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SARATOGA NOTEBOOK AUGUST 21, 2010 by Albie Johnson WEDNESDAY (8/11) Statebreds took center stage in the New York Stallion Cab Calloway division with a field of eight sophomores entering the gate in the 1 1/16-mile contest run on the inner-turf. Pace was set by Good to Be Me (A. P Jet), but he was shadowed every step by LUBASH (Freud), who took over from the pacesetter approaching the stretch, repulsed a strong challenge by Zealous Boy (Here's Zealous) and then held race-favorite Seattle Mission (Strategic Mission) safe by 1 1/4 lengths at the finish with Zealous Boy another four lengths back in third. The winner had cleared the first allowance level for statebreds in his first grass attempt and had run well in his last pair facing open foes in two starter-allowances. Veteran New Jersey-based horseman Jim Ryerson trains Lubash and the chestnut colt was ridden by Kent Desormeaux. Track conditions Fast and firm with both the dirt and grass courses playing fairly. Horses to Watch 3RD -- State-bred IL SENATORE (Harlan's Holiday) finished second for the fourth straight time in what was his strongest effort of that quartet of starts. He rated, made a determined bid, and was just beaten by a better horse while easily second best. Next time. 8TH -- Making his first start in seven weeks, BIRDRUN (Birdstone) was bumped lightly at the start, quickly sprinted clear, maintained a safe advantage before repulsing a strong bid by Atomic Rain (Smart Strike), but could not hold off the fast-closing Tranquil Manner (A.P. Indy) late while 8 1/2 lengths clear of the third. Strong effort and a repeat of it should get the job done soon. THURSDAY (8/12) State-bred sophomore fillies had their turn on this day in the Statue of Liberty, the female counterpart of the Cab Calloway, with a field of nine headed by the Linda Rice-trained IN TE DOMINE (Freud). A very slow pace was set by Raffie's Rose (Raffies Majesty), which would eventually lead her to a close-up third-place finish as she was passed inside the eighth-pole by In Te Domine, who then held off the fast closing Bretton Woods (Gold Fever) by three parts of a length, with the stubborn pacesetter another head back. The talented winner has spent her entire six-race career on the infield (6-3-2-0) with her only poor effort coming in a very trouble trip earlier this year at Belmont. As mentioned, she's trained by Rice, who's having another outstanding meet after being the first woman to win the trainer's title here last season. Track conditions Fast and firm with speed not holding at all on the dirt this day while the turf again played fairly. Horses to Watch 2ND -- Extremely impressive debut by VALIANT PASSION (Lion Heart) as she raced well-back early while being a bit unsettled, then had to steady briefly before launching a powerful rally that carried her to a 9 1/4-length win. Co-owned and trained by Midwest veteran Ralph Nicks, the juvenile filly had initially been prepared at Churchill before coming east. 5TH -- The lightly-raced HARMONIZER (Volponi) rated off a heated pace fight, made what looked like a winning move by midstretch, but was out-finished by a runner who passed the entire field after turning for home. He should win here before the meet ends. FRIDAY (8/13) The National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S.(G2) looked on paper like a battle between INTERACTIF (Broken Vow) and Nordic Truce (Yes It's True) but didn't quite play-out that way on the turf as Interactif hit the gate at the start and was relegated to a three-wide trip in the small six-horse field. He rallied strongly to poke a head in front of Krypton (Rock Hard Ten) in midstretch and then had just enough left to hold off a furious late bid by Grand Rapport (Grand Reward), who fell a nose shy, while Krypton was only a head farther back in a three-horse photo. Winning colt was saddled by Todd Pletcher , who is having just a spectacular meet, and the grass-loving sophomore was coming off a solid second behind Paddy O' Prado (El Prado [Ire]) in the Virginia Derby(G2) at Colonial Downs. Track conditions Fast and firm with those racing in attending positions on both dirt and turf being the most successful. Horses to Watch 5TH -- The lightly raced IMPLIED ODDS (Value Plus) looked sharp in his first ever on the turf as he raced wide throughout in this maiden-claimer, made a strong bid to wear down the pacesetter but fell a length short at the wire to a perfect-trip winner. Nice all-around effort and the three-year-old shouldn't be a maiden for long. 6TH -- Racing for the first time since his debut at Churchill seven weeks ago, GRIGIO (Stormy Atlantic) was stretched out in distance and sent to the turf by trainer Jim Baker. The colt responded with a huge effort to miss by a nose after saving ground early and swinging four-wide turning for home. Catch him if he makes another start at the meet. SATURDAY (8/14) Nice weather and a large crowd turned out to watch the 36th running of the Sword Dancer Invitational (G1), which attracted a field of nine older runners for the 1 1/2 miles on the inner turf. The wide-open betting contest saw only two of the nine go off at odds more than 11-1, with the public landing on Expansion (Maria's Mon) as the post-time favorite. A solid pace was set by Hollywood invader Marlang (Langfuhr) as he was tracked intently by both Al Khali (Medaglia d' Oro) and Interpatation (Langfuhr), and they stayed that way until midway through the far turn when the trio came under heavy pressure, with the rest of the field beginning to close in. Al Khali forged to the front turning for home but was unable to hold of a late run by TELLING (A.P. Indy), who came up the hedge, and Bearpath (Dynaformer), who closed fast down the center of the course. The former drew clear late to win by 1 1/2 lengths, with the latter securing the place spot by about a length from Al Khali. Telling won this event for the second year in a row after going winless in five starts since his 2009 triumph. Nice training job by Steve Hobby, and an excellent ride by Garret Gomez, who was aboard for the first time, played a large part in the win. Track conditions Fast and firm with a mixture of all types of styles being successful. Horses to Watch 2ND -- Away slowly in his debut at Calder three weeks ago, EXLEY (Officer) showed good early speed in his first vs. fellow state-breds and held for the show spot. The much-improved effort came after shipping north and a trainer switch to Seth Benzel. 3RD -- The talented but fragile BULLDOGGER (Dixie Union) made it two-for-two on this track in a pair of starts separated by almost a year. Colt impressed here winning his debut in 2009, but didn't race again for more than six months when he finished third at Santa Anita in March. The Bob Baffert-trained sophomore has plenty of speed and it would be nice to see him string some starts together to see what he really has. SUNDAY (8/15) Juvenile fillies were in the spotlight as a field of 10 (with seven coming off their maiden wins) faced the starter in the Adirondack S. (G2). Most eyes centered on POSITION LIMIT (Bellamy Road), who had impressed when breaking her maiden by 6 3/4 lengths in the Belmont mud in her July 14 debut. Hollywood invader Alienation (Rock Hard Ten) put away Miss Sarah Brown (Mass Media) after a quarter-mile and opened up a clear lead heading for home. She put up a brief resistance to Position Limit before that filly drew away for an easy five-length score. Alienation had no difficulty holding down the place spot in a strung-out field as she was five clear of Coax Liberty (Successful Appeal), who bested a very tired group for the show spot. Winning filly is a Virginia-bred from the young stallion Bellamy Road and is another in the well-stocked Pletcher barn. Track conditions Fast and firm again with a mix of speed and off-the-pace runners winning, making for a very fair playing field for the bettors. Horses to Watch 2ND -- SOLUTION FINDERS (Johannesburg), a very large gelding, was a bit of a handful for his rider early and after settling down had some traffic issues before finding room to close well to finish third, beaten two lengths. May relish nine furlongs and the sweeping turns on Belmont's turf. MONDAY (8/16) A field of four juvenile males headed by the undefeated and untested KANTHAROS (Lion Heart) went postward in the Saratoga Special (G2), the second of a stakes trio for two-year-olds that culminates with the Hopeful (G1) on Labor Day weekend. The heavily-favored Kantharos rated in third behind both Blue Right By (Bluegrass Cat) and Bail Out the Cat (Tale of the Cat), took over with ease while moving around runners at the head of the stretch, and it was over by the eighth-pole as he reported home by 7 1/4 lengths over Bail Out the Cat, who had just under a dozen markers on first-time-starter Manchurian High (The Daddy). It will take a better and hopefully bigger field next out to get a handle on just what type of runner we're dealing with here. A $250,000 purchase earlier this year by the Stonerstreet Stables, Kantharos has done everything asked of him so far and is in the hands of a real master (Steve Asmussen). Upcoming stakes Saturday will feature the Alabama S. (G1), a rare 1 1/4-mile event for three-year-old fillies, and the Lake Placid S. (G2), for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf, will be offered Sunday. Have a nice week!!
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