Updates ( Belated)

The updates are from earlier in the week except Phos but its been a busy weekend travelled to the Spa Thursday to be at the races Friday with Empire State Collage

Saturday up early over the backstretch saw Mr Fantasy ( looks well ) and the Maria`s Mon colt workout then long drive to Penn National to watch Phos

The Defense Rests- There is no news to report this week

Maria's Mon colt worked three furlongs in 38:00 Monday morning at Saratoga. The work was not picked up by the clockers. He went with two other horses. They were a bit green early on, but then got to business. Mike called this another nice step forward. He will have one more three furlong breeze before graduating onto half mile breezes. We will have video of him later this week.

Mr. Fantasy worked an easy three furlongs in 37:73 this morning at Saratoga over the main track. Both Mike and Mr. Fantasy's exercise rider were happy with how he moved. He was supposed to work yesterday morning, but he got a little bit cut up from rolling around in his stall, so Mike pushed the work back a day. Mike plans to work him a half mile next week. We will have a better idea of our timetable after the next work.

Phosphorescent looks to glow for the third time in a row when he makes his turf stakes debut in tonight's PA Governor's Cup Handicap at Penn National. The race drew a salty group of horses, but we definitely fit in here. Phosphorescent has been training very well, and Lupe could not be happier going into the race.
There is a lot of speed in here on paper, and as you know Phosphorescent has won his last two on the lead. However, when he won at the Fair Grounds this winter, he showed the ability to rate behind the leaders. With the amount of speed in here, that is likely where we will find ourselves early. Lupe will instruct Victor to get out there and see how the race unfolds. We will most likely be close to the pace, but I'd like to see him 1-2 lengths off the dueling pacesetters early. The way I envision the race is at the top of the stretch, we sneak through the rail and run by them all!
A look at the field...
1. Perfect Officer may be in a perfect spot to pounce if there is a torrid pace up front. He has not won since August of last year, and has no recent workouts coming into the race. George Weaver would not ship here if he did not think he had a shot, but there are others in here that are more appealing. The inside post is tough too.
3. Sneaking Uponyou showed speed in his last race and likely will show speed tonight. He has won a five furlong turf stake before. He is coming off of two solid second place finishes at Presque Isle. Will I be surprised if he wins? Yes. I do think he could hit the board though.
4. Blue Sailor is a hard trying horse who has hit the board in 24 of 37 career starts. He won a turf sprint stake three back, and followed that with two decent efforts. He is one that will try to go gate to wire. He has a shot, but I wouldn't bet him. Others appeal to me more.
5. Chamberlain Bridge is one of my favorite turf sprinters. I will admit that I follow him closely because I think he's a cool horse. He is coming off a win in a turf sprint at Arlington and looks to be the class of the field. He's a Grade 3 winner. The race may set up perfectly for him, as he will be a few lengths off the pace early.
6. Hold The Salt appears to be a little bit overmatched. He ran in an overnight stake two back, and was 6th, beaten six lengths. His recent numbers are a bit light, and even though he comes in off of a win, I think he is outclassed. That race was also 12 days ago. That's a big task for an eight-year-old.
7. Cardashi is a hard knocking horse who has hit the board in 29 of 50 races. He won this race last year, and is 3 for 3 over the Penn National turf course. His Beyers are a bit light compared to others in here, but how could you not bet last year's winner? He loves this turf course, and has been running decent races leading up to tonight.
8. Tahoe Warrior ships in for hot trainer Rudy Rodriguez. He won a nice turf sprint at Calder last time out, but prior to that he was running in 20k claimers. He is an intriguing horse. I am not convinced that he didn't get lucky in that last race. He should be close to the pace.
9. Heros Reward was second by a neck in a Grade 2 at Woodbine last time out. I am really high on Woodbine shippers. They have been doing very well at Saratoga, especially on the turf. He has earned over $1 million dollars. This horse and Chamberlain Bridge are my picks in here.
10. Natural Seven is coming off a second place finish in a stake at Suffolk. He's won some stakes on the turf in the past, but nothing in his recent form overly excites me. His numbers are light, and I think he's overmatched.
11. Sacred Journey exits the same race at Arlington as Chamberlain Bridge and Bullet From Abroad. He was fourth that day. He could improve third off the layoff and comes into the race with three bullet works to his name. He should show speed, but with the amount of speed in here I think the outside post will hurt him.
12. Bullet From Abroad exits a turf sprint at Arlingtron won by Chamberlain Bridge. He has been working well at Arlington, and I doubt his trainer would ship here if he didn't think he had a shot. However, the outside post makes him way less appealing. There is nothing about him that makes him really stand out against this bunch