News & Barn notes
Algier’s Point Goes To The Turf For First Stakes Try In Colleen
August 05, 2016
Algier’s Point jumps from maiden claiming ranks to her first stakes try when she enters the gate with seven rivals in Saturday’s $60,000 Colleen Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going five and a half furlongs on the Monmouth Park turf.
“She has been doing really well,” said Joan Scott, who trains the horse for Michael Laurato. “She’s really moving forward and eats well. When you have a 2-year-old win this early, it’s great to take a chance in stakes company.”
The 2-year-old filly by Eskendereya out of the Candy Ride mare Beautiful Candy broke her maiden at first asking in a $40,000 maiden claiming event going five furlongs on the Monmouth main track when she sat third for most of the race before storming home to grab the victory by a head.
Algier’s Point has worked twice since the debut score, both over the Monmouth Park dirt. The latest came on July 28 when she went four furlongs in :51.
“I’m happy with the outside post,” said Scott. “I think the extra half furlong will help her. Eventually, I think she will want to go two turns.”
To get to the winner’s circle in the Colleen, Algier’s Point, who breaks from post eight, will have to get by two stakes placed horses, the Ben Colebrook trained China Grove, who finished second in the Astoria Stakes on the main track at Belmont Park on June 9 and Harlands Thunder, for trainer Bill Mott, who graduated from the maiden ranks on her first try and finished third in the Grade 3 Schuylerville in her latest start at Saratoga on July 22.
Two of Algier’s Point’s rivals in the race are coming in off victories including Awesome Drama, for Gregg Sacco, and Iron Mizz out of Todd Pletcher’s barn.
The Colleen Stakes is set as race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.