SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — If he gets the expected sharp early fractions, the Juddmonte-owned standout Set Piece will be the one to beat in today’s feature at Saratoga Race Course, the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple.
Set Piece, a 6-year-old British-bred son of Dansili, is a multiple graded stakes winner known for his ability as a deep closer. The one-mile, $175,000 Forbidden Apple, contested on the inner turf for older horses, could play to Set Piece’s strengths.
Last out, Set Piece rallied from 11 lengths off the pace to post a 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Dinner Party at 1 1/16 miles on May 21 at Pimlico Race Course. Set Piece, who has a record of 10-2-1 from 20 starts and earnings of $697,823, also has a Grade 2 win the 2021 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs. He finished second to Got Stormy in the Grade 1 Fourstardave last summer at Saratoga. Florent Geroux will be aboard Set Piece from the inside post.
Mira Mission, who has posted triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in each of his past three starts, figures to provide tough competition for Set Piece. Mira Mission began his triple-digit Beyer run with a 100 for his three-quarter length score in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf on March 5 at Gulfstream Park. The 4-year-old Noble Mission gelding followed with a close fifth in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile in April at Keeneland that garnered a career-best 101 figure before a narrow neck defeat to Santin last out in the Grade 1 Turf Classic on May 7 at Churchill Downs that registered a 100 figure.
Trainer Ian Wilkes, who took over training duties from Tom Bush late last year, said Mira Mission is in excellent form.
“He’s just matured. He had a great foundation and is very consistent,” Wilkes said. “He’s just an honest little horse. He always tries and you have to love him. He came to me in real good shape and I’m very fortunate to reap the benefit.”
Mira Mission made two turf starts at the Spa for Bush, including an impressive optional-claiming score in August going nine furlongs. Julien Leparoux returns in the irons from post 3.
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will have two chances for his first Forbidden Apple score, as he saddles Public Sector and Analyze It.
Klaravich Stables’ Public Sector posted a record of 4-2-0 from seven starts last year, highlighted by wins at Saratoga in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame and Grade 3 Saranac. The 4-year-old Kingman colt was off the board in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Turf Classic in his seasonal debut in May at Churchill ahead of a close third last out in the Grade 3 Poker at one mile on June 18 at Belmont.
William H. Lawrence’s Analyze It, a 7-year-old Point of Entry gelding, is a three-time graded winner with his most recent score at the level coming in September 2020 in the Grade 3 Red Bank at Monmouth Park. Boasting a consistent record of 5-4-3 from 16 starts for purse earnings of $951,850, Analyze It enters from a closing third in the Cliff Hanger on May 28 at Monmouth in his seasonal debut.
Public Sector will break from post 7 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., while Analyze It will depart from post 6 under Jose Ortiz.
Breeders’ Cup winner Twilight Gleaming headlines Coronation Cup
Stonestreet Stables’ Twilight Gleaming made an international impression as a 2-year-old last year — competing in England and France — before capping her season with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Irish-bred daughter of National Defense will make her Saratoga debut in today’s $150,000 Coronation Cup for sophomore fillies sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon turf course.
Photo By Chelsea Durand/Provided By NYRA
Twilight Gleaming running at Belmont on May 9, 2021. (Photo By Chelsea Durand/Provided By NYRA).
The Wesley Ward trainee, who has posted four wins and three second-place efforts in seven career starts, was given a five-month freshening following her half-length victory over Go Bears Go in the Breeders’ Cup contest over firm Del Mar turf in November. After finishing second in the 5 1/2-furlong Palisades in April at Keeneland, Twilight Gleaming returned to the winner’s circle by edging Devine Charger by a head in the five-furlong Mamzelle on May 14 at Churchill.
Ward said he’s excited to see the filly build on that effort as she ramps up for what he hopes is another memorable campaign for Stonestreet Stables owner Barbara Banke.
“She looks great in training and we’re thrilled to get her back out there, and I’m especially excited for Barbara Banke,” Ward said. “She’s had some great success so far and we’re looking forward to building on that.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Twilight Gleaming from post 3.
