Power stables well represented in Hopeful

In contrast to the Del Mar Futurity (G1), a race he has won 18 times, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has yet to taste victory in Saratoga's signature two-year-old event, the $300,000 Hopeful (G1). It's a race Baffert hasn't targeted nearly as often, but he does saddle 2-1 morning line favorite Buetane in Monday's renewal.

The seven-furlong Hopeful brings down the curtain on the racing season at Saratoga for 2025. It's attracted a field of eight, some of whom, like Buetane, are diving into stakes company immediately after winning debuts.

Buetane earned a 93 Brisnet Speed rating for his initial win going six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 3, but it's not a figure that will scare many in the field. Other second-time starters include the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Ted Noffey and Emphasis, as well as the Steve Asmussen-trained Soldier N Diplomat.

Asmussen also saddles Romeo, who rebounded from a pounding by the filly Mythical in the Tremont S. to win the Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs by 3 3/4 lengths on June 29. That victory was in stakes-record time of 1:08.61 for six furlongs.

Curtain Call is another to keep an eye on. Runner-up first out to future Sanford (G3) winner Obliteration in a key maiden at Churchill in mid-June, Curtain Call rebounded to graduate by more than eight lengths at Saratoga a month later.

"For me, every indication is that he could be a really nice horse," trainer Mark Casse said of Curtain Call. "I was a little disappointed in his first start at Churchill, but he came back and won impressively. Since then, he's trained like he's a nice horse, so we go into the Hopeful with high expectations."