Victory Ride, New York fields coming together

Multiple Grade 2 queen Kauai Katie's long-range plans include a pair of Grade 1

races at Saratoga Race Course, but first up is a possible start in the Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride for

three-year-old fillies on June 29 at Belmont Park.

"She is scheduled to breeze (on Sunday). We'll see how that

goes and we'll make a decision (on whether she is running in the Victory Ride)

after that," trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Kauai Katie was third,

beaten seven lengths, in the Grade 1 Acorn going a mile on May

27. Pletcher said the daughter of Malibu Moon likely will focus on sprint races this summer, such

as Saratoga's Grade 1, $300,000 Prioress on July 27 and Grade 1, $500,000

Test on August 24.

The Victory Ride is six furlongs, while the Prioress and Test

are seven furlongs.

"We're thinking about the Prioress and the Test, and we're

trying to see if the Victory Ride sets us up for that," Pletcher continued. "Those

have been the target races for her for a while."

Pletcher added that both Grade 2-placed stakes winner Percussion and Grade 3

victor San Pablo are under consideration for the Grade 2, $350,000 Suburban

Handicap on July 6. In their most recent starts, Percussion

was second in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap on June 7 after leading in deep

stretch and San Pablo defeated Hymn Book and Mucho Macho Man in the Criminal

Type overnight stakes on June 14.

Trainer Christophe Clement could be represented in both

graded stakes on June 29 at Belmont as he has Mystical Star set to run in

the Grade 2, $200,000 New York Stakes and Native One under consideration for the Victory

Ride.

Mystical Star is seeking her first win

since capturing last year's New York. Since then, she has posted a record of

0-2-1 in six starts. This year, she has finished third in the Grade 3

Hillsborough in March at Tampa Bay Downs, fourth in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare

over Keeneland's Polytrack in April and fifth over soft turf in the

Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay on May 25 at Belmont.

"She had a very nice work Thursday (four furlongs on Belmont's

main track in :48 1/5)," Clement said. "It was such soft turf (in the Sheepshead

Bay). Most of the better fillies finished far back. She looks solid, looks well,

so let's go on again."

If Native One competes in the Victory Ride, it would be her

second start against winners and third start overall. After debuting a

six-length winner last July, she returned from an 11-month absence to finish

third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, after contesting the pace in an entry-level optional

claimer on June 5.

"We're going to keep Native One eligible (for the Victory

Ride), but we're not sure," Clement remarked. "We'll talk to the owner, Mr.

(Edward) Cox and

we will make a decision next week. It's a little bit ambitious on paper, but

she's a filly, so if we finish in the top three it would be nice for her

pedigree. Let's see what happens. She needs to work (before we make a

decision)."

While Clement is still on the fence about running Native One in the Victory

Ride, trainer Mike Hushion confirmed Bridgehampton will step up in class for the

race off a maiden victory.

The daughter of Bernardini made one start for Neil Drysdale

at Hollywood Park on May 4, trailing early in the field of 13 and

picking up the pieces to finish fifth. Subsequently sent to Hushion in New York,

she showed improved speed in her second start, tracking the pace and taking over

in the stretch en route to a two-length score on May 30 at Belmont. Both races

were contested at six furlongs, the distance of the Victory Ride.

"I think she's up to it," Hushion said of the decision to

compete in a graded stakes in her first start against winners. "I think she's

this kind of a horse."

Hushion did indicate he is unsure whether sprinting or routing is

in Bridgehampton's future.

"She's bred for longer," he explained. "Maybe we'll stretch

her out later."

Fusaichiwonderful and I'm Mom's

Favorite are also slated to run in the Victory while Lighthouse Bay is

considered possible. Including Mystical Star and Dream Peace, the New York is

expected to attract six runners out of the Sheepshead Bay -- respective top-three finishers

Tannery, Anjaz, and Minakshi as well as eighth-place runner Starformer. Also probable

for the New York are Lady of Shamrock and Regalo Mia, according to NYRA Stakes

Coordinator Andrew Byrnes.

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