Godolphin's Kentucky Oaks (G1)-winning homebred Good Cheer breezed a half-mile in :50.66, according to New York Racing Association clockers July 13 over the Saratoga Race Course main track as she prepares for the 1 1/4-mile $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) Aug. 16 at the Spa.
Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the Medaglia d'Oro bay was 7-for-7 before a last-out fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Acorn Stakes (G1) June 6. She completed her second breeze back Sunday as she looks to get back in the win column later in the summer meet.
"She just went a nice smooth half-mile from the three-eighths pole," said Blake Cox, on-site for the breeze as the assistant trainer to his father Brad. "We kept her off the rail. I believe she worked in 50 (seconds), which is exactly what we wanted her to do. We have plenty of time until the Alabama, and in the next few weeks, we'll start asking her to do more."
Blake Cox added that the Good Cheer's last-out fifth to La Cara over the sloppy and sealed main track was puzzling, but she seems to be doing well since.
"I don't really know about the Acorn, that was just a flat effort, and we can't really come up with an excuse," said Cox. "You could tell on the backside that she wasn't traveling well, but hopefully she comes back to her old self in the Alabama."
