Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Mindframe Back To Work, May Wait For Next Race

[Wandering Eyes]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Arguably the best older horse in training, Mindframe (Constitution), went back to work Friday morning.

The 4-year-old colt had his first work since winning the loaded GI Stephen Foster Stakes last month for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Mindframe worked an easy four furlongs in :52.46 (76/78) on the main track with regular exercise rider Carlos Quevedo on board.

“He does whatever you ask him to do,” Pletcher said outside his barn at the Oklahoma Training Track. “He is cool that way. He goes easy if you want him to go easy, he goes fast if you want him to go fast.”

Pletcher still has to figure out what race will be next for Mindframe, who has won all three of his starts this season at three different distances (seven furlongs, a mile and 1 1/8 miles). He also has the talented 4-year-old Fierceness (City of Light)–who can make his own case for top older horse–who worked five furlongs in 1:01.70 (5/14) in company with 5-year-old stablemate Dreamlike (Gun Runner) earlier Friday.

Fierceness, owned by Repole Stable, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, has been penciled in for the GI, $1 million Whitney Stakes here on Aug. 2. Pletcher has been considering running Mindframe, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC, for the same race, but that talk might be cooling down.

“Ideally, no,” Pletcher said when asked about running the two against each other. “We would split them up. If we wait for the (GI) Jockey Club Gold Cup with (Mindframe) that would be one way of splitting them up.”

The $1 million Gold Cup is scheduled for Aug. 31, the final Saturday of the Saratoga meet.

“You never want to assume that both of them are going to be ready on the same day,” Pletcher said. “Fierceness has not run since the (GI) Met Mile (second, on June 7) and we have always pointed him to the Whitney.”

The way Fierceness has been prepping for the Whitney makes it even more logical that he could be the solo Pletcher runner in that race.

“He is giving us every indication that he is on target for it,” Pletcher said. “I would say if he stays that way, that would probably give us a good reason to wait a little longer on Mindframe and give him a little extra time.”

In the Stephen Foster, Mindframe beat a field that included Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), last year's 3-year-old champ, 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Golden Cents) and Gr I Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride).

McPeek Back From Japan Trip In Time For CCA Oaks

Take Charge Milady | Sarah Andrew

After a whirlwind seven-day trip to Japan, trainer Kenny McPeek is back and just in time to see his 3-year-old filly Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) run in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile GI, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course.

Take Charge Milady is 9-2 on the morning line in the field of six and will take on the likes of 8-5 ML favorite Immersive (Nyquist), last year's champion juvenile filly and 2-1 La Cara (Street Sense), who won the GI Acorn at Saratoga in her last start.

“She needs to win this race if really put herself in the mix for top 3-year-old fillies,” McPeek said while watching his horses train on the Oklahoma Training Track Friday morning. “She is doing everything right.”

In her last start, Take Charge Milady, owned by James Bell, Magdalena Racing and Kenneth Rhodes, handed Immersive her first career loss when she won the Monomoy Girl Stakes at Churchill Downs by a neck. Take Charge Milady has won three of six starts this year; she was second in the GI Ashland Stakes, 1 1/4 lengths behind La Cara.

Take Charge Milady reminds McPeek of Take Charge Lady, who McPeek trained to 11 wins in 22 starts in a career that went from 2001-2003. Take Charge Indy is a son of Take Charge Lady.

“Take Charge Lady was so good,” McPeek said. “Great mare, too. This filly is easing her way there. She hasn't won a graded stake yet and she definitely has to find another level.”

Take Charge Milady will be ridden by Kendrick Carmouche for the first time. Brian Hernandez Jr., who was on board her last three starts, is riding at Monmouth Park Saturday.

During his Japan trip, McPeek attended the Japan Racing Horse Association (JHRA) Select Sale (he didn't buy anything) and also did plenty of touristy things with his wife Sherri and daughter Annie.

He had promised his daughter Annie that he would take her to Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who McPeek trained to the 2020 Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly.

She was sold and is now at Northern Farm in Hokkaido.

“Seeing Swiss was on the bucket list, we saw her twice,” McPeek said. “When she was sold, I told Annie I would take her one day to see her. She was very happy, and Swiss remembered her!”

Book 'em Danno Ready To Roll in Vanderbilt

Book'em Danno | Sarah Andrew

Trainer Derek Ryan was more than happy to show off his stable star Friday morning. That would be Book 'em Danno, the 4-year-old gelding who does nothing but show up every time he runs.

Ryan is hoping that trend continues Saturday when Book 'em Danno enters the starting gate of the GII, six-furlong $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt.

Book 'em Danno, who has the catchy moniker from the old Hawaii Five-O Tv series, has won eight of 14 career starts. He likes Saratoga as he has won two of three starts, the latest being the GIII True North during the Belmont Racing Festival last month. He also won the GI Woody Stephens here last year.

“He shows up, he is always there,” the New Jersey-based Ryan said. “He runs everywhere; he's a throwback.”

Owned by Atlantic Six Racing LLC, Book 'em Danno turned heads for the first time last year when he finished second, beaten just a head by Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the G3 Saudi Derby. Forever Young would go on to finish third in last year's GI Kentucky Derby in a three-horse photo finish.

In his 14 career starts, Book 'em Danno has finished off the board just twice.

“Any good horse I have ever had, they all have the same thing that others don't have,” Ryan said, “You can't buy class. If they have it, they have it, if they don't, they don't.”

Book 'em Danno will be ridden by Paco Lopez, who has been the rider for all three of his starts this year. In the Vanderbilt, they will be facing horses like Mullikin (Violence), who was second in the True North and the top two finishers from last year's Vanderbilt, Nakatomi (Firing Line) and Skelly (Practical Joke).

“I am not afraid of anybody, but at the same time, I don't think anyone is afraid of us,” Ryan said. When you are in races like these, you are running against the best. Everything has to go your way. They are all legit horses. That's why they're in there.”

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