NYSSS Cab Calloway Preview: Fresco Back For More Fun

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Exactly two weeks after breaking her maiden impressively in the Statue of Liberty division, Oak Bluff Stables homebred Fresco is back for more fun – this time against the boys – in Thursday’s $100,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series (NYSSS) Cab Calloway division at Saratoga.

The Cab Calloway is a 1 1/16-mile outer turf route restricted to 3-year-olds eligible for the NYSSS. The 2020 edition attracted a field of six and is the penultimate event on the nine-race card.

Here is a look at the full field for the Cab Calloway:

1. Fresco 5/2 – After her first 3 efforts came up short, she decided to break her maiden in the NYSSS Statue of Liberty division while going this distance over the inner lawn circuit. She has visually improved with each start and trainer Christophe Clement has been on fire this meet, winning with 15 of his first 44 starters.

“It’s a pretty aggressive move running back off of short rest, but why not?” Clement said. “It’s a New York-sired race and there aren’t as many of them on the grass. It’s a bit of an aggressive move, but I think it is going to be well worth it.”

2. Stuy Town Baby 20/1 – The field’s second filly facing male counterparts finally broke her maiden last time out in her eighth career attempt. The waters are much deeper here than they were on July 11, when she handily defeated New York-bred maiden gals running for $40k tags at Belmont Park, but the good news is that it and her prior career-best effort both came while going this distance on the lawn.

3. Zipalong 15/1 – He, too, had to drop to the state-bred $40k claiming level to break his maiden, doing so in mid-June at Belmont Park. He failed to replicate that effort in his most recent start, finishing fourth against a $50k starter allowance field open to runners of all ages and birth origins, so perhaps returning to the 3-year-old state-bred ranks will give him a boost.

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4. Turbo Drive 9/2 – The field’s lone gelding exits a visually-impressive last-to-first victory against a field of New York-bred allowance runners that included several older horses. Though that came just 12 days ago, trainer Mike Maker knows what he’s doing: he brought Cross Border back after 10 days away to win last Saturday’s Bowling Green Stakes (G2).

5. Dream Bigger 2/1 – He tries routing and running on green for the first time here after showing plenty of talent as a dirt sprinter, compiling a record of 8-3-2-2 against fellow New York-breds that includes all 3 wins coming in stakes. While his pedigree does not scream grass, he has a pair of recent works over the local turf training course and might just be fast enough to take them all the way around.

6. Jolting Joe 9/5 – Though still a maiden, the second runner from the Maker barn has shown plenty of talent, finishing second in all 4 career starts including the Armed Forces Stakes last September. He just missed by a head at Ellis Park on July 25, so if he can replicate (or even improve upon) that effort here while facing New York-breds for the first time, then he will be ultra-tough to stop.