Adirondack card includes rescheduled Curlin, Glens Falls

The two-year-old fillies in Sunday’s $225,000 Adirondack (G3) will have to share the Saratoga spotlight with a pair of stakes that were rescheduled from midweek. Biblical amounts of rain prompted the cancellation of the Wednesday card featuring the $150,000 Curlin S., and with Thursday’s turf races rained off, the $250,000 Glens Falls (G2) was shifted to Sunday as well.

Both the Glens Falls (eighth race at 5:09 p.m. ET) and Curlin (ninth race at 5:44 p.m. ET) were redrawn. The Glens Falls field remained nearly intact, led by Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Gezora, European shipper Survie, and Speed Shopper. 

There was a bit more flux in the Curlin, although 4-5 favorite Chief Wallabee and his principal rival, Blackout Time, stood their ground. A trio of newcomers signed on, perhaps most interestingly Cherie DeVaux’s recent maiden winner, Mount Vernon. Zihnal was the only original entrant to drop out of the 1 1/8-mile restricted stakes for sophomores, a lower-profile route to the Travers (G1) than Saturday’s Jim Dandy (G2). Hence Chief Wallabee, fourth in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1), is very much the one to beat on the class drop. 

The 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack anchors the stakes action as the 10th race (6:19 p.m. ET). The lone stakes winner in the field, Pierette, brings a 2-for-2 mark from Churchill Downs including the Debutante S. But the Mark Casse trainee is pegged as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line behind the 5-2 Scarlett Begonia, an impressive Ellis Park debut winner for Brad Cox. 

“I thought that was a really big effort,” Cox said of Scarlett Begonia, “and she showed she would definitely like more ground. She got herself ready. We thought we were going to give her a run and just see how she stacked up, and it was probably a little more than we expected. She really finished up well down the lane and got a good education from that race and galloped out well. It gave us the confidence to try her at a little more ground and in graded stakes company.”

Others stepping up from sharp first-out scores are Stress Relief, a Joel Politi homebred by Not This Time, and Texas-bred Caroline’s Girl, recently transferred to Saffie Joseph Jr. after a private purchase. Washton, a daughter of Steve Asmussen-trained champion Mitole, did well to prevail in her Churchill debut despite trouble. 

“That was very hardy,” Asmussen said of Washton’s effort. “There was quite a bit of interference in the stretch with her, but she continued on and proved narrowly best that day. I think there will be a good step forward with her.” 

Two fillies hope to improve from losses in the Schuylerville S. on opening day – the distant third, Prime Aurora, and disappointing favorite Luminous Beauty, who was eased home fifth of six. Almighty One, fourth in the My Dear S. on the Tapeta at Woodbine, makes her first start on the traditional dirt, while Bandmaster exits a 34-1 upset in her unveiling at Aqueduct.