Saratoga Daily Notebook

SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2007

by John Mucciolo

Marc Keller's GRAND COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge) eyeballed prohibitive 3-5

favorite English Channel (Smart Strike) in the stretch and dusted that one en

route to a three-length score in the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1)

over the firm turf on Saturday. The Robert Ribaudo trainee was last after the

swift :22 3/5 opening quarter-mile established by Fri Guy (Theatrical [Ire]), angled to the

inside to move into contention approaching the final turn, and impressively put

away the heavy choice in posting his initial stateside win. Calvin (Bo-Rail) Borel provided the smart ride for the 15-1 shot, who spearheaded the $4,418

superfecta (7-5-2-6) while getting 1 1/2 miles in a moderate 2:26 2/5.

English Channel endured a nice trip throughout, moved menacingly into the

stretch but could not keep up with the winner, remaining 2 3/4 lengths clear of his

nearest foe at the wire. Trippi's Storm (Trippi) made an early move to open a

clear advantage turning for home and held well until the final furlong, where

the colt was outmoved inside the final sixteenth. The third-place finisher

continues to impress on the green and has a stakes win with his name on

it somewhere out there.

Fox Ridge Farm's NAUGHTY NEW YORKER (Quiet American) dispatched pacesetter

Building New Era (Wheaton) inside the final furlong and cruised home a facile

seven-length winner of the $80,000 Saratoga Sunrise S. for trainer Pat Kelly.

Piloted by Edgar Prado, the five-year-old tracked in second through splits of

:25 1/5, :49 2/5 and 1:13 4/5 for the opening six furlongs, before completing

the 1 1/8 miles in a useful 1:49 1/5.

Building New Era and Lord Langfuhr (Langfuhr) completed the trifecta.

Ten races were held on Saturday, four in the form of turf routes, four

sprints on the main oval, and one each of a dirt route and turf dash. The main

track was very fair as the lone

wire-to-wire winner came in a sprint, while the turf yielded three route winners

from well off the pace.

There's a $101,391 Pick 6 carryover into Sunday's program.

All four of the top jockeys piloted a winner on Saturday, led by a trio for

Kent Desormeaux, who sits atop the jockeys' race with 17 first-place finishers.

Cornelio Velasquez, who rode two winners on this day, has sole possession of

second place with 16 photo takers. John Velazquez and Edgar Prado sit next with

15 apiece. Borel has won five races.

Bill Mott still has the advantage in the trainers' table with 11 wins, two

more than Todd Pletcher, who inched closer with another winner today. Richard

Dutrow has compiled seven, while Tom Bush sits next with six.

Horses to Watch

2ND - THE LEOPARD (Storm Cat) showed an excellent closing ability in breaking

his maiden for Pletcher. The smart juvenile brought $1 million at the 2006

Keeneland September sale before selling for $2.5 million to the Coolmore

connections at the Fasig-Tipton Calder selected two-year-olds in training sale

in March.

He toppled a promising

group in this one and should handle the stretch-out in his subsequent start.

IMMORTAL EYES (Greatness) suffered a tough loss in this dash, but shouldn't

be a maiden much longer for trainer Richard Violette. The speedy two-year-old

was 7 3/4 lengths clear of the third spot.

5TH - ALABAMA'S JUMPIN (Middlesex Drive) chased the odds-on winner for much

of the stretch and should be set up for a strong showing next time for

Bush. The two-year-old was a head shy of the place and has every

right to improve in his second try.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Sunday, August 12

The $100,000 West Point H. will showcase eight of the top New York-bred turf

performers in the Sunday feature. Kingston H. hero RED ZIPPER (City Zip) tired

late in the Manhattan H. (G1) most recently but should appreciate the class drop

in this contest. The John Morrison gelding was victorious in his lone effort

over this course and will likely take his customary spot on the lead early.

Grade 3 victor FOREVERNESS (Island Whirl) is capable on his best day and will

be coming late for Gregory Sacco. Stakes winners PA PA DA (Incurable Optimist),

GOLDEN COMMANDER (Deputy Commander), RETRIBUTION (Rob 'N Gin), CLASSIC PACK (Regal Classic), DAVE (Ends Well), as well as the newly-claimed CLASSIC FRAN

(Regal Classic), round out the turf entrants.

Sunday's Best Plays

5TH - RAW SILK (Malibu Moon), a $460,000 two-year-old purchase earlier this

year, has trained well in advance of his debut and should be live for Tom

Albertrani. The juvenile lass is bred to handle a longer trip than the six

panels of today's contest, but talent can make up for anything.

7TH - FINAL REFRAIN (Lion Cavern) was a good second in her lone effort over

the Saratoga turf and should be a big factor in here for Albert Stall. The

chestnut filly was a neck shy of earning her diploma last out, and she would

benefit from a forwardly placed trip under Julien Leparoux.