Talk Veuve to Me is Spa-bound

Talk Veuve to Me is going to Saratoga. That much is known. The 3-year-old filly whose second win came Saturday night at Indiana Grand in the Grade 3, $200,000 Indiana Oaks was to ship from Kentucky to Saratoga on Tuesday morning, trainer Rodolphe Brisset said. What happens from there has yet to be determined, but there is a decent chance Talk Veuve to Me winds up in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes on Aug. 18.

Talk Veuve to Me had finished second in the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs and second in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont following a powerhouse maiden win March 25 at Fair Grounds, and was much the best in her twoturn debut Saturday night. Talk Veuve to Me rated kindly under Julien Leparoux just off an overmatched pacesetter, took command of the race with ease, and never came close to being asked for her best while posting a 4 3/4-length victory. She ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.15, a raw time that produced a 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She came out of it very good,” Brisset said Monday. “Cleaned up the feed tub that night, looks good this morning. She ships tomorrow. Maybe we do a little something with her Wednesday, maybe wait until Thursday.”

Brisset said Talk Veuve to Me’s connections would wait and see how the Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies shakes out before committing to anything. That race features a matchup between divisional leader Monomoy Girl, who beat Talk Veuve to Me in the Acorn, and Midnight Bisou, third in the Kentucky Oaks and subsequently an easy winner of the Mother Goose. Also expected to start at Saratoga is the Delaware Oaks winner Red Ruby, and lurking as a rising player is the Iowa Oaks winner She’s a Julie.

“Timing wise, we’re there, and if she trained well the Alabama would be a strong option,” said Brisset. “But in the end we have to do what’s best for the filly.”

Talk Veuve to Me ran just .15 seconds slower than Axelrod did winning the Indiana Derby one race after the Oaks. California-based Axelrod got a 94 Beyer. Pioneer Spirit, who saw off heavily favored Seeking the Soul in the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial, got a 100 Beyer for his winning performance.

Statebreds meet in turf stakes

There a bunch of Indianabred 3-year-olds who look capable of winning the $100,000 Snack Stakes at a mile on turf Wednesday at Indiana Grand. The Snack (race 8, post time 5:21 Eastern) shares top billing on the card with its sister race, the $100,000 Ellen’s Lucky Star (race 7, post time 4:53).

Thirteen were entered in the Snack, (Air Wonderful is the lone also-eligible) and since the two shortest prices on the morning line look very vulnerable, the race has betting appeal.

Its Just Fate is the 9-5 morning-line favorite, but he has raced two turns just once, making the lead and beating a modest bunch in his most recent start, and has never been on turf.

Hold On Angel, the 7-2 second choice on the line, showed very little in his only turf start and will take action only on the basis of his most recent race. All credit to him for winning the $103,000 Hoosier Breeders’ Sophomore on June 20, but Hold On Angel shook loose on the lead over a speed-favoring track that day and, in his 12th start, easily ran the race of his life. Take a pass on him Wednesday.

Sir Brogan remains a maiden after three starts but moved forward when stretched to a route second out and chased Hold On Angel around the track last time. He’s by the turf influence Country Day and has a good chance to move forward at a price in the Snack.

Ready or not herei come was third in the Hoosier Breeders’ Sophomore and is back for the Snack. Ready or not herei come, whose lone turf try came in open company over a yielding course last fall, has as good a grass pedigree as any horse he faces.

Mike Lauer trains Ready or not herei come as well as three of the 10 fillies entered in the Ellen’s Lucky Star. Miracles Take Time has the most appeal among the trio and is likely to offer playable odds despite having run well in all three of her turf starts. She’s 8-1 on the morning line and on paper can get a good trip behind a contested early and middle pace.

Several horses exit the fillies division on the Hoosier Breeders’ Sophomore, including that race’s 76-1 winner, Black Nova, who led a parade-style race and seems unlikely to repeat that massive step forward.