NEWS
Quality Road, Blame conduct final works before Whitney
Posted: Sunday, August 01, 2010 3:21 PM
QUALITY ROAD
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
by Phil Janack
Two of the main contenders for Saturday’s $750,000 Whitney Handicap (G1) had their final workouts on Sunday morning at Saratoga Race Course in preparation for the 1 1/8-mile race.
Hitting the main track just after the renovation break at 8:50 a.m. EDT, multiple Grade 1 winner Quality Road, the probable Whitney favorite, was clocked in 1:00.02 for five furlongs. The breeze under regular exercise rider Patti Krotenko ranked sixth of 27 timed moves at the distance.
“He’s pretty consistent,” Krotenko said. “When he’s galloping, he just goes along so easy you’d never know he’s as good as he is. He’s very nice to ride.”
A four-year-old Elusive Quality colt, Quality Road is unbeaten in three starts this year, including wins in the Donn Handicap (G1) and Metropolitan Handicap (G1), the latter on May 31 (video). Sunday was his second workout at Saratoga; he went five furlongs in a bullet :58.97 on July 26.
“His last couple of works were really, really brilliant, and this morning was more of the same,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We wanted to do a little less. I think we’ve got a fit and happy horse, which is the goal.
“He’s pretty amazing. You kind of look at the horse and then you look at your watch, and it doesn’t make sense the way it looks. He makes it look effortless.”
Moments after Quality Road was done, Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) winner Blame and jockey Garrett Gomez cruised through an easy half-mile in :49.02 in company with four-year-old maiden winner Heritage Hall. Blame has rattled off four consecutive wins, all in graded stakes, for trainer Al Stall Jr.
Stall had intended to breeze Blame on Monday morning, but with rain in the forecast for Sunday afternoon into Monday, he moved the workout up a day.
“We just got it out of the way,” Stall said. “We did our hard work at Keeneland [Race Course]. Saratoga being what it is, we wanted to come up here and be flexible with the schedule. He was ready for it, because he galloped so well yesterday and the day before. It was no big deal for him whatsoever; absolutely no problem.”
Following the Whitney, Stall would like to get Blame one more start before the 1 ¼-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on November 6.
“This is our time of year,” he said. “It’s our third race back, so we’re in the no-excuse zone. We’re fit and he’s mentally dialed in and ready to go, so now’s the time to do it.”
Phil Janack is a Saratoga-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Jack, Baltimore, MD on August 01, 2010 at 10:33 PM
The two best conventional dirt colts in America. What a race the Whitney Handicap is going to be. With Quality Road and Blame both having raced, and won at Saratoga. The 2010 Whitney Handicap should be a real dog fight. Blame only beaten once in his career. A 2nd place finish to Regal Ransom in the 09' Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. Blame has won 6 of 7 lifetime starts. And has reeled off wins in the Clark Handicap, the William Donald Schaefer Stakes, and the Stephen Foster Handicap. Quality Road has reeled off wins in the Hal's Hope Stakes, the Donn Handicap, and the Met Mile. These two colts really are the cream of the conventional dirt crop. I'd hate to have to live on the difference between the two. I would, however, give Quality Road an ever so slight edge just on pure raw talent alone. But by the same token, it will not at all surprise me if Blame beats Quality Road in the Whitney Handicap either.
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