SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Dominic Galluscio swung for the fences when he put Stormy’s Majesty in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes four weeks ago. The colt barely fouled the ball off while finishing last, beaten 18 1/4 lengths by A Little Warm.
Wednesday, Stormy’s Majesty gets back in the game at a more suitable level when he returns to New York-bred company in the $100,000 Albany Stakes at Saratoga. The Albany, run at 1 18 miles, drew a field of six.
Stormy’s Majesty, a son of Stormy Atlantic, went 3 for 3 against New York breds to begin his career. That included an 8 3/4-length victory in a second-level allowance race at Belmont on June, 4, off a five-month layoff. That prompted Galluscio to give Stormy’s Majesty a shot at the big-time.
“I feel like he didn’t have enough seasoning for that,” Galluscio said. “But, he came out of it well.”
Stormy’s Majesty came back to fire a bullet work over the training track last Friday. He will break from post 2 under Edgar Prado.
Galluscio will also send out Johannesburg Smile, who set the pace before tiring to third in the New York Derby. He was beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Ibboyee, who is the horse to beat in the Albany.
Ibboyee, trained by Todd Pletcher, has won 6 of 12 starts, including a win against open company in the Spend a Buck Stakes. He stumbled when he finished third to Friend or Foe in the Mike Lee at Belmont before rallying from five lengths off the pace to win the New York Derby by one-half length at Finger Lakes.
He will carry high weight of 124 pounds under John Velazquez. He will spot five to nine pounds to the field while attempting 1 1/8 miles for the first time.
“You worry about spotting the whole field quite a bit of weight,” Pletcher said. “He’s a very consistent horse, always shows up and runs well. We’re expecting more of the same.”
Mineswept, a son of Mineshaft, enters the Albany off a two-race winning streak. He stretches out around two turns for the first time for trainer Phil Serpe.
“The distance is always a factor, especially a mile and an eighth, two turns,” Serpe said. “He’s bred for it, we got to get up there and see what we’ve got. He’s a very big colt with a long stride to him. He’s got speed when you need it. I think he should be fine.”
Hittin the Note and Small Town complete the field.
