Sanford J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

LOU BRISSIE (Limehouse) is the only member of Saratoga's Sanford S. (G2) with any

stakes experience, competing in a pair of Grade 3 events, and we'll give him

first billing on Sunday. The Neil Howard trainee captured his first two starts

from off the pace, knocking off highly impressive maiden winner Boys at Tosconova (Officer) in the Kentucky Juvenile

S. (G3) two starts back, but he didn't

have any chance following a wide trip in the Bashford Manor S. (G3) last time,

finishing second by 9 1/2 lengths to Kantharos (Lion Heart). There

doesn't appear to be any rivals of that caliber in this field, but there is

plenty of speed to set up his winning rally.

CHIPSHOT (Peace Rules) registered a terrific 101 BRIS Speed rating when

breaking his maiden in wire-to-wire fashion at Monmouth last time and rates as a

serious threat on the front end here. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the chestnut

has been training forwardly for his stakes debut, recording a five-furlong

bullet move in 1:00 2/5 at the Spa's Oklahoma training track recently, and we expect to see him flash to

the front beneath Shaun Bridgmohan when the gates open.

BAIL OUT THE CAT (Tale of the Cat) looks like a promising individual for

Richard Violette Jr. He drew off sharply when making his career debut in a

five-furlong maiden special weight last time, winning by 2 1/4 length in the mud

at Belmont, and shows a nice five-furlong work over the track in preparation.

Alan Garcia will probably look to hustle him from post 3, and Bail Out the Cat

can't be dismissed from win consideration.

NACHO SAINT (Yes It's True) is still a maiden, but he's recorded a pair of

encouraging seconds and could possibly make an impact from off the pace.

Consider for the bottom of the exotics. COMMONWEALTH RUSH (Afleet Alex) ran to

his short odds when garnering his career bow last time and will probably add to

the pace here. We weren't impressed by his BRIS Speed figure, but it wouldn't

surprise us to see him hold for part with further improvement.

MAYBESOMAYBENOT (Sunday Break [Jpn]) rolled to an easy maiden win at

Churchill last time, but he may have trouble making the lead in this spot and

could get shuffled back from his rail post. ANOTHER SILVER OAK (Bluegrass Cat)

adds blinkers off a debut win at Delaware Park for Todd Pletcher. We'll give him

a race against stakes opponents. BLUE RIGHT BY (Bluegrass Cat) doesn't look fast

enough to handle this company.