‘Kreesa’ Looks to Remain ‘King’
Gerald and Susan Kresa homebred King Kreesa (King Cugat) looks to make it three in a row in Saratoga’s GII Fourstar Dave H. Saturday. Previously trained by Jeremiah Englehart, the hard-knocking New York-bred millionaire has hit the board in six of his seven starts for conditioner David Donk. Third in the state-bred Kingston S. at Belmont May 25, the dark bay successfully held off Vyjack (Into Mischief) to win the one-mile GIII Poker S. on the sod downstate June 13. The dark bay beat out that rival and GI TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial S. winner Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) last time to earn a decisive victory in Belmont’s Forbidden Apple S. at this distance July 11.
Winner of last year’s GII Kelso H. for previous trainer Rudy Rodriguez, Pick Six Racing’s Vyjack was reinvented as a grass horse when transferred to Hall of Famer Bill Mott, and was making his turf debut for that barn in the Poker. Mott also saddles last year’s Fourstardave winner Seek Again (Speightstown) for owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms. Sixth to two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry) in the GI Shadwell Turf Mile Oct. 4, the chestnut was ninth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile in Arcadia Nov. 1. The 5-year-old finished fourth, but was promoted to third through disqualification in his seasonal bow in Churchill’s GI Turf Classic Invitational S. May 2, and was third last time in Arcadia’s GI Shoemaker Mile June 13.
Stuart Janney homebred Ironicus (Distorted Humor) looks to keep his hot streak alive here. An allowance winner on the turf at Gulfstream Jan. 31, the gray was a close second in a turfy Keeneland test Apr. 15. A decisive winner of Pimlico’s GII Dixie S. May 16, the Shug McGaughey pupil secured a good-looking victory in a grassy Belmont optional claimer at this distance last time July 8, and appears primed to make it three in a row here. “I think he’s a very, very good horse, so we’ll have just have to wait and see if he keeps climbing up the ladder where it all pans out,” McGaughey said. “He would be suited to the [GI] Breeders’ Cup Mile because of his running style. He’d be back because there would be a lot going on up front, so that’s what I have in mind.”
Todd Pletcher sends out a pair of Grade I winners in Al Shaqab Racing’s Mshawish (Medaglia d’Oro) and Gary Barber’s Jack Milton (War Front). Capping off last term with a victory in Gulfstream’s El Prado S. Dec. 13, Mshawish made it two in a row with a win that venue’s GII Fort Lauderdale S. Jan. 10, and kept that streak alive with a third success in the GI Gulfstream Park Turf H. Feb. 7. The dark bay is making his first start back since a late running third in the G1 Dubai Turf S. in Meydan Mar. 28. Fourth in his 2015 debut in the GIII Canadian Turf S. Feb. 21, Jack Milton scored his first win at the highest level in Keeneland’s GI Makers 46 Mile Apr. 10. Third, but promoted to second in the Turf Classic, the 5-year-old finished ninth when last seen in Belmont’s GI Manhattan S. June 6.