 at Keeneland.

“She's doing good. We've got a little more evidence about her. She ran and won at Royal Ascot, but we were only getting to know her then,” Boughey said. “I think a flat track will suit her very well. It's a slick track at York and they go a good tempo. Tracks like York and around a bend in America where they go hard should suit her well.

“She's an even money shot for a Group 2, and we couldn't be any happier with how she's going into the race,” he added.

Libertango is out of the Oasis Dream mare Ein Gedi, a full-sister to Group 3-winner Aktabantay.

Boughey announced Tuesday that undefeated three-time Group 1-winner Bow Echo had been retired from racing after sustaining an injury to his left front in training. The Night of Thunder colt was to have made his next start in the Group 1 Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, but will now join the Darley stallion roster.

Bow Echo won all six career starts, topped by a trio of top-flight scores this year in the 2000 Guineas in May at Newmarket, the St. James’s Palace in June at Royal Ascot and the Sussex on July 29 at Goodwood.

“The last three Group 1s this year were all very special in their own way and we'll remember him fondly,” Boughey said.

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G1 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing victor Glacius likely to return stateside for next run

Ibrahim Araci’s British homebred Glacius made every pole a winning one in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing, a 1 3/16-mile Mellon turf test for sophomores, at Saratoga Race Course.

The son of dual champion Too Darn Hot was ridden aggressively by Luis Saez to the front and never relented, ultimately winning by 1 1/4-lengths over West End Kid.

“I’ve enjoyed that a great deal and he’s pulled up well,” said Palmer. “It was hugely satisfying to have our plan work so well. We had the right man on board, and we thought he’d give him a proper ride, especially as it seemed there wasn’t much speed in the race and we could boss it on the front end and that’s exactly what happened. It’s always great when you read the race right. He doesn’t have to be ridden like that, but it suited him. “

Palmer indicated Glacius, who is en route back to the U.K., could return stateside for the 1 5/16-mile Grade 2, $3 million [$1.25 million KTDF] Nashville Derby on September 5 at Kentucky Downs.

“The Nashville Derby is worth an awful lot of money and the distance should suit him well,” Palmer said. “I think that would be absolutely fine for him. We always hoped he would get a mile and a half - his dam is a full-sister to Qualify, who won the [Group 1] Oaks at Epsom - but not many Too Darn Hots will stay that far. That said, a mile and five-sixteenths is right in his range. I didn’t know the city of Nashville was such an amazing place, so now I have another good reason to go there. It’s a month away, so we will have to see how he is. Another race that will suit him very well is the Bahrain International Trophy [November 13], which is now a Group 1 and worth up to a million and a half dollars, so that would be a good thing.”

Glacius improved his career mark to 2-0-3 from six runs and $465,410 in prize money. His win was his first in a stakes race, but followed a strong third in the salty Listed Gala at Sandown on July 3 against older horses and a third in the Group 3 Hampton Court at Royal Ascot three weeks prior to kick off his season. As a juvenile, he won on debut last August at Newmarket, defeating well-regarded Godolphin pupil and subsequent Group 2 Queen’s Vase runner-up Del Maro. He was then fourth to Bow Echo in Haydock’s Listed Ascendant in September and third in Newmarket’s Group 3 Autumn in October to cap his juvenile year.

The sixteenth time in North America was the charm for Palmer, who won his first race on the continent.

“I’ve always wanted to win races in the states, so it’s a huge thrill to have done it,” Palmer said. “Some owners are like ‘thank you very much, but we’d rather not take the risk’ and others like Mr. Araci did take the risk - I was absolutely delighted with that.”

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G1 Preakness-winner Napoleon Solo breezes over Saratoga main track

Espoir USA’s dual Grade 1-winner Napoleon Solo breezed five furlongs over the main track Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course, covering the distance in 58.81 seconds under the guidance of Hall of Famer John Velazquez, the fastest of seven works at that distance.

Trained by Chad Summers, the Grade 1 Preakness and Champagne-winner had his second work since finishing a half-length second to Baby Vino in the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell on July 18 at Monmouth Park, adding to a half-mile move in 48.67 on August 5 over the Spa main.

“He worked well and Johnny was around this morning and was able to hop on him, so that was good,” Summers said. “It was normal for him, he’s a fun horse to watch breeze. He’s not really sharp, it’s just him. He’s not asked and he did it on his own. If you go back and look at his work reports, that’s the norm for him. You shake your head and look at your watch and think, ‘that’s not true,’ but then you ask everyone else and they all have the same time. It’s just what he does.”

Summers is considering two options for Napoleon Solo in the local Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 29 or the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on September 19 at Parx Racing. The conditioner noted that no decision has been made yet for the son of Liam’s Map.

“There was a little gap from the Preakness to the Haskell, and that was by design. I think coming into this next race, whether it be the Travers or Pennsylvania Derby, it will be a little bit less of a break, so I think he thrives on his work and loves what he does,” Summers said. “Everything is in play and we’ll get together with the ownership group and make the best decision for the horse.

“He’s a lot of fun, and he’s not an easy horse, but he’s an exceptional individual that we cherish every day that we get the opportunity to work with him,” Summers added. “The credit goes to my entire team, because it takes an army to get him ready.”

On the July 18 Haskell undercard, Summers sent out Gold Square’s Dry Powder to an off-the-board finish in the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher. He said the Grade 1-placed bay emerged from the race in good order, but will not race again this summer or fall as she gets some rest ahead of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale that runs from November 3-10.

“Given that she’ll sell as a racing or broodmare prospect, we thought it would be good to freshen her now to give people the opportunity if they want to race her next year that she’d be fresh and happy,” Summers said. “If they want to make her a broodmare, she’ll be a beautiful broodmare and she’s been a really cool horse. She certainly is a horse that will always be near and dear to our hearts.”

A 4-year-old daughter of Gun Runner, Dry Powder was beaten a neck by Clicquot in the Grade 1 Cotillion last year at Parx as part of a 7-2-3-1 campaign that included a win in the Listed Cathyrn Sophia there. She added Monmouth’s Listed Lady’s Secret to her ledger in June, and has banked $608,400 in total purses.

Gold Square also campaigns the stakes-winning and recent graded stakes-placed Throckmorton, who was defeated a neck by Learntodiscover in the local Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation on July 19 in his first outing for Summers. He was previously trained by Jose D’Angelo, who sent him out to a win in Aqueduct Racetrack’s Awad in November, and three additional stakes placings in Florida and Kentucky.

“He’s doing super, and obviously it was a heartbreaking defeat last time, but hopefully we can get them next time. He’ll run in the Franklin-Simpson on September 7 at Kentucky Downs,” Summers said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

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Cy Fair pointing towards G2 Music City

Medallion Racing, Swinbank Stables, Joey Platts and Mark Stanton’s Grade 1-winner Cy Fair breezed a solo half-mile in 51.90 seconds on Monday over the Oklahoma dirt training track as she points towards the Grade 2, $1.5 million [$750,000 KTDF] Music City, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, on September 5 at Kentucky Downs.

“Yes sir,” trainer George Weaver said of the Music City. “That was a nice maintenance move.”

Cy Fair is 7-5-1-1 overall with over $1 million in earnings, including Grade 3 wins in this year’s Mamzelle in April at Churchill Downs and the Coronation Cup last out on July 18 at Saratoga Race Course, as well as over males in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and Listed Algonquin. Her longest races to date were at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“I have no idea,” Weaver said about Cy Fair traveling 6 1/2 furlongs. “All I know is I’ve got a good horse. I’m going to ask her to do it.”

In the Coronation Cup, the Not This Time bay posted a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure, stalking the pace and moving out by the three-sixteenths pole to kick past the pacesetting Sapphire Beach and win by 2 1/2 lengths. She covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.83 over yielding Mellon turf.

“She ran very well,” said Weaver. “Look, she’s a special filly. Kentucky Downs is a little bit of a question mark for everybody who goes there. You never know when they’ll like it or not like it. She’s trying a new distance, but I’ve got to go with her talent and class, which will hopefully trump all that.”

Cy Fair was a $185,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the winning Arch mare Remarqued, a half-sister to the Weaver-trained Crimson Advocate, who won the 2023 Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.

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John the Beer Man equals career-best 100 BSF for G2 Troy victory

Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso’s John the Beer Man’s determined head victory in Sunday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Troy at Saratoga Race Course garnered a career-best-equaling 100 Beyer Speed Figure for his first graded stakes win.

Trained by Rob Atras, the 5-year-old More Than Ready chestnut set the pace in the 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint through splits of 21.28 seconds, 43.50 and 54.95 seconds over the firm footing. He was game along the inside down the stretch as Doncho tried to advance between him and Waralo to his outside with the foes exchanging bumps, but John the Beer Man would not be denied as he won in a final time of 1:00.97. Waralo crossed the wire second but was disqualified to third for interference with Doncho.

Atras said he was thrilled with the effort from the honest gelding, who has won 3-of-4 starts since moving from the barn of five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown following a nearly two-year layoff.

“He came out of the race really well and we brought him back down to Belmont,” Atras said. “He’s getting a few days off in the round pen and then he’ll be back to the track. That race helped us a lot, especially when you’re in a bit of a rut with some bad luck and poor performances. When you get a race like that, it raises everyone’s spirits.”

John the Beer Man has been a model of consistency, his only loss for Atras a three-quarter-length third after setting the pace in the Grade 1 Jaipur on June 6 here. He is 7-4-1-1 overall with $373,750 in total purse earnings. Atras initially pointed John the Beer Man to a route race for his barn debut this spring, but entered him in a sprint when their first choice was rained off the turf, redirecting the gelding’s career.

“Right from his first race [for the barn], we knew he was nice, but he’s kind of surprised us with how much speed he has and he’s just progressed right along from there,” Atras said. “To set those fractions and then battle back late, that’s a real racehorse there. He’s a very exciting horse to have.”

Atras said the connections will come together to decide a next race for John the Beer Man, with a likely option being Kentucky Downs, which offers the Grade 2 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs on September 5.

Kentucky Downs was also mentioned by Atras as a possible landing spot for Red White and Blue Racing and CMNWLTH’s Neat, a last-out third in the Oceanport on August 8 at Monmouth Park. The 5-year-old chestnut has run there twice, including a third in the Listed Gun Runner in 2024.

The multiple graded stakes-winning son of Constitution won the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2024 over the Spa turf, and Atras did not rule out a return trip to Saratoga in the 1 1/16-mile Listed Bernard Baruch presented by Snap-On on September 3 here as another possible target.

“He ran a very good race last time and we’ll see how he comes out and make a plan,” Atras said. “He’s a possibility for Kentucky Downs – he’s run there a few times. I think we’ll see how he comes out and that’s [the Bernard Baruch] definitely an option, but the owners are from Kentucky, so naturally they want to look at Kentucky Downs.”

Neat holds a lifetime record of 21-7-0-2 and has earned just over $1 million, a strong return on investment after being purchased for $200,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.