Saratoga Daily Notebook

SARATOGA DAILY NOTEBOOK

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2007

by John Mucciolo

Fab Oak Stable's homebred NOWNOWNOW (Whywhywhy) found room inside the final

furlong and exploded to a smart three-length score in the $83,250 With

Anticipation S. on Friday. Trained by Patrick Biancone and ridden by Julien

Leparoux, the juvenile tracked well off the early pace early before advancing

along the rail approaching the final turn, but he didn't have clear

sailing until a few strides into the straightaway. Once let loose by Leparoux,

it was over in a matter of a few jumps as the impressive colt clocked 1 1/16

miles in a fast 1:41 1/5 to earn his first win.

The Zayat-owned entry of Zee Zee (Exchange Rate) and Sherine (Precise End)

were running one-two at the head of the stretch and did well to fill out the

trifecta. The fillies should be especially tough when racing against their own

sex.

This marked the second time in three years that Biancone saddled a maiden to

a victory in this race, doing so in 2005 with Stream Cat (Black Minnaloushe).

Six turf races highlighted the Friday card, and we saw a little bit of

everything on the green. Three horses won from off the pace, with one rallying

on the inside while the other pair were in the center of the course, and the

other three turf winners led at every call. From three main-track events, we saw

one wire-to-wire winner, a pace presser finish first and a deep closer get the

winner's check.

Conditioner Bill Mott sent out another winner today to boost his meet-leading

total to 21. Richard Dutrow inched into the place spot after saddling a winner

today, upping his total to 12. Todd Pletcher and Gary Contessa have 11 apiece,

with the late-charging Linda Rice one back with 10. Rice sent out another pair

of turf winners on Friday.

Cornelio Velasquez got his photo taken once again on this day and now boasts

42 first-place finishers. Kent Desormeaux, who brought in two on Friday, is next

with 36. Ramon Dominguez is in third with 28, trailed by Edgar Prado's 27 and

the 26 of Garrett Gomez.

A carryover of $66,755 awaits Pick 6 players on Saturday.

Horses to Watch

6TH - NAMASTE'S WISH (Pulpit) rebounded from a pair of subpar dirt tries to

win this one going away for Bill Mott. The impressive juvenile miss, who is a

full sister to Grade 1 star Purge, went 1 1/16 miles on the turf in a sharp 1:42

2/5 and is definitely worth keeping an eye on in her subsequent venture.

Runner-up BOSTON CAT (High Yield) was six lengths clear of her nearest foe and

won't be a maiden for long.

8TH - Nownownow was clearly the best in here and it appears that the green is

his preferred surface. The Biancone pupil steadied along the inside in early

stretch but still pulled away with ease, leading us to believe that the juvenile

has a start at Monmouth in late October forthcoming.

Tomorrow's Outlook - Saturday, September 1

LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) will look to prove his Whitney H. (G1) was no fluke

when leading seven postward in the $500,000 Woodward S. (G1) on Saturday.

Trained by Pletcher, the four-year-old crushed the course record in his fine

Whitney performance and has posted a trio of solid drills in the interim. The

chestnut will break from the rail under John Velazquez.

MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades), another Pletcher trainee, was unplaced while

favored in the Whitney but has every right to improve in this one. The

five-year-old was a game second in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) two prior and

would be a huge threat with a repeat of that effort. Gomez has the call. Foster

and Whitney third DIAMOND STRIPES (Notebook) will be charging late under Prado

and could earn his first Grade 1 win for Richard Dutrow.

SUN KING (Charismatic), a close third in this last year, and WANDERIN BOY

(Seeking the Gold), second in the Whitney, will be sent out by Nick Zito.

Metropolitan H. (G1) victor CORINTHIAN (Pulpit), Suburban H. (G1) hero POLITICAL

FORCE (Unbridled's Song) and Grade 1 star BRASS HAT (Prized) complete the

talented group.

A well-matched field of 11 will travel seven furlongs in the $250,000 Forego

S. (G1) in the previous race. HIGH FINANCE (Talk is Money), the impressive

winner of the Tom Fool Breeders' Cup H. (G2), has been established as the 2-1

morning line choice for Richard Violette. The four-year-old chestnut has posted

back-to-back superb performances and will attempt a hat trick from the 10 post

under Velazquez.

Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G2) runner-up ATTILA'S STORM (Forest Wildcat) is one

of the quicker horses in training and will attempt to stretch his speed to

seven-eighths for Richard Schosberg. The five-year-old has been close in a

couple of Grade 1 events in the past and will try to break through beneath

Rafael Bejarano. MIDNIGHT LUTE (Real Quiet) is a gem of consistency from the Bob

Baffert barn and will certainly be coming late under Prado. Impressive allowance

winner CHATAIN (Forest Wildcat) has trained strongly over this surface and would

be no surprise under top jock Velasquez.

LIKE NOW (Jules), PRAYING FOR CASH (Songandaprayer), AWESOME TWIST (Awesome

Again), BENNY THE BULL (Lucky Lionel), HOW'S YOUR HALO (Halo's Image), SIMON

PURE (Silver Deputy) and EXECUTIVE SEARCH (Regal Classic) add to the depth of

this contest.

Saturday's Best Plays

3RD - BRILLIANT SON (Stormin Fever) ran huge in his last over this surface

and could be an overlay in this spot. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee was unlucky

not to win last out but should be stronger in his second off the shelf.

4TH - MONSIEUR PEPP (Hussonet) hails from excellent connections and has a

right to be fast right out of the gate, as he's a half-brother Grade 2 sprinter

Songster (Songandaprayer). We like the presence of Prado in the saddle, and the

outside draw shouldn't pose any problems in this dash.

9TH - Midnight Lute is a high-class performer who is worthy of a Grade 1 win,

and this could be the spot for the Baffert charge. His trainer was quoted

recently saying that he believes that the colt is one of the top 10 horses he's

ever trained, and that's good enough for us.