CHANGE IN PLANS

GO FOR BROKE AVOIDS SONGBIRD BY GOING IN SUMMER COLONY,

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After Going for Broke ran a good second to Carina Mia in this month’s Shine Again Stakes here, trainer Chad Brown said he was going to seriously consider running the filly back in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 26.

When it was confirmed that Songbird, the two-time Eclipse champion, would be shipping cross-country for that race, Brown seriously reconsidered.

Thus, instead of being a longshot in the Personal Ensign, Going for Broke will now likely be the favorite in Sunday’s $100,000 Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga. The Summer Colony, at 1 1/8 miles, is for fillies and mares who have not won a graded stakes in 2017.

Going for Broke has never won a graded stakes, but she did finish second to Songbird in last year’s Grade 1 Alabama. She finished her 3-year-old season with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont and a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct.

Going for Broke did not make her 4-year-old debut until the Shine Again Stakes, at 6 1/2 furlongs, where she rallied along the rail in the stretch and finished second, beaten just a neck by Carina Mia, a Grade 1 winner.

“She ran really well,” Brown said, adding that the Summer Colony “is back on short rest, but I think it makes more sense.”

Last year, Rachel’s Temper won the Summer Colony after being claimed by Charlton Baker from David Cannizzo for $62,500 three weeks earlier. Shortly after that race, Newtown Anner Stud purchased Rachel’s Temper and kept her with Baker for the remainder of 2017.

The filly has since been returned to Cannizzo, who has her back in the Summer Colony following a last-place finish in a 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming race July 3 at Belmont.

“She needed the race,” Cannizzo said. “She’s a tough horse to get fit. We gave her one with this race in mind.”

Verve’s Tale pulled a 20-1 upset in the Comely, beating Going for Broke by four lengths. Verve’s Tale has lost four consecutive races since, but they all came in graded stakes company. She could play out as the primary speed from the rail.

KEY CONTENDERS

Going for Broke, by Blame Last 3 Beyers: 91-87-84

◗ Came off a nine-month layoff to run a solid second to Carina Mia at 6 1/2 furlongs, a distance shorter than her best.

◗ Won a 1 1/8-mile race by a nose over Rachel’s Temper here last year, getting three pounds from that rival. Would concede two pounds to Rachel’s Temper here.

Verve’s Tale, by Tale of Ekati Last 3 Beyers: 88-90-81

◗ Finds significant class relief after facing the likes of Songbird and Paid Up Subscriber in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps last out and Highway Star in the Grade 2 Ruffian two back.

◗ Has traded decisions with Going for Broke, finishing behind that one in a maiden race and beating her in the Grade 3 Comely.

Rachel’s Temper, by Flatter Last 3 Beyers: 67-71-83

◗ A bit overmatched in a pair of graded events to end her 5-year-old season.

◗ Stretches out around two turns off basic non-effort in sprint off a nine-month layoff.

BARBARA D. LIVINGSTON