Touch of Fire Seeks a Return to Victory in a Stellar Hall of Fame Stakes

The Brad Cox (photo) trainee drops back to a mile following two tries over longer distances and will top a competitive lineup in the turf G2 event for 3-year-olds, one of Friday's premier attractions at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York.— The appetizer for a monumental Saturday at Saratoga will feature one of its highlights this Friday in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2), where several of the top sophomore turf milers will look to step up in an increasingly competitive division.

Chief among them is Touch of Fire, campaigning for the silks of Juddmonte and trained by Brad Cox, who will seek a return to winning ways by taking advantage of a cutback in distance that his trainer believes will play to his strengths.

A 7-length debut winner at Fair Grounds in January, the son of Constitution quickly confirmed his quality with a runner-up finish in the Black Gold Stakes (L) followed by an allowance victory at Keeneland. His peak performance came next in the Audubon Stakes (L) at Churchill Downs, where he posted an authoritative 3-length score before taking on back-to-back assignments over 1,800 meters.

His most recent effort came in the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1), run right here at Saratoga, where he set the pace from the tricky post 10 before weakening late to finish fourth, beaten just 1 1/4 lengths by Title Role (Too Darn Hot).

"We're cutting him back a furlong and hoping there's a bit more early speed to give him something to target," Coxexplained. "I think he can finish stronger with a target in front of him. He ran a solid race last time out, but we feel this cutback in distance will suit him well." The return of Irad Ortiz Jr. to the saddle adds another positive factor for a colt who breaks from the inside post.

One of his main rivals will be Blinging It Back, conditioned by Mark Casse, who comes off a neck loss in the Saranac Stakes (L), also at Saratoga. That day, he closed strongly to take the lead in the stretch before being collared in the final strides by Heeere's Johnny.

"I've always felt he was a miler," Casse noted. "In the Saranac, they caught him right at the wire. He's training extremely well and this distance should fit him to a tee. Plus, he has the added benefit of being very versatile depending on how the pace unfolds."

Brendan Walsh brings a formidable two-pronged attack. On one hand, Irish-bred Vasy (Space Blues), winner of this year's Colonel Liam Stakes (L) and third in the Transylvania Stakes (G3), will look to bounce back from a disappointing run in the American Turf (G1). On the other hand, French-bred Immortalised (Romanised), victor of the Cutler Bay Stakes (L) and runner-up in both the Penn Mile (G3) and American Derby (L), brings a level of consistency that makes him a dangerous threat.

Also entered is Pilgrim Stakes (G2) winner Bottas (Vekoma), though Miguel Clement left open the possibility of scratching him to run in Saturday's Saratoga Derby (G1). Should he remain in the lineup, he will add significant class coming off a commendable fifth in the Belmont Derby.

The entry box is rounded out by Glavine (Not This Time), third in the Saranac after a strong late rally; stakes winner Third Coast (Uncle Mo); Arizona Territory (Tapit), representing Chad Brown after a fourth-place effort in the Saranac; and Print (Munnings), a recent maiden winner.