Saratoga Notebook

SARATOGA NOTEBOOK

AUGUST 29, 2013

by John Mucciolo

The Travers Stakes headlined a monstrous weekend of racing

at Saratoga Race Course.

Travers S. (G1): Willis Horton's WILL TAKE CHARGE (Unbridled's Song) tracked

in fifth to the top of the lane, picked up momentum in the stretch and got the

bob late to post a huge score for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The three-year-old

colt was a nose clear on the wire in finishing off 1 1/4 miles on the fast main

dirt course in 2:02 3/5.

King's Bishop S. (G1): Eclipse Thoroughbreds' CAPO BASTONE (Street Boss) was slow

into stride but moved into contention at the top of the lane and ran down a

clear leader en route to a two-length win at odds of 28-1 for conditioner Todd

Pletcher. The three-year-old colt sped his seven-eighths on the fast main

surface in 1:22 1/5.

Ballerina S. (G1): Susan Wantz's DANCE TO BRISTOL (Speightstown) took a short

lead in midstretch and gamely held all foes at bay in posting a half-length win

for conditioner Ollie Figgins III. The four-year-old filly notched her first

Grade 1 win in finishing off seven panels on the fast main oval in 1:23.

Personal Ensign S. (G1): Dual champion ROYAL DELTA (Empire Maker) took the lead

prior to the half-mile marker and was never seriously challenged thereafter in

posting a stylish 4 1/2-length score for conditioner Bill Mott. The superb

five-year-old mare finished off 1 1/8 miles on the fast main oval in 1:48 1/5

beneath pilot Mike Smith.

Test S. (G1): Steve Beneto's SWEET LULU (Mr. Greeley) overtook the

pacesetter at the top of the lane and held off a pair of stout challenges in the

lane to remain unbeaten from four lifetime starts for trainer Jerry

Hollendorfer. The ultra-talented sophomore filly got her seven furlongs on the

fast main oval in 1:23 2/5 under Julien Leparoux.

Ballston Spa H. (G2): Richard Santulli's LAUGHING (Ire) (Dansili) took the

lead soon after the start and was all heart in the lane to post neck victory

under Jose Lezcano. The five-year-old mare, who is trained by Alan Goldberg,

strode 1 1/16 miles on the firm inner turf in 1:40 1/5 to earn a second straight

graded win at this venue.

Track Stats

A total of 64 races were held over the Saratoga Springs, New

York, venue, with favorites winning at a 39 percent rate and the top two betting

choices combining for 61 percent of the wins during the week. From 29 races on

the main oval, nine animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (31 percent), while 11

of the 35 races on the lawn were taken all the way on the front (35 percent).

The turf oval was very kind to speed and front runners all

week, with 11 horses going all the way on the front. We have witnessed this in

the past but it had yet to come out at this particular meeting until the last

four days of racing. Seven of those 11 came in route races on the inner lawn,

while the other four came on the outer turf course (two sprints, two routes).

We thought the main oval played pretty fairly all week; if

anything speed was a bit better Saturday through Monday. From 29 main-track

races, just a trio of winners came home breaking from wider than post 6.

Meet Totals

RACES:		355
DIRT:		171
TURF:		184
FAVORITES:		114 (32 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		72 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE:		37 (20 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		41 (24 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (8/21)

4TH -- SAYAAD (Street Sense) returns to this list after a

tour-de-force tally in this stakes spot, leading throughout in a dominant

front-running score. The sophomore colt finished off a mile on the firm turf in

a swift 1:33 3/5, just a tick off the stakes mark. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has

a nice one.

Thursday (8/22)

4TH -- SANDCAT (D'wildcat) tracked the pacesetter to the

top of the lane, took a short lead in midstretch and powered home a two-length

winner at first asking under Junior Alvarado. The John Kimmel-trained

juvenile colt could be a nice one and evolve into a stakes runner following this

impressive tally.

7TH -- SKY PAINTER (Street Cry) put in a big late run

and wore down the short-priced favorite en route to sharp debut score for the

red-hot McLaughlin. The juvenile miss came home fast and could be a nice one

with more experience and expected progression.

Friday (8/23)

1ST -- Pletcher unveiled the highly touted HAVANA (Dunkirk)

here, and the favorite did not disappoint in this debut. The juvenile colt

might have been a bit green but still ran big in this winning debut, completing

5 1/2 panels on the fast main strip in a wicked 1:02 3/5. This colt should have a

big future.

KENDALL'S BOY (Sky Mesa) raced in second throughout chasing

this fine winner and shouldn't be a maiden for long for conditioner Tom Amoss.

2ND -- PALACE (City Zip) sat behind a swift and contested

pace early on and drove home a powerful winner beneath Cornelio Velasquez. The

four-year-old colt was very sharp in this one and will be super tough with

anything close to that effort next out.

Saturday (8/24)

2ND -- The Pletcher-trained TIZ CHRIS (Tiznow) made a big

run in the lane and just missed in his initial try since the fall. The sophomore

colt fell just a head shy to the favorite who showed quality over this oval

previously, and we'll tab him for a win in his comeback effort after finishing

more than five lengths clear of third.

3RD -- BOBBY'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) ran off early and when

the field came to him it appeared as the Chad Brown charge might be all done,

but the talented juvenile colt had a ton more and drew off like a good thing

late. We have a hunch this youngster could be a monster and expect him to be a

major stakes player in the very near future.

8TH -- Grade 1-placed FRAC DADDY (Scat Daddy) was always in

the hunt of this turf route and proved his class late when going away to win

this allowance tilt for conditioner Kenny McPeek. The smart sophomore was sent

off at 7-1 for reasons we are not sure of, but he proved that he could run on

anything with this effort and has a lot of options going forward.

11TH -- MENTOR CANE (Mizzen Mast) simply ran too good to

lose and should break through at this level at some point for trainer John

Shirreffs. The lightly raced colt dueled through wicked early splits and didn't

tire until very late, still finishing well clear of third.

Sunday (8/25)

1ST -- TREASURED (Arch) was very live in the wagering and

ran a big one in third in this maiden spot for conditioner James Bond. The

sophomore filly has progressed nicely from a trio of lifetime runs and should

break through soon.

3RD -- KNOCKHER OFF (Unbridled's Song) was sensational in

his grassy debut in his first start of 2013, rolling home with incredible ease

while stopping the teletimer for 5 1/2 furlongs in a strong 1:01 2/5. The gelded

sophomore was under little urging late after this most facile tally, and he

looks like he can be a stakes player with expected progression.

8TH -- ZINZAY (Smart Strike) showed good speed, got to even

terms with the pacesetting favorite and got up late in a fine debut win for

conditioner Rusty Arnold, who rarely has them cranked up for their first run.

The juvenile filly raced in what we thought was a fine field of prospects, and

she could be any type going forward.

CROWN QUEEN (Smart Strike), a half-sister to dual champion Royal

Delta, made a visually impressive move entering the lane and finished a fine

third, well clear of fourth under Smith. The Mott first-timer should

have gotten a ton out of this race and will be especially tough next time out

with even slight improvement.

A Look Ahead

The curtain will come down on this fine meeting this

weekend, with closing day on Labor Day Monday. A slew of graded races will be carded at

The Spa, four of which are Grade 1 tilts.

Thursday is the

date of the Grade 2, $200,000 With Anticipation Stakes.

Saturday will play host to the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward

Stakes; Grade 1, $500,000 Forego Stakes; and the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard

Baruch Handicap. The Sunday card will be led by the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway

Stakes and the Grade 3, $150,000 Saranac Stakes.

Closing Monday will feature the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful

Stakes and the Grade 3, $150,000 Glens Falls Handicap.