After getting on a horse Wednesday morning for the first time since a frightening spill three days earlier, jockey Richard Migliore decided to take an extra day off before returning to competition.Bruised and sore but improved since being dumped during the stretch run of Sunday's Jim Dandy (gr. II), Migliore took off all six of his scheduled mounts Wednesday afternoon. He is named on horses in the fourth and eighth races on Thursday.
Around 9:30 a.m., Migliore breezed filly Cozzy Advantage for trainer John Kimmel on the Oklahoma training track turf course. NYRA clockers caught the four-furlong move in :47 4/5, the fastest of 11 horses at the distance.
"I just came by and asked John if he had anything getting ready to work so I could kind of test drive myself," Migliore said Wednesday morning. "It felt good. I'm a little stiffer than I thought I might be. I'm sore, but I'll be OK."
Migliore was hurt when his mount, Iron Deputy, clipped heels with Quest, who swerved into Iron Deputy's path as he was making a move in the stretch. Migliore was thrown and landed hard on his side. He was taken to Saratoga Hospital, where he was treated and kept overnight for observation.
After talking with his agent, Drew Mollica, Migliore opted to give himself another afternoon to recover. He underwent extensive therapy Tuesday afternoon to reduce swelling in his right arm.
"I kicked around the idea of riding today, but I gave myself one more day after working that long," Migliore said. "I figured I'd come and test drive one and see if I thought I could do a good job this afternoon. I don't want to do anybody a disservice and not ride their horse as well as I can.
"My ribs are real black and blue and just kind of being in that position, I wasn't very comfortable. I've felt a little bit better every single day, considerably better. I figure I'll give myself a little more chance and then jump into the fray."
Bob Hess Shippers to ArriveSeveral of trainer Bob Hess' horses will be shipping east next week and are being pointed to stakes at Saratoga.
Hess said Wednesday morning that 3-year-old English-bred filly Kirtle and juvenile colt Dirty Trick are scheduled to fly in from Del Mar August. 13.
An impressive allowance winner in her last start July 29 at Del Mar, Kirtle will make her next start in the Lake Placid (gr. II) August 18. Dirty Trick is being considered for the Hopeful (gr. I) August 31.
"We like her a bunch," Hess said of Kirtle, who ran a troubled third in the $100,000 Flawlessly at Hollywood Park in her American debut. "She should have won the hundred-grander off the plane, and she came back
and ran real well the other day (July 29). She just played with them."
Hess is also looking to find a spot for D'wildcat, who ran second to Snow Ridge at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day but was placed first through disqualification. He worked on the Del Mar turf on Monday and will have another breeze next week before a decision is made.
D'Wildcat will be nominated to the Fourstardave (gr. II) on August 24, as well as allowance races both here and in California, Hess said.
"I want to work him on the grass one more time. He worked well, but I want to work him again and see how that goes," he said. "We'll look at the competition, too. I don't want to be foolish."
Lukas Stable Heating UpAfter a slow start to the meet, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas' stable has come alive. Lukas saddled four horses at Saratoga Sunday and came up with two wins, a second and a third. Historic Speech and Finder finished first, while Gold Dollar was moved to second in the Jim Dandy by the disqualification of Quest, and Imaginary Gold was third in an allowance race.Meanwhile At Monmouth, both Lukas starters, Fleet Center and Storm Commander, were winners.
"The second in the Jim Dandy was like a win," Lukas said. "We had a good week all across the country.„
Though Gold Dollar was beaten better than 16 lengths by Medaglia d'Oro, Lukas was pleased with the Overbrook Farm colt's performance and said he himself a trip to the Travers. "We take them one step at a time," Lukas said, "but we were hoping he would run well."
What's In His NameOverbrook Farm's maiden 2-year-old Ozzie Cat has a story behind his name.
The Storm Cat colt was named after a cat owned by award-winning turf writer Billy Reed of Louisville, Ky. When his pet died last year, Reed wrote a column about the cat that caught the attention of Overbrook Farm owner William T. Young and his daughter, Lucy Young Boutin. Reed said he received a call from Lucy Young Boutin, who tod him that she and her father intended to name the best Storm Cat they kept for Reed's cat.
Reed and his wife flew from Lexington, Ky. to Saratoga Springs on a private jet with the Youngs to watch Ozzie Cat's debut.
Sky Mesa's eye-catching decisive victory overshadowed a strong effort by the Lukas-trained Ozzie Cat. Under jockey Jorge Chavez, Ozzie Cat closed from seventh after a half-mile to be the runner-up, but beaten by 7¾ lengths. Lukas said he liked what he saw.
"That's going to be a good colt," Lukas said. "He could be in the classics."
Puzzlement WorksPuzzlement worked five furlongs in an easy 1:05 1/5 on Tuesday for trainer Allen Jerkens in preparation for his next start in the Travers. The move was the second-slowest of 25 horses, but only two others were timed in under 1:01.Santos to Ride Volponi
Volponi will be ridden by Jose Santos in Saturday's Grade I Sword
Dancer because Shaun Bridgemohan had already committed to
Whitmore's Conn for trainer Randy Schulhofer.