Innovation Economy Looks to Extend Streak in Bowling Green

Coming off his first career stakes victory in the Belmont Gold Cup on June 5 at Belmont Park, Innovation Economy will look to extend his three race win streak when he enters graded stakes competition for the first time in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green at Saratoga Race Course.

 

A 4-year-old son of Dynaformer trained by Chad Brown, Innovation Economy has progressively moved up while stretching out. His win streak began on November 23 at Aqueduct Racetrack in an optional claimer over yielding turf going 1 3/8 miles, and was followed by an allowance victory at Keeneland on April 23 at 1 ½ miles over a turf course listed at "good". Brown spoke on the hopes of a little rain Saturday as Innovation Economy likes turf with a little give in it, but was impressed with the colt's preparation heading into Saturday's 1 3/8-mile race.

 

"He's doing real well," said Brown. "He came out of that two-mile race [Belmont Gold Cup] in good shape and we gave him a little time to recover from that. He's been training real well. We always thought the horse has ability, we always though he'd be a later developing horse, which proved to be true. He's finally hit his stride, he's filled out and matured for us and we finally got him to those longer distances that we've been looking for that are harder to get when you're a young horse. Now is his time."

 

Innovation Economy, the 5-2 morning line favorite, will leave from post position 7 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

 

Entering from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey for Phipps Stable is Imagining. With his one victory in four starts this year coming in the Grade 2 Pan American on March 15 at Gulfstream Park, Imagining has encountered some eventful trips. Most recently, on July 5 at Monmouth Park, he finished fifth in the Grade 1 United Nations after being bumped at the start and racing three-wide most of the way.

 

"He had a great work here on Monday, on the turf," said McGaughey. "It was faster than it looks because they were on the rail. He came out of it good and he had yesterday off so I trained him this morning and he looked very good. The last time he ran at Monmouth at the three-eighths pole we were in good shape and he was just even from there. I don't know exactly why, but I'm hoping we can improve on that."

 

Listed as the 3-1 second choice, Imagining will depart from post 3 with Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez in the irons.

 

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will enter a pair in War Dancer for Diamond M Stable and Al Khali for Wachtel Stable.

 

Drawing post 2, War Dancer a 5-year-old son of War Front, enters the Bowling Green off a sixth place finish in the Grade 1 Knob Creek Manhattan at Belmont on June 6. Previous to that race, he lost by a neck to Twilight Eclipse in the Grade 1 Man o' War on May 9 at Belmont.

 

Al Khali, a 9-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro will be making his third start of the year following a pair of fifth-place finishes.

 

Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle Red Rifle for Twin Creeks Racing Stables. A 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, he makes a return to turf following a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Belmont Gold Cup. Last out on synthetic, he won the Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes on July 1 at Woodbine.