Saratoga Special J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Grade 3 winner RUN AWAY AND HIDE (City Zip) is the top draw in Thursday's

$150,000 Saratoga Special S. (G2), but he drew a tough rail post for 6 1/2

furlongs. We'll tab REYNALDOTHEWIZARD (Speightstown) for the win.

Trained by Eoin Harty, Reynaldothewizard exits a terrific career bow at

Churchill Downs. He rated just off a swift pace before offering a powerful turn

of foot in upper stretch, swooping past the leaders while quickly opening

daylight. The bay colt cruised to the finish line 4 3/4 lengths the best, and

we've been waiting to watch him again. He appears well-acclimated to the Spa,

working a five-furlong bullet in :59 2/5 over the main track two weeks ago, and

jockey Julien Leparoux will have plenty of pace to settle off of in this spot.

Reynaldothewizard could prove impossible to deny once again.

BREAK WATER EDISON (Lemon Drop Kid) recorded an impressive debut win last

time out for John Kimmel. The bay colt was hustled from the gate and ripped

through opening splits in :22 and :45 3/5 en route to a convincing 4 3/4-length

score, earning BRIS E1 and E2 Pace ratings of 101 and 105. Those are among the

top in the

nine-horse field, and the bay colt looms as a wire-to-wire threat under Alan

Garcia..

Run Away and Hide will likely have to be hustled in order to avoid being

shuffled back, and we respect the speedy colt's chances. Trained by Ronny

Werner, the Kentucky-bred colt broke his maiden in wire-to-fashion over

Keeneland's Polytrack prior to posting a 2 1/2-length tally from just off the

pace in the Kentucky S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The unbeaten colt will retain

the services of Robby Albarado.

DUELING ALEX (Medaglia d'Oro) rolled to a sharp 4 3/4-length victory in his

debut at Monmouth Park last time, and the runner-up and third placer both

returned to win their next start out off the key race. The Cam Gambolati runner

is a promising individual and should offer good value, and we'll use the stalker

on the bottom of some exotics.

LYIN' HEART (Lion Heart) goes for the formidable Steve Asmussen stable, which

is excelling with two-year-olds at the current Saratoga meeting, and the gray

colt is eligible to improve off a solid second in the Bashford Manor S. (G3)

last out. An impressive winner of his first two starts at Lone Star Park, the

Kentucky-bred got off to a sluggish start last time but still rallied well on

the far turn and into the stretch, passing a lot of rivals to reach contention

before falling 1 1/4 lengths short. He could offer another strong showing from

off the pace here.

PROUD JEFE (Proud Citizen) exits a nice stakes win at Canterbury Park, but

we'll give the Tom Amoss pupil a race at this level. JOIN IN THE DANCE (Sky

Mesa) captured an off-the-turf maiden special weight last time, but he'll face a

serious class check off that race. MEDAGLIA D'ONORE (Medaglia d'Oro) wasn't a

factor in the Bashford Manor and could find this company too difficult. UNSUNG

SONG (Unbridled's Song) earned a low BRIS Speed rating for his debut win last time at

Presque Isle Downs.