Crazy Mason may have had his three-race winning streak snapped in the Grade 3 True North Stakes, but he did not lose anything in defeat to his trainer, Gregg Sacco. Crazy Mason, who won the Grade 2 Carter in April, rallied from 14 lengths back to finish third, four lengths behind Book’em Danno, in the Grade 3 True North, run over a sloppy track.
“He ran a dynamite race, proud of him,” Sacco said. “It was very hard track to close on once they sealed it. He made up a lot of ground. Came back super.”
While Sacco said the Grade 1 Forego on Aug. 23 at Saratoga is a summer goal, he is considering a cross-country trip for the Grade 1 Bing Crosby on July 26 at Del Mar. Sacco said he would consider that as well as the Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 19 at Saratoga.
“We’re mulling our options,” said Sacco, who added he’d like to run on a dry track.
Sierra Leone, Mindframe work
Sierra Leone continued his preparations for a start in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 28 at Churchill Downs by working a half-mile in 48.83 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont Park training track.
With regular rider Flavien Prat aboard, Sierra Leone worked outside of Tuscan Gold. He went in splits of 13.18 and 24.97 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.78 and six furlongs in 1:14.75.
It was Sierra Leone’s 11th work since he finished third in his seasonal debut in the New Orleans Classic on March 22 at Fair Grounds.
Mindframe, who will take on Sierra Leone in the Stephen Foster, worked five furlongs in 1:01.84 over the Oklahoma training track Friday morning at Saratoga. Mindframe went in company with Fun to Tap, and Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch caught the pair in 24.79 and 36.62 and had the team galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.03.
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