With Anticipation

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Friday's $100,000 With Anticipation S. (G3) will feature an overflow field of

juveniles going 1 1/16 miles over Saratoga's Mellon turf course, and we'll look

for a youngster with some experience at the Spa. ZAPSTER (Ghostzapper) fits the

criteria, just missing in a solid runner-up effort 29 days back, and we'll pick

him to break his maiden in this spot.

The gray colt is by freshman sire Ghostzapper, whose first winner came via

dead-heat in a stakes event at Delaware Park, and we still expect big things

from the 2004 Horse of the Year at stud. Zapster is bred to relish the grass on

his female side and debuted in a six-furlong turf maiden at Belmont Park on July

11, checking in an even fourth in the 10-horse field. He showed nice improvement

when stretching out to a route last time, leading the way into the stretch, and

despite being caught in the final strides, it was still a very encouraging

effort from the Todd Pletcher runner. Edgar Prado picks up the mount and figures

to sit a forwardly placed trip from post 4, and Zapster looks very live to us.

PADDY O'PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) exits a troubled trip in his turf debut,

steadying at the top of the stretch in the August 5 maiden special weight over

track/trip, but he re-rallied impressively to to just miss by a neck in second

with a flying finish. The Dale Romans pupil is well-drawn in post 2 with Robby

Albarado, who seems to do his best with two-year-olds at the Spa, and we won't

be surprised to see the gray colt strike the second time around.

DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) edged Paddy O'Prado with a perfect trip on the

front end last time, and we won't be surprised to see another fine showing from

him in his second start at a route. The Michael Maker charge wound up in front

last time but has shown that he can stalk, and jockey Julien Leparoux won't be

in a rush if another rival wants the early lead. Dean's Kitten is a legitimate

win contender.

STRIKE THE TIGER (Tiger Ridge) drew post 10 for his two-turn debut and could

prove vulnerable at short odds. We love the talent he's displayed so far,

winning the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot and the Chenery S. at Colonial

Downs in his last two starts, and the unbeaten youngster hails from the Wesley

Ward stable, which excels with two-year-olds. The California-bred gelding is

coupled with MISSISSIPPI HIPPIE (Dance Master) and since John Velazquez is named

on both, one of the entrants will have to scratch. We'll include Strike the

Tiger on the bottom of some exotics, but we don't like him for the top spot from the

far outside.

Mississippi Hippie broke his maiden sprinting on the turf at Belmont two

starts back and finished second when stretching out to a mile last time for the

Continental Mile S. at Monmouth Park. The chestnut will likely come out firing

on the lead if his connections opt to start him here, and it will be no surprise

to see him hold for at least another minor award in his second stakes attempt.

JUNG MAN SCOTT (Freud) figures to receive plenty of tote action off his

romping 8 1/4-length maiden special weight score at the Spa, but that victory

came over New York-bred rivals in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint. This is a totally

different situation, and the Richard Dutrow pupil won't offer any value under

Ramon Dominguez. We'll take a stand against. RED RALLY (Reformer Rally) exits an

allowance/optional claiming win on the Spa's sloppy main track, and the Merrill Scherer

gelding showed good form in his two previous turf starts. We're not convinced

about his ability at two turns, but the stalker can't be completely dismissed

from exotics consideration.

GOLLY DAY (Lion Heart) broke his maiden going away over the course last time,

but the New York-bred colt could find this class hike too difficult. INTERACTIF

(Broken Vow) is eligible to show speed in his turf debut for Pletcher, but we

can't recommend his chances in this spot. TWO NOTCH ROAD (Partner's Hero) sprung

the upset at 107-1 odds in the Continental Mile, but we'll just watch to see how

the Glenn Thompson trainee handles his New York debut.

QUICK MONEY (City Zip) is a first-time starter from Linda Rice who will draw

in from the also-eligibles list when one of the entrymates scratch. We'll give him a race. Main-track only runners AIKENITE (Yes It's True) and TURF MELODY (Maria's

Mon) will likely stay in the barn.