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SARATOGA NOTEBOOK AUGUST 7, 2010 by Albie Johnson WEDNESDAY (7/28) The day was highlighted by a large and talented field of a dozen sophomore fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf in the Lake George S. (G2). The wide open contest had runners coming from all over the Eastern half of the country and one from Germany. The pace was fast and contested with longshot Go Ask Alex (Afleet Alex) being pushed by race favorite Strike It Rich (Unbridled's Song). They held until midway through the far turn when both gave way, making for a wide open cavalry charge down the stretch. Canadian invaders would dominate that final eighth-mile with Exclusive Love (Bernstein) reaching the front just inside the furlong grounds but unable to hold off PERFECT SHIRL (Perfect Soul [Ire]), who surged in the last 100 yards to prevail by three parts of a length. No Explaining (Ire) (Azamour [Ire]), another Woodbine shipper, finished half-length farther back in third. The top trio are all lightly raced, with the winner and third-place runner both hailing from the barn of Roger Attfield, while Mark Casse trained runner-up Exclusive Love. Track conditions It was fast on the main track, with firm going on both of the grass courses. Horses coming from off the pace were the most successful on all three surfaces. Horses to Watch 3RD -- AQUINO (Uru) (First American), who had good previous form on the main track here, won his second in a row for trainer Rick Violette Jr. The chestnut didn't have the best of trips but still prevailed in this $12,500 claimer. Lightly raced, he should be competitive in his current form facing tougher. 9TH -- EASY ASHLEY (Bring the Heat) has started at 10 different tracks during the past two years and was returning to Saratoga where she ran once in 2009. She had to be sent hard from her inside draw in this first level allowance on the turf and dug in gamely once challenged, holding well for the show spot. The five-year-old mare can win next out with a better post. THURSDAY (7/29) There were no graded stakes on this day but the feature, the Quick Call overnight stakes, drew an interesting field of eight three-year-old going a mile on the inner turf course. The pace was set by longshot Lighthouse Sound (Langfuhr), who was tracked by both Lonesome Street (Broken Vow) and BEAU CHOIX (Elusive Quality). That trio would eventually come to the eighth-pole as a team, with Beau Choix getting up in the last few strides to prove best by a head over Lonesome Street and a very stubborn Lighthouse Sound finishing another neck back in third. The winning colt had been freshened by Barclay Tagg since he won a small stake on the undercard of the Preakness S. (G1) on May 15. The homebred has the look of one who will be winning some more before the year is out. Track conditions It was again fast and firm on all three surfaces, with a nice mix of all types being successful. Horses to Watch 3RD -- Nice field in this nine-furlong maiden claimer saw HIGH STAKES PLAYER (A.P. Indy) prove best despite bobbling a bit at the start. The dark bay didn't have the best of trips as he was hung wide the entire journey but won going away in a sharp performance. The $400,000 yearling purchase didn't race at two and was dropped into a claimer for the first time in this spot by his connections. They rolled the dice a bit with him, but he was claimed away by the perennial leading trainer at Finger Lakes (Chris Englehart) for the $20,000. That could turn out to be a profitable move. 4TH -- WORSTCASESCENARIO (Forbidden Apple), who hadn't won since taking the Adirondack S. (G2) here last year, stumbled at the start of this overnight stakes and was forced to play catch-up while racing very wide. She managed to finish third in a solid performance and probably can win an allowance here if properly spotted. FRIDAY (7/30) There were no major events on this day, and the featured Fleet Indian S. at seven furlong went to MY DINAH (Victory Gallop), who got up in the last several strides to catch race favorite Meese Rocks (Rock and Roll) to win by a head with Eager Emma (Unbridled's Song) another 2 1/2 lengths back in third. The Kathleen Feron-trained winner has been a reliable runner her whole career and is owned under by breeder John Hettinger's Akindale Farm. Track conditions Fast and firm was the order of the day with speed doing better on the main track and a mixed bag doing well on the grass. Horses to Watch 1ST -- Making his second start back off a seven-month break, KING CARTER (Cat Thief) tracked the pace, took over in late stretch and was beaten a head by the race favorite in a three-horse blanket photo. It was a fine effort and it would be encouraging to see him come back within several weeks where he could find himself in the winner's circle if he runs again at this $20,000 tag. 4TH -- EDEN IS BURNING (Hook and Ladder) took some late money while making her debut and, after hitting the gate at the start, quickly sprinted clear, set very fast fractions and was caught in the last two strides by the heavy favorite. The state-bred won't be long in winning. SATURDAY (7/31) A small but talented field of older fillies and mares took center stage in the $500,000 Diana S. (G1), with most eyes focusing on Forever Together (Belong to Me). The champion six-year-old was trying to become the first three-time winner of this prestigious event, a race that produced her last victory in 2009 as she carried a five-race losing streak into this nine-furlong contest on the main turf course. A rather dawdling pace was set by Dynaslew (Dynaformer), who was tracked by both Maram (Sahm) and PROVISO (GB) (Dansili [GB]) with Forever Together in her usual early spot near the rear of this seven-horse field. They continued in that order until midway through the turn, when the pace began to pick up considerably. Five of the seven had a strong chance at the win turning for home, with Dynaslew hanging tough and Proviso, Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect) and Forever Together all launching bids. Proviso slipped out at the eighth-pole, launched a bid that would carry her to the front late and she had enough left to hold off Shared Account by a head with Forever Together a nose back in third and a stubborn Dynaslew finishing yet another head back in fourth in a very exciting finish. Proviso is a Juddmonte homebred who raced very well in France before coming to the states and is now a perfect three-for-three on the grass in this country. She's trained by Bill Mott and veteran Mike Smith contributed a perfect ride. One race later on Saturday's card, a field of eight sophomores faced the starter in the $500,000 Jim Dandy S. (G2), a traditional prep for the $1 million Travers S. (G1) later in the meet. The latter event is viewed as the premier race at this 40-day session that features 17 Grade 1 events. The main track on this day was playing very kindly to speed and that proved the case here as Miner's Reserve (Mineshaft) and A LITTLE WARM (Stormin Fever) ran one-two from the start until midstretch. That was when A little Warm forged past the stubborn pacesetter, eventually drawing off to a 1 3/4-length score with Afleet Express (Afleet Alex) rallying to finish third after a poor start and a wide trip. The winning colt is a homebred from the fine operation of Edward P. Evans and was brought up to this expertly by trainer Tony Dutrow. He had shown a lot of talent earlier this year, but was injured after finishing second in the Louisiana Derby (G2). The bay had looked sharp in winning his return race at Delaware Park on June 29. Track conditions With the main track lightning fast, speed did very well on this day and the grass courses also favored those racing near the front. Horses to Watch 2ND -- This was a tremendous debut by ADMIRAL ALEX (Afleet Alex) as he won at a very difficult distance (nine furlongs) first-time out and did so despite racing well out in the track the entire trip. The $260,000 yearling purchase, who is owned and trained by Leon Blusiewicz, defeated a nice field with many of the major trainers here having a starter. It will be interesting to see what's next on this chestnut colt's itinerary. 6TH -- Stonerstreet homebred ASTROLOGY (A.P. Indy) was reported to be a runner and he had a nice debut as he was involved in a pace duel while down inside, held his position until the sixteenth-pole and weakened slightly to finish third to the only two runners that had previously started. SUNDAY (8/1) This card featured two graded stakes, with the Fourstardave S. (G2) first up featuring a field of seven older runners going 1 1/16 miles on the main turf course. Favored GET STORMY (Stormy Atlantic) took full advantage of his inside draw by taking command early, setting a sensible pace and responding gamely to repulse a late challenge by Public Speaker ( Distorted Humor) to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Zifzaf (War Chant) finished only a nose back of the place runner. Tom Bush trains the winner, who is now 4-3-0-0 on the local weeds. One race later a half-dozen three-year-olds went to the post in the overnight Curlin S. run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. The race favorite was WINSLOW HOMER (Unbridled's Song), who was scratched from the previous day's Jim Dandy to await this spot. The gray colt went right to the front and, after repulsing a bid by eventual runner-up Westshore (Saint Liam), drew away to a nine-length win. Winaholic (Tiznow) just failed to catch Westshore for the place spot. Winslow Homer capped a big weekend for trainer Tony Dutrow as he had saddled A Little Warm on the previous day to win the Jim Dandy. However, it was announced two days later that the Curlin winner had suffered a small fracture that would require season-ending surgery. A small field of six older fillies and mares faced off a half-hour later in the Ruffian Invitational H. (G1), and what looked like a two-horse race on paper played out that way on the track. Taking full advantage of her inside post and a slight stumble by her main rival, MALIBU PRAYER (Malibu Moon) went right to the top and led throughout. After repulsing a weak bid by Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song) midway through the far turn, the bay lass proved best by 1 3/4 lengths over her game challenger, who to her credit never stopped trying. Malibu Prayer gave owner/breeder Evans his second big winner of the weekend as a day before he stood in the winner's circle after the Jim Dandy with A Little Warm. Todd Pletcher trains the winner, who looks like a major force in this division the rest of the year. Track conditions It was fast and firm with speed again having an advantage on both dirt and turf. Horses to Watch 2ND -- Impressive debut by ABIDE (Tiznow) as she rated just off the leaders, bid when asked and drew away to a very handy win. The $430,000 yearling purchase is in the Steve Asmussen barn that's had most of it's juveniles ready to run big first time out here. MONDAY (8/2) For the third day in a row a stakes was run for sophomores as nine of them entered the gate in the Amsterdam S. (G2) for a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on the dirt. Speed did well over the weekend on the dirt and this race was no exception as Essence Hit Man (Speightstown) quickly sprinted clear while pursued by both DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft) and In Jack's Memory (Malibu Moon). The trio stayed that way until just past the quarter-pole when Discreetly Mine surged past the front runner and drew away to an impressive 8 3/4-length score over the tiring Essence Hit Man. That one had enough left to hold off In Jack's Memory for the place position. The E. Paul Robsham homebred Discreetly Mine gave Pletcher his second stakes win in two days. The versatile runner has always had some quality and promise and to this observer looks like a great up and coming miler. Track conditions It was fast and firm with all three surfaces again showing a bias toward those racing on or near the top. Upcoming stakes (8/7) Whitney (G1), 3&up 1 1/8th miles (8/8) Honorable Miss (G2), 3&up, f&m, 6 furlongs Have a nice week!
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