Russian-born trainer Mikhail Yanakov, who is in just his second year of training in the U.S., will breeze GI Travers S. contender Anaximandros (Hard Spun) and GI Longines Sword Dancer S. hopeful Applicator (Henrythenavigator) in company Monday at Saratoga ahead of their Aug. 27 engagements. Yanakov owns Olympia Star, which has 15 horses in training, including the two aforementioned Travers day runners.
“In Russia, when you win races, they only give you flowers,” Yanakov said. “It's more interesting here. I hope something happens, because I'm only starting.”
Breaking his maiden at third asking at Gulfstream May 20, Anaximandros followed suit there with an optional claimer win a month later and was fourth last out in the GII West Virginia Derby.
“We had a bad trip over there [in the West Virginia Derby], the conditions weren't right,” Yanakov said. “That's why I want to try him again. He's more of a distance horse.”
Winner of the Gleaming S. at Gulfstream May 28, Applicator was last seen finishing seventh in the GI Belmont Derby July 9. Both horses will be piloted by Leonel Reyes, who is in his first year as a jockey in the U.S., but won over 1,400 races in his native Venezuela.
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