She Feels Pretty tops New York; 11 set for contentious Just a Game

In addition to the star power in the Acorn (G1) and Ogden Phipps (G1), Friday’s card at Saratoga showcases turf standout She Feels Pretty in the $750,000 New York (G1). 

The day’s other two turf stakes have come up deep and competitive. The rematch between Excellent Truth and Choisya is on in the $500,000 Just a Game (G1), while German shipper Flatten the Curve adds intrigue to the $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2).

New York (G1) – Race 12, 6:25 p.m. ET

Although She Feels Pretty was denied as the odds-on choice in her only prior Spa appearance, the past probably isn’t prologue for the 3-5 morning-line favorite. Her neck loss in last summer’s Lake Placid (G2) was the tipping point that led trainer Cherie DeVaux to add blinkers, and She Feels Pretty has been a different proposition ever since. The Karakontie filly has aired in three straight – the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland, the American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita, and the Modesty (G3) in course-record time at Churchill Downs over Gimme a Nother. 

Miguel Clement, who has picked up the mantle from his late father Christophe, sends out Irish import Bellezza. The Moyglare Stud homebred made a winning U.S. debut in the 1 3/8-mile Sheepshead Bay (G2), upsetting Beach Bomb, and she cuts back to 1 3/16 miles here. Beach Bomb, like Gimme a Nother, is a former South African star making the grade stateside for Graham Motion.

Recent Bewitch (G3) romper Forever After All is another shortening up, along with the Bewitch third-placer Immensitude. Argentine import Edict stretches out following a close second in the Beaugay (G3), and Repole Stable’s European recruit Miwa could use more ground after her belated fourth in a Keeneland allowance.

Just a Game (G1) – Race 13, 7:04 p.m. ET

British invader Choisya hopes to plunder a second straight Grade 1, although her Jenny Wiley (G1) coup created some controversy. The Simon Crisford trainee veered across the path of Excellent Truth, who had to alter course and missed by a half-length. Those two, plus Jenny Wiley third Kehoe Beach, will settle the score over one mile on the inner turf here. 

But their grudge match is just one of the Just a Game’s storylines. Excellent Truth’s trainer, Chad Brown, has won this race seven times in the past eight years, a streak interrupted only by Charlie Appleby’s Althiqa (2021). Brown has two more chances of padding his stats with Modesty fourth Segesta, and last-out Beaugay winner Dynamic Pricing. 

Segesta, runner-up in the 2024 Belmont Oaks (G1), is eligible to improve second off the layoff and back at a mile. A similar point applies to Motion’s Heredia, who was third in the Beaugay in her return from an even longer layoff. The Wathnan Racing runner had been sidelined since her third in the 2023 Sun Chariot (G1). 

Excellent Truth is one of two representatives for the race sponsor, Resolute Racing. John Stewart’s entity has another high-profile European acquisition, A Lilac Rolla, who makes her premiere for Bill Mott. Runner-up in last year’s Irish 1000 Guineas (G1), she was last seen placing third in the Falmouth (G1) at Newmarket.

Fellow Irish-bred Special Wan can’t be overlooked in light of her victory in the Honey Fox (G3). Her subsequent scratching from the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) might have opened it up for the 15-1 winner Simply in Front. Sacred Wish wound up fourth in the Jenny Wiley and seventh in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, but the Matriarch (G1) upsetter and Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2) near-misser can pounce on her day. 

The only one of the 11-strong field without a stakes credit, Do Gooder, has won two straight allowances at Gulfstream Park. The 30-1 shot figures to contribute to a lively pace in company with Kehoe Beach.

Belmont Gold Cup (G2) – Race 10, 5:08 p.m. ET

Flatten the Curve earned an automatic entry by capturing the May 11 Oleander-Rennen (G2) at Hoppegarten. A perfect 4-for-4 since joining German trainer Henk Grewe, the French-bred now hopes to punch his ticket to another two-mile prize – the Melbourne Cup (G1). 

Limited Liability, beaten all of a neck when third here a year ago, later demolished the 2 1/16-mile Nashville Gold Cup at Kentucky Downs. The Shug McGaughey charge has continued his sharp form at more typical distances, including a head loss in the Elkhorn (G2) in his latest.

Anglophile, a hard-trying second in the Man o’ War (G2) last out, left Padiddle far behind in third. Given his relentless churning style, Anglophile could be just the type to thrive over two miles. La Mehana had mixed it up in the top staying company in France, suggesting that she’d appreciate the opportunity. Her Clement stablemate Tawny Port and Todd Pletcher’s Grand Sonata have the class if they can stay the distance. 

The Ginger Wizard is a half-brother to 2024 hero The Grey Wizard, and Lord Flintshire and Curbstone have proven stamina if similar class concerns at this level. The three also-eligibles are all entered on a main-track-only basis – Yo Daddy, Timeout, and Parchment Party.