Rally Cry a narrow choice in wide open Alydar
By Jeff Scott SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The field for today’s $100,000 Alydar Stakes isn’t a large one – with the scratch of the crossentered Breaking Lucky, there are only five expected starters – but it is a well-matched group, all of them looking to improve off recent performances.
Rally Cry, the morningline favorite at 8/5, comes in off a disappointing sixth behind Mor Spirit in the Met Mile (G1). The 4-year-old Uncle Mo colt was taken off last year’s Derby trail after finishing up the track in the Gotham (G3). Three months later, he faded late in the ungraded Easy Goer Stakes, and was put away for the remainder of 2016. Rally Cry finished first and second in a pair of allowances earlier this year. The Alydar will be his first go at nine furlongs.
Red Rifle (4-1) was last in the winner’s circle two years ago, after coming from far back to take the Grade 2 Bowling Green here on the turf. The sevenyear-old Giant’s Causeway gelding has competed primarily on the grass since, but returns to dirt for the Alydar. Red Rifle has a win and a second in four starts at nine furlongs.
Mo Tom’s (5-1) last win came in last year’s then ungraded Ohio Derby, a race he won – at the Alydar’s distance – by three lengths. He has failed to hit the board in his other races at nine furlongs, however, most recently behind Gun Runner in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster.
Mohaymen, still trying to return to his early threeyear-old form, is pegged at 9-2. The 4-year-old son of Tapit won his first five starts but is winless since. After an unsuccessful experiment last out on turf, Mohaymen returns to dirt today in the Alydar.
Conquest Windycity (8-1) completes the field. The four-year-old Tiznow colt is looking for his first stakes win and his first win at nine furlongs.