Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Disco Partner seeks Forbidden Apple repeat
ELMONT, N.Y. – Disco Partner has won two straight runnings of the Jaipur Invitational. On Saturday, he will attempt to win his second straight Forbidden Apple Stakes at Belmont Park.
On Sunday, Disco Partner completed preparations for the $150,000 Forbidden Apple by working a half-mile in 48.05 seconds over the Belmont Park turf course. Irad Ortiz Jr. was up for the move, the fastest of 16 breezes at the distance.
“I thought it was a very good work, very easy,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “I thought Irad was just sitting on him. The horse seems to be full of himself, enjoying life. Let’s keep him sound and let’s go.”
Among those expected to challenge Disco Partner in the Forbidden Apple, for 4-yearolds and up at a mile on turf, are Blind Ambition, Pocket Change, Projected, Sarrasin, and Voodoo Song. On Sunday, Voodoo Song worked five furlongs in 1:00.76 over the Belmont turf.
Bee Jersey working on turf
Bee Jersey, a winner of four consecutive dirt races including the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, worked on the Oklahoma turf course in Saratoga for the second consecutive week on Monday.
Bee Jersey went five furlongs in 1:04.51 in company with the 3-year-old Reride. On July 2, Bee Jersey went five furlongs in 1:03.21.
That he is working on the turf does not necessarily mean he will be making his next start on the turf, according to trainer Steve Asmussen. The Grade 1 Fourstardave on Aug. 11 would seem to be the logical choice were Asmussen and owner Charles Fipke so inclined to try the grass.
If he remains on dirt, the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney on Aug. 4 or the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego on Aug. 25 would appear to be the logical options.
“The horse seems to be enjoying the change, with his next race being undecided,” Asmussen said.
Bee Jersey is by Jersey Town out of the Rahy mare Bees, who won an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Keeneland.
Brown loaded for Diana
Chad Brown trains seven of the 15 fillies and mares nominated to the $500,000 Diana Stakes, the first Grade 1 of the Saratoga meet, scheduled for July 21.
Brown said Sunday he could run as many as four in the 1 1/8-mile turf race. A Raving Beauty, winner of the Grade 1 Just a Game, and Sistercharlie, winner of the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, are considered definite to run. Fourstar Crook, who beat Sistercharlie in the New York Stakes, and New Money Honey, who came off a lengthy layoff to win an allowance race at Belmont, are possible.
On Sunday, A Raving Beauty and Sistercharlie worked a solid five furlongs together in 1:00.75, getting the final quarter in 22.60 seconds.
“They worked super,” Brown said.
Brown has won the last two runnings of the Diana, finishing 1-3 in 2017 and 1-3-7-10 in 2016.
Quidura, who finished second in last year’s Diana when in the barn of Graham Motion, is now with Brown. She worked five furlongs Sunday in 1:01.55 in company with Rushing Fall, who is preparing for the Grade 2 Lake George on July 20 at Saratoga.
Brown’s other Diana nominees include Off Limits and Thais.
Off Limits, who won last year’s Grade 1 Matriach, is winless in three starts this year.
“Trying to figure out what to do with her off this year’s form,” Brown said. “We still very much like the filly. We know she’s top class. It bothers me that we haven’t been able to get her on track here. Still hope to have a good second half of the season.”
Off Limits worked a halfmile in 49.05 on Sunday with Rymska, a filly who won her last three starts of 2017 but who has yet to run this year.
“We hope to have her ready for the latter part of Saratoga,” Brown said of Rymska.