Spring to the Sky can run big
Older turf specialist’s top obstacle is himself
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Spring to the Sky may be signaling a return to top form, just in time for Friday’s $100,000 Lucky Coin Stakes for older runners at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.
The old boy won the Lucky Coin way back in 2014, and three years later enters the current edition as an 8-year-old turf specialist.
“He’s kind of an iron horse and he’s doing just fine,” said trainer Bruce Brown.
Spring to the Sky, who has raced in New York, Florida, California, Canada, Maryland, and Kentucky, closed with a rush in an optional claiming event at Saratoga on July 22.
He made up some 17 lengths that day, at the Lucky Coin distance, rallying extremely wide to finish third, beaten a neck, after tossing his head at the start.
“He can do that from time to time and that’s kind of been his downfall in some of his races,” said Brown. “I’ve kind of gotten use to the fact that when he does that it’s, oh well, race is over. He uses his speed so well in races that when that happens it’s kind of like you don’t know if you should keep watching. Most of the times he’ll rush up and then get tired in the stretch.”
Brown credited jockey Joe Bravo, who is aboard for the Lucky Coin, for allowing Spring to the Sky to settle after the start.
He noted that Bravo had talked about seeing if Spring to the Sky could handle being taken back after the start, an idea that the trainer wasn’t thrilled about.
“But once that happened, rather than panic and rush him, he sat on him and he put in a huge run,” said Brown. “And now that he’s ridden him, I think we should let him play it by ear.”
Owned by Anthony P. McCarthy, Spring to the Sky makes his 43rd career start in the Lucky Coin, which is his third start this year.
Dowse’s Beach has won three of four starts in his career at Saratoga, and possesses break-away speed.
He led for all but the final strides in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes at Woodbine in his most recent start, at 7 furlongs on Aug. 19.
Two races back, he led all
the way in an upper level optional claimer at Belmont Park on July 2, in which Spring to the Sky was sixth in his seasonal debut.
An interesting entrant is Dream Mover, who raced in Europe for the last two years.
The 4-year-old made his United States debut at Saratoga on Aug. 3, winning at this distance in his first race since last October.
He posted a “bullet” work of a half-mile in 48 seconds on the Oklahoma Training Track last week, the best of 23 such moves at the distance.
Ready for Rye returns to grass after tiring to sixth in the Grade 1 A.G. Vanderbilt here on July 29.
Two years ago he captured the Quick Call Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs on turf at the Spa.
Big Rock has made three starts on the Saratoga lawn in his career, winning them all, and comes off a sharp victory here on Aug. 3.
Another speedster in the Lucky Coin is Loose On The Town, who led all the way to win at Belmont going 6 furlongs on May 11.
He exits a close second in the Tale of the Cat Stakes on dirt here on Aug. 11.
Undrafted is a consistent turf runner who was third in the Lucky Coin last year and most recently a troubled fourth in the Troy Handicap on Aug. 6. He is a stretch threat today. Completing the Lucky Coin field are We Deer You and Doctor J Dub.