Rally Cry impresses in Alydar, Woodward could be next
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Prior to Sunday, not many followers of racing had probably heard of Rally Cry. And why should they? The four-year-old colt’s biggest win had come in a second-level allowance back in April, and he’d finished up the track in both of his graded-stakes attempts. Most recently, he ran sixth in the Met Mile, beaten 15½ lengths.
After his performance in Sunday’s $100,000 Alydar Stakes, however, Rally Cry has raised his profile. Tracking a moderate pace in second, the son of Uncle Mo exploded coming off the turn, accelerating past pacesetter Conquest Windycity and the rest of the field to win by 8 ¾ lengths. The running time for nine furlongs over a fast main track was a solid 1 min-
ute, 48.58 seconds.
“He’s had some time off, and this is the first opportunity he’s had to get in two turns,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “The way he trains, he always gives us confidence. We’re just really happy to have this opportunity to show what he’s capable of.”
Rally Cry only had to beat four horses in the Alydar, and after all he was the 3-5 favorite. Red Rifle was second by a neck over Conquest Windycity, with Mo Tom and the eased Mohaymen trailing. Still, it was an impressive performance.
“He’s been working so good, you can only hope that he can actually push it the way he has been working in the morning,” said jockey John Velazquez, “and he actually did it today. If he can do that now, and go through turns, and prove that he can run, hopefully he wakes up.”
Rally Cry competes for Paul P. Poma, Jr. The Alydar victory ups his record to 4-1-3 in 10 starts and boots his bankroll to $250,380.
Pletcher said his latest stakes winner may be considered for the Grade 1 Woodward on Sept. 2, with the final decision to be determined by how he trains in the meantime.