Governor Sam Looks Tough Right Back In Mahony

[Wandering Eyes]

Bregman Family Racing and Swinbank Stable LLC's Governor Sam (Improbable) is perfect in two previous efforts over Saratoga's Mellon turf course and he'll look to keep that record intact as a warm favorite in Sunday's newly upgraded GIII Mahony Stakes.

A maiden winner when making his local debut just over a year ago, the bay rattled off three in a row in stakes company and made the majority of the pace in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint before clinging on gamely for third. Governor Sam dropped his first two tries this season at Churchill when ridden on the speed, but he was asked to sit off the pace in the GIII Quick Call Stakes here July 13 and did so kindly before stretching clear to best Ortley Avenue (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {Ire}), with No Evidence (Vekoma) a further half-length back in third.

“He's doing fantastic,” said trainer George Weaver. “We'll let [jockey] Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] ride the horse how he wants. Hopefully, if he duplicates that performance, he'll do good in there. His breezes have been good and he continues to maintain good form. He's doing good and we are expecting him to run well.”

Gabaldon (Gone Astray) defeated the favorite in last year's Royal Palm Juvenile Turf and went on to be a cracking second in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Away for nine months thereafter, the gray resumed with a third in Gulfstream's Texas Glitter Stakes Mar. 22 and returns here as a first-time gelding.

Spiced Up (Quality Road) is an interesting fresh face, having posted a visually impressive victory in a grassy six-furlong Aqueduct maiden June 20.

Sunday's other graded stakes takes place at Del Mar, as juvenile fillies have center stage in the GIII Sorrento Stakes.

A field of six is signed on headed by $900,000 OBS April grad Himika (Curlin), who is the 6-5 morning-line selection on the strength of a six-length romp at Santa Anita on June 12, an effort that earned her a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star'. The Klaravich Stable-bred bay has the rail, but had no issue overcoming the same draw in the debut.

Dreaming of Alys (Upstart) drilled Laurel maidens by 4 3/4 lengths on June 13 for Gary Capuano and has since been acquired privately and turned over to trainer Phil D'Amato. The dark bay has recorded a pair of works locally, including a five-furlong move from the gate that was timed in :59 2/5 (6/65) on Aug. 3. That was two ticks off that morning's bullet achieved by Himika.

The post Governor Sam Looks Tough Right Back In Mahony appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article