Bold Union risks perfect record in Adirondack

PHOTOGRAPHER: Mike MacAdam

Having sired three juvenile stakes winners this year, Dixie Union, the 2000 Haskell Invitational winner, leads the U.S. in that category.

Two of them will meet at Saratoga Race Course today in the 92nd running of the Grade II Adirondack for 2-year-old fillies.

Bold Union, out of the Fortunate Prospect mare Bold World, will put her undefeated record up against Garden District (Brisquette, by Unbridled’s Song), who won the Grade III Debutante after finishing second against five males in the Grade III Kentucky Stakes at Churchill Downs.

At 5-2 on the morning line, Bold Union is a slight favorite over Garden District (3-1) off two victories, a 103⁄4-length score at Monmouth Park in June and a 93⁄4-length win in the ungraded Astoria at Belmont Park.

“We are hoping she can be like Dixie Union and stretch out,” Monmouth-based trainer Kelly Breen told the New York Racing Association. “She has the gears of a Ferrari. We worked her with a couple of my other babies, and she had toyed with them. She seemed to handle the track. She didn’t mind the off going. When she pulled up, she was on her toes.”

Dixie Union was fourth to Unshaded in the 2000 Travers Stakes.

Breen said Bold Union, who will be ridden again by Stewart Elliott, is still a little green, but has shown talent and the poise of an older horse.

“When she gets out front, she has the tendency to look around,” he said. “Stewart said he had to ride her a little more to have her pay attention. If her only problem is her looking around while winning by nine and three-quarter lengths, then I guess that’s a good problem to have.”

Bold Union broke her maiden on the front end going five furlongs, thne came from just off the pace to win the Astoria at 51⁄2.

The Adirondack is 61⁄2 furlongs, a distance none of the eight entries has attempted yet.

Garden District is the only graded stakes winner in the field and has taken on the boys, getting banged around a bit and still finishing second by 21⁄2 lengths to Run Away and Hide.

Run Away and Hide is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line for the Grade II Saratoga Special on Thursday.

“She’s a very consistent filly, and has trained well since we’ve gotten her,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “She’s run every time we have run her. For a filly to run against the colts is always impressive. We were happy to get her back against fillies where she ran well.”

Garden District won the Debutante by a half-length over

Rachel Alexandra, despite spinning her wheels at the start.

Simplify, the third-place finisher in that race, is entered in the Adirondack and is 4-1. She’s another good-looking 2-year-old filly from the barn of Steve Asmussen, who won the opening-day Schuylerville with Jardin.

Mani Bhavan, whjo broke her maiden by 91⁄4 lengths first time out at Delaware Park, is 5-1, and will break from the outside.

Doremifasollatido was an impressive winner on the Fourth of July at Belmont Park.