NEWS
Saratoga opening card includes return of Pyro
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2009 1:52 PM
PYRO
Lou Hodges Jr. photo
by Jeff Lowe
Pyro, the 2008 Louisiana Derby (G2) winner, will make his first start for Godolphin Racing on Wednesday against Naboodah United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2) winner Honour Devil (Arg) in the $80,500 James Marvin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
The James Marvin is race three in a ten-race opener that drew a total of 134 entries, including 13 two-year-old fillies in the featured $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes (G3).
Pyro has not raced since finishing sixth to Albertus Maximus in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on October 25 at Santa Anita Park, his final start for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen. He finished second by a half-length to Macho Again in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga last July.
Under a stallion rights agreement that was announced the day after Pyro’s three-length victory in the Louisiana Derby last March, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley assumed ownership of the four-year-old Pulpit colt after the Breeders’ Cup.
He underwent surgery for a knee chip and joined Godolphin’s string in New York in June.
Jockey John Velazquez will ride Pyro in a field of nine for the seven-furlong James Marvin.
Honour Devil (Arg) also will be racing for a new trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, in his North American debut for owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum.
Previously trained by Michael de Kock, Honour Devil finished second in the Intidab Burj Nahaar on March 5 at Nad al Sheba racecourse in his most recent start.
The James Marvin also drew Riley Tucker, the runner-up to Munnings in the Tom Fool Handicap (G2) on July 5 at Belmont Park.
Two other two-year-old events are on the card.
Trappe Shot, the $850,000 top price in the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of two-year-olds in training, will make his career debut for McLaughlin and owner James Brady’s Mill House in the seventh race, a 5½-furlong maiden special weight contest.
For Equibase entries of Wednesday's Saratoga card, click here.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
