With 14 entered, Friday’s $100,000 Skidmore Stakes for juveniles going 5 ½ furlongs on the turf will feature a contentious group each looking to notch a stakes victory at Saratoga.
Shang Shang Shang will take on males for trainer Wesley Ward, who also sends out Gins and Tins. He said that a good run from his group 2 winner could set the 2-year-old daughter of Shanghai Bobby up for a start in the Breeders’ Cup in November
However, he added that she will only run against the males in the 5 1/2-furlong turf race at Saratoga Race Course if track conditions are right.
“If it’s a fast turf, we’re running. If it’s in the mud and they take it off the turf, we’re running. But if it’s a yielding turf, we’re not running,” Ward said. “All plans could change.”
The juvenile Shanghai Bobby filly enters the Skidmore after winning the Group 2 Norfolk on June 21 at Royal Ascot. Gins and Tins, a 2-year-old Scat Daddy gelding, will make his stakes debut after breaking his maiden by four lengths on July 14 at Monmouth Park.
Shang Shang Shang will leave from post 2 with Joel Rosario aboard. Gins and Tins will depart from post 3 with Eric Cancel in the irons.
| Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yes and Yes | 8-1 | Rajiv Maragh | Philip Gleaves |
| 2 | Shang Shang Shang | 5-2 | Joel Rosario | Wesley Ward |
| 3 | Gins and Tins | 15-1 | Eric Cancel | Wesley Ward |
| 4 | Chelsea Cloisters | 6-1 | Julio Garcia | Wesley Ward |
| 5 | Stayonthegrind | 30-1 | Junior Alvarado | James Ferraro |
| 6 | Chattel | 20-1 | Kendrick Carmouche | Brandon McFarlane |
| 7 | Good Good | 12-1 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
| 8 | Swamp Rat | 6-1 | Julien Leparoux | Philip Gleaves |
| 9 | Carter Cat | 12-1 | Luis Saez | Steven Asmussen |
| 10 | Stillwater Cove | 12-1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Wesley Ward |
| 11 | Chase Greatness | 12-1 | Jose Ortiz | Horacio DePaz |
| 12 | Sir Truebadour | 5-1 | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | Steven Asmussen |
| 13 | Lexitonian | 6-1 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
| 14 | Backtohisroots | 10-1 | Luis Saez | John Terranova II |
Swamp Rat and Yes and Yes will be representing the Phil Gleaves barn, both coming off maiden victories at double-digit odds at Belmont Park.
Swamp Rat was sent off at odds of 24-1 and rallyed from behind to win his debut by 2 ¾ lengths on June 17. He will depart from post 8 with Julien Leparoux aboard.
Yes and Yes won his debut by a nose on May 25 at leaving the gate at odds of 36-1.
“[Yes and Yes] wasn’t as far back as Swamp Rat in his debut because he’s got a bit more speed,” said Gleaves. “He looked good winning his race. He’s stepping up in distance for this race and depending on how he goes we’ll consider the [Grade 3, $150,000] With Anticipation. Same as for Swamp Rat, getting to that race for him starting here is our goal.”
Yes and Yes will leave from the rail with Rajiv Maragh in the irons.
Also entering a pair of runners for Calumet Farm is trainer Todd Pletcher with Good Good and Lexitonian, the latter of which is entered for the main track only.
A son of Quality Road, Good Good won his debut on the dirt on June 30 at Gulfstream Park. Lexitonian won his debut on June 27 at Belmont and returned to finish sixth in the Grade 3 Sanford on July 21.
“We worked him [Good Good] on the dirt here when we were considering the Saratoga Special and then we worked him on the turf here. I thought he actually worked better on the turf, so we’re opting for this spot,” said Pletcher. It seems like some Quality Road’s , like the filly that won the stakes yesterday [Stillwater Cove], have done well on the turf. I thought with his physique, he might take to it.”
Rounding out the field is Carter Cat, Sir Turebadour, Chase Greatness, Chattel, and Stayonthegrind. Backtohisroots is also entered for the main track only.
