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Sovereignty, Baeza Work for Whitney

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Trainer Bill Mott sent reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Grade I winner Baeza (McKinzie) to breeze separately over the Oklahoma dirt training track in Saratoga Sunday in preparation for Saturday’s GI Whitney Stakes.

Godolphin homebred Sovereignty, with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky up, started his work a bit ahead and to the inside of workmate Thunder Roll, maintaining a narrow advantage as he covered a half-mile in :50.10 (46/65), according to NYRA clockers.

“He went nice,” Mott said. “He was on the bridle. Neil thought he felt really good. He said when the other horse kept inching closer, he kept tightening the reins and acted like he wanted to go on.”

C R K Stable and breeder Grandview Equine’s Baeza breezed a half-mile in :49.20 (23/65), according to NYRA clockers, in company with Veblen [:49.50].

“He looked great,” Mott said. “I mean both my horses worked good. They just had four-furlong breezes. I think they are fit. I think they are doing well. I think they appear to be ready to go. We just have to hope they continue to do good for the next six days.”

The Whitney, a Win and You’re In contest for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, will be broadcast to a national audience on FOX as part of a two-hour edition of FOX Saratoga Saturday, which will begin at 5 p.m. ET.

The post Sovereignty, Baeza Work for Whitney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Travers, Pennsylvania Derby Possible for Commandment

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Wathnan Racing’s Commandment (Into Mischief) exited his runner-up effort in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes Saturday in fine shape and connections are mulling a pair of options for the colt’s next start.

“I love the way he came out of the race, super pleased with him this morning,” trainer Brad Cox said Sunday. “His energy was good and he cooled out well last night. Everything was very positive with him.”

Cox added, “I don’t know about the [Aug. 29 GI] Travers. We’ll make a decision when we feel like we need to, but it will probably be a decision between that and the [Sept. 19 GI] P.A. Derby.”

Commandment was wearing blinkers for the first time when he finished a half-length second to deep-closing Renegade (Into Mischief) in the Jim Dandy.

“Talking to the jockey [Flavien Prat] after the race, he said turning for home after he made the lead, he was just waiting and didn’t want to kick clear,” Cox said. “He brought him over to feel the pressure of Silent Tactic and he responded, but he never saw or felt the pressure of Renegade until he got by. Once he got by, he said he reengaged and went after him, and you can see that in the replay. It was a game effort. I’m proud of the effort. Unfortunately, we didn’t come out on the right end.”

Cox said he doesn’t believe the blinkers were a factor in Commandment not seeing the charge of the Irad Ortiz, Jr.-piloted Renegade.

“He doesn’t wear a lot of blinker, so I don’t want to blame it on that,” Cox said. “I think Irad probably did a good job of keeping his horse outside and not running up near us and getting us game and competitive again.”

Cox said Commandment will likely keep the blinkers on moving forward.

“I like how he traveled in them and I thought it was a good effort,” Cox said.

The post Travers, Pennsylvania Derby Possible for Commandment appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Sovereignty, Baeza Work for Whitney

---

Trainer Bill Mott sent reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and Grade I winner Baeza (McKinzie) to breeze separately over the Oklahoma dirt training track in Saratoga Sunday in preparation for Saturday’s GI Whitney Stakes.

Godolphin homebred Sovereignty, with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky up, started his work a bit ahead and to the inside of workmate Thunder Roll, maintaining a narrow advantage as he covered a half-mile in :50.10 (46/65), according to NYRA clockers.

“He went nice,” Mott said. “He was on the bridle. Neil thought he felt really good. He said when the other horse kept inching closer, he kept tightening the reins and acted like he wanted to go on.”

C R K Stable and breeder Grandview Equine’s Baeza breezed a half-mile in :49.20 (23/65), according to NYRA clockers, in company with Veblen [:49.50].

“He looked great,” Mott said. “I mean both my horses worked good. They just had four-furlong breezes. I think they are fit. I think they are doing well. I think they appear to be ready to go. We just have to hope they continue to do good for the next six days.”

The Whitney, a Win and You’re In contest for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, will be broadcast to a national audience on FOX as part of a two-hour edition of FOX Saratoga Saturday, which will begin at 5 p.m. ET.

The post Sovereignty, Baeza Work for Whitney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Travers, Pennsylvania Derby Possible for Commandment

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Wathnan Racing’s Commandment (Into Mischief) exited his runner-up effort in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes Saturday in fine shape and connections are mulling a pair of options for the colt’s next start.

“I love the way he came out of the race, super pleased with him this morning,” trainer Brad Cox said Sunday. “His energy was good and he cooled out well last night. Everything was very positive with him.”

Cox added, “I don’t know about the [Aug. 29 GI] Travers. We’ll make a decision when we feel like we need to, but it will probably be a decision between that and the [Sept. 19 GI] P.A. Derby.”

Commandment was wearing blinkers for the first time when he finished a half-length second to deep-closing Renegade (Into Mischief) in the Jim Dandy.

“Talking to the jockey [Flavien Prat] after the race, he said turning for home after he made the lead, he was just waiting and didn’t want to kick clear,” Cox said. “He brought him over to feel the pressure of Silent Tactic and he responded, but he never saw or felt the pressure of Renegade until he got by. Once he got by, he said he reengaged and went after him, and you can see that in the replay. It was a game effort. I’m proud of the effort. Unfortunately, we didn’t come out on the right end.”

Cox said he doesn’t believe the blinkers were a factor in Commandment not seeing the charge of the Irad Ortiz, Jr.-piloted Renegade.

“He doesn’t wear a lot of blinker, so I don’t want to blame it on that,” Cox said. “I think Irad probably did a good job of keeping his horse outside and not running up near us and getting us game and competitive again.”

Cox said Commandment will likely keep the blinkers on moving forward.

“I like how he traveled in them and I thought it was a good effort,” Cox said.

The post Travers, Pennsylvania Derby Possible for Commandment appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.