Sapling J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Seven two-year-old colts will travel six panels in Sunday's $150,000 Sapling

S. (G3) at Monmouth Park. Five of the entries are exiting open-length maiden

wins in their last, but we're going to give the edge to Sanford S. (G2)

runner-up OFFICER IPOD (Officer) from the barn of Tony Dutrow. The

Pennsylvania-bred gray smashed his foes at odds of 3-5 in his debut at Delaware

and set a solid tempo before settling for the place spot in the Sanford, behind

a real nice prospect in Desert Party (Street Cry [Ire]). The juvenile should be in the mix from the outset under

Joe Bravo.

VALIANCY (Tale of the Cat) was extremely impressive in a Saratoga romp last

out and rates a big shot with a repeat of his last for conditioner Steve

Asmussen. The Kentucky-bred bay was in total control versus a useful bunch at

the Spa that day and has posted a pair of maintenance drills in the interim.

Shaun Bridgmohan leaves New York to retain the call on the talented

youngster.

SILENT VALOR (Lion Heart) was second in his debut over Keeneland's Polytrack

to eventual Saratoga Special S. (G2) hero Run Away and Hide (City Zip). The Todd Pletcher

colt then dominated a Belmont field by 6 1/4 lengths in May, earning a whopping 101 BRIS

Speed figure for his maiden conquer. The dark bay has endured a trio of works in

preparation for this event, his latest indicating

that he's ready for a strong performance.

WILD PROOF (Vindication) smashed maiden runners by 12 3/4 lengths for Ben

Perkins in his latest outing and smoked a half-mile in a bullet :47 in advance

of his stakes debut. His dam, Wild Snitch (Forest Wildcat), was a Grade 3-winning juvenile lass over this oval

and this one looks like a chip off the old block. 

DUELING ALEX (Medaglia d'Oro) romped in his debut over this oval for Cam

Gambolati before finding the Saratoga Special too much too soon, but a

return to his home base could awaken the bay. We like the fact that the colt was

4-5 at first asking, and he could spring the upset in this wide-open dash

beneath Carlos Marquez, Jr.

REREADTHEFOOTNOTES (Read the Footnotes) sped to a decisive score over

state-bred foes at Saratoga in his initial appearance for sharp conditioner

Kiaran McLaughlin. The Empire State-bred may have been compromised by the

rail draw in here, but he showed good speed at first asking while defeating

lesser and could be a big factor with a clean break. We don't like the bay on

top, but slight improvement should put him in with a chance late.

SARATOGA STORM (Storm Cat) trounced a maiden group at Calder last out and is

bred to be a good one for John Shaw. The Florida invader moved up greatly with

the addition of Lasix and blinkers in his last, but we're not sure how much more

upside he has in this particular contest. With that said, the dark bay will be a

big price and he's kin to a pair of sprint stakes winners, so he might be worth

a flier.