Mind Your Biscuits sharp in Whitney work

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

Mind Your Biscuits and Joel Rosario pass the half-mile pole on their way to a workout timed in 49.88 by the NYRA clockers.

Mind Your Biscuits breezed a half-mile on the main track in 49.88 in his final serious work for next Saturday’s Whitney Handicap, which will mark his first race beyond a mile in 23 career starts.

With regular rider Joel Rosario aboard, Mind Your Biscuits looked sharp and will get perhaps one easy gallop during the week and will school in the starting gate and paddock, trainer Chad Summers said.

Mind Your Biscuits breezes under Joel Rosario in prep for the Whitney pic.twitter.com/vqXBvZOujo

— Mike MacAdam (@Mike_MacAdam) July 27, 2018

“We’re eight days out, so we weren’t looking for anything serious,” he said. “Just open up his lungs down the lane, which is what we did.

“I had him in 48 and four [tenths], the clockers had him in 49 and four, so split the middle. But time didn’t matter. We’re ready. Just wait and see how the field takes shape now. Racing strategy will take over from here, but we’re basically done. The heavy lifting’s done.”

Mind Your Biscuits’ 2018 campaign includes a second in an allowance at Gulfstream Park, a victory in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen and a second by a nose to Bee Jersey in the Grade I Met Mile on Belmont Stakes Day June 9.

UNDERCARD STAKES

Saturday’s Jim Dandy card includes three other stakes, the Grade III Amsterdam for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs, the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt for horses 3 and up at six furlongs and the Grade I Bowling Green at a mile and 3/8 on the inner turf course.

Imperial Hint is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the Vanderbilt off a neck win over Whitmore in the Grade II True North at Belmont Park, after a sixth on a sloppy track in the Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day.

“When I went to Kentucky, I had high hopes because the horse was training so well,” trainer Luis Carvajal said. “I started to get worried about two hours before the race, it was raining so hard and I wasn’t a big fan of how the track looked then. That day I took a chance because we were there already and he had been training so good.

“He came out of that race good, and then we went to New York and I knew he was going to run good,” he continued. “He put a lot of effort in that race, and we’ve given him about seven weeks to this race, so he’s coming in fresh.”

Trainer Chad Brown has the favorite in the Bowling Green, 2-1 Money Multiplier, but he said he’d only run if the turf is firm.

Most of Friday’s turf races were moved to the main track because of a short but heavy downpour after the second race.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out 5-2 Hi Happy, who won at the Bowling Green distance in the Man o’ War at Belmont Park before a third to Spring Quality and Sadler’s Joy in the Manhattan.

“He’s just been a model of consistency,” Pletcher said. “He seems adaptable to multiple pace scenarios and multiple distances.

“I think he’s versatile. His mile-and-an-eighth race the first time we ran him was pretty solid, but I think a mile and three-eighths to a mile and a half is his forte. We felt early on that stretching him out would be the key to his success.”

Engage is 8-5 in the Amsterdam. He’s finished no worse than second in six career starts dating back to the 2017 Saratoga meet, when he broke his maiden second time out.

Promises Fulfilled, owned by Bob Baron of Voorheesville, is 7-2 as he continues to cut back in distance after finishing 15th in the Kentucky Derby. He was third behind Still Having Fun and Engage in the Woody Stephens.

PDJF DAY

Racetracks across the country, including Saratoga, will participate in Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund (PDJF) Day Across America activities on Saturday.

The day’s events will include a special meet-and-greet with top riders from the Saratoga jockey colony on the Jockey Silks Room Porch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Autographs and photos will be available, with a $5 suggested donation to benefit PDJF.

Fans will also have the opportunity to play arcade games against the jockeys with a $5 suggested donation to benefit the organization. The event will be held on the Jockey Silks Room Porch from 1-3. Fans can win premium Saratoga prizes if they beat the jockeys at this horse-themed activity.

Reach Gazette Sportswriter Mike MacAdam at 518-395-3146 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @Mike_MacAdam.