Baby Talk Info & Intel: Saratoga – Race 3 – Sunday, June 8, 2025
The Spa's first unrestricted Two-Year-Old Maiden Special Weight of 2025 is here! Eight runners are entered, including an entry, leaving seven betting interests. The only First-Crop sire represented is Waiting, but we also have runners from the likes of Violence, Into Mischief, Justify, Maclean’s Music, American Pharoah, and Practical Joke. Wes Ward sends out two, and we’ve got one each from Pletcher, McGaughey, Antonucci, Delgado, and two others. Five and a half furlongs is the distance, and they’ll compete on the dirt. Five have never seen the track in the afternoon, and three have one race under their belt. Let’s get all over this…
#2 Dark Assault (4/1) – Violence (14.7%) is the sire behind this colt, who comes from a More Than Ready mare that only had three career starts with one victory, but that score was her first time out when she was a juvey. She also finished second in a stakes race at age two. In the breeding shed, she has tossed two other foals of racing age, but both have yet to visit the Winners’ Circle. Today’s runner is a Phipps homebred and in prep for her debut, trainer Shug McGaughey (8/53, 15.1%) has put him through his morning paces seven times (25 furlongs) with the first two at Payson Park Training Center and then five on Belmont’s dirt training track. In typical McGaughey fashion, he has not posted any impressive times. Irad will manage the reins.
#3 Malus (6/1) – Todd Pletcher (37/201, 18.4%) trains this son of Into Mischief (17.2%). His dam, by Curlin, was a dandy racehorse on the track, winning six times, including four G3 events, from 19 starts and banking north of $1 million. She’s only thrown one other foal of racing age – an unraced 3YO. Today’s competitor has never been sold at public auction, and this will be his first race. Two three panel works at Palm Beach Downs in April, then Todd sent this guy here to upstate NY for four half mile efforts on the Oklahoma oval (for a total of 22 furlongs). Interestingly, his fastest move was his first ever – a 36.56 second spin, earning a small bullet (1/10). Johnny V. will have the riding assignment.
#5 Diblasi (2/1) – Wesley Ward’s (6/46, 13.0%) ML favorite in this event is a colt from second-crop sire, Win Win Win (18.4%). His mare, by Islan, never raced, but has tossed two foals, and both were successful as two-year-olds. This guy demanded $100K when he was a yearling (3/20). Off as the odds on favorite in his last, he chased his stablemate after getting away from the gate a bit tardy on 4/13/25 at Keeneland, ultimately falling three lengths short as the runner-up. Ward has put him back to work in the morning with five half mile drills. His fastest was two back on 5/29/25 when he went in 48 seconds flat (5/94). Junior Alvarado takes over duties in the saddle.
#7 Gracie’s Delight (6/1) – This For The People homebred filly is by American Pharoah (11.1%) and is a full sis to a baby race winner last spring at Keeneland. Mom scored only once in 11 tries, but that was as a juvenile in her fourth attempt at Kentucky Downs. She has a total of two other foals for racing age. Today’s lone filly ran back on 4/23/25 at Keeneland. On that day, she motored quickly to the lead and held it into the stretch before getting caught and tiring as the even-money favorite. Conditioner Wes Ward then gave her a one-month break before breezing her twice over four panels in May at Keeneland. Rosario gets the return engagement.
My Pick – I’m always a sucker for Phipp’s homebreds and Dark Assault is being ridden by Irad, but I like a different colt. And I’m going against the two Wards. My pick is #3 Malus. Into Mischief, outstanding mare by Curlin, Pletcher? Yes, please, sign me up!
Racing will be back at The Spa in less than a month on July 3 – circle it on your calendar. Until then, enjoy this one :) Thank you for your support!