Our Way likes Spa turf course
Son of Tizway tried dirt early in career
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> The improving Our Way is among the choices in today’s $100,000 Better Talk Now Stakes at one mile on turf for 3-year-olds.
Owned by William L. Clifton and trained by Jim Bond, the son of Whitney Handicap winner Tizway is the only member of the field with a victory on grass at Saratoga.
“Honestly, we weren’t always thinking turf with him,” said Bond. “We got him out of the Ocala sale and he trained really well on the polytrack there. And he wasn’t pushed, which I really liked.”
Our Way opened his career with a rallying fifth late last year at the Spa going 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Following a third at Aqueduct, Bond tried him on dirt early in the Gulfstream Park meet last December.
“He had worked good on dirt and everyone has the classics on their minds at that time,” he said.
Bond was alluding to the hopes of horsemen that they might have a Triple Crown competitor in the barn.
Our Way was a well-beaten sixth and has been on grass ever since.
He is coming off a solid victory here on July 23 at one mile.
“I think he’s a great miler and I think this is a good spot for him,” said Bond. “I hope he’s like his daddy, who got better with age. And he’s got Point Given on the bottom, so that pedigree seems to scream three, four, and up.”
Jose Ortiz returns aboard Our Way for the Better Talk Now.
A win by any entrant in this well-balanced field would be no surprise.
Dragon Bay and Hammers Vision, both based at Woodbine in Toronto, fit this group.
Dragon Bay is a steady performer who is coming out of a second in the Toronto Cup at 1 1/8 miles.
He was the leader in the stretch and should appreciate the drop back in distance.
Hammers Vision, who broke his maiden on the Belmont turf at first asking last year, exits a front-running score in the slop at Saratoga on July 31 in a race at 7 furlongs that was transferred from the turf.
He is among the pacesetters here along with Mighty Mo, who led in the Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct until the final strides last April.
He has tired in his last two, including the Grade 3 Kent at Delaware Park on July 16.
Noble Quality got nipped in his last, the Lamplighter Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 23.
Conquest Big E is making his turf debut in the Better Talk Now.
He hasn’t been out since finishing fifth in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 5.
However, if he can transfer his dirt form to the turf, he is in the hunt here.
Completing the field is Uncle Vinny, who is entered for the main track only.
“Honestly, we weren’t always thinking turf with (Our WAy). We got him out of the Ocala sale and he trained really well on the polytrack there. And he wasn’t pushed, which I really liked.”