Saratoga Daily Notebook

SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2007

by John Mucciolo

A pair of listed stakes took the spotlight on Wednesday, led by the $83,500

De La Rose S. The one-mile grass affair featured a solid field over the inner

turf, with the decision going to the fast-closing FANTASTIC SHIRL (Fantastic

Light) for Kiaran McLaughlin. Racing well off the pace to the final turn in the

silks of Dell Ridge Farm, the four-year-old exploded late, weaving her way

through traffic in the stretch under the guidance of John Velazquez to gain the black-type

score. The filly stopped the teletimer in a sharp 1:34 1/5.

Amansara (War Chant) surged through an opening on the rail turning for home

and appeared to have the race in hand, but had to settle for the place spot in a

fine return off the lengthy layoff. A True Pussycat (Yes It's True) found her

best stride late but fell a neck shy of the place spot. Mo Cuishle (Saint

Ballado), making her debut on the grass and for Barclay Tagg, was another neck

back in fourth.

In the $81,750 Fleet Indian S. for New York-bred fillies and mares, LAUREN'S TZZY (Tiznow) gave them the slip turning for home and cruised clear to a

convincing 3 1/2-length tally under Garrett Gomez. The gray four-year-old made

good in her stakes debut, clocking the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51 1/5 for conditioner

Mark Hennig.

Shady Lane (Peaks and Valleys) rallied from well off the pace to garner the

place, while uncoupled stablemate Mama Theresa (Carson City) gained the show.

A total of 10 races were held on Wednesday, with four dirt routes, four turf

routes and one each of dirt and turf sprints. There was only one wire-to-wire

winner on the card, coming in the last race, and the first-place finishers came

from all parts of the track on this day. Not to sound repetitive, but both

surfaces appear to be playing more than fairly on a daily basis.

Kent Desormeaux piloted a trio of winners on Wednesday, but he still sits one

behind Garret Gomez and John Velazquez, who have bagged eight apiece, in the

jockeys' standings. On the trainers' front, Bill Mott saddled a pair of first-place

finishers to take over the top spot with five winners. Todd Pletcher and

Christophe Clement rank second with a quartet of winners each.

Horses to Watch

5TH -- GEORGETOWN (Storm Cat) was very professional in career start number two

and seems poised for a bright future under the care of Dallas Stewart. The

juvenile colt settled nicely off the early pace prior to drawing off by a handy

length in here.

7TH -- BRAVE EMPEROR (El Corredor) made a bold move turning for home but

couldn't catch the top pair in a much improved second effort. The Bill Mott

charge should be watched closely in his second route effort.

10TH -- CAT CHARMER (Storm Cat) also made a huge move turning for home while

wide and fell just a tad shy of the top prize in here. The Graham Motion trainee

has passed horses in all three turf starts and appears to be stakes quality.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Thursday, August 2

The $80,000 John Morrissey S. for Empire State-bred runners is the stakes

showpiece for Thursday's card. GOLD AND ROSES (Gold Token), a two-time stakes

winner over this oval and defending champion, is the overwhelming 3-5 choice on

the morning line for trainer Tom Bush. The five-year-old has compiled a superb

26-8-10-3 career mark and has drawn the rail under Garrett Gomez.

EXECUTIVE SEARCH (Regal Classic), YANKEE MON (Maria's Mon), STARCASTIC

(Honour and Glory), KARAKORUM THUNDER (Storm Creek) and COINED FOR SUCCESS (Gold

Token) are the five who will attempt to upset the logical choice.

Thursday's Best Plays

2ND -- IRISH SMOKE (Smoke Glacken) brought a hefty sum as a two-year-old in

training and has been doing some good work in the morning for top juvenile

conditioner Patrick Biancone. This is one difficult field to dissect, but we

feel the filly will be ready to fire at first asking.

7TH -- TIVERTON (Unaccounted For) is a very consistent performer for David Donk and is

in very fine current form. The gelded five-year-old takes the shades

off for this one and has compiled a smart 4-1-1-1 record at this locale. Eibar

Coa will guide the bay.

8TH -- SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical [Ire]), whose half-sister Fantastic Shirl was

victorious on Wednesday, makes his much anticipated return to racing in this

spot. Now in the barn of McLaughlin, the classy six-year-old is unraced since

the 2005 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), but he's trained steadily since May and should

be ready for his return.