The Saranac (Grade 3)- $300.000 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
September 3, 2016
Travers weekend may have been last week, but that doesn’t mean that the great racing has stopped here at beautiful Saratoga Race Course. It’s hard to believe that we have reached the last Saturday of the meet, and that we will be closing down for the year very soon, but there is plenty of racing still to enjoy. One of several big races is the 13th running of the Saranac, a grade 3 event for three year olds on the grass. Just two years ago, we had the pleasure of watching Ashkalani race to victory here en route to winning the BC Turf later in the fall. Last year, Sandor Clegame saw victory here before finishing second the BC Mile. There are no standouts in this field, but it looks to be an evenly matched race of successful horses who all are close to taking that next big step forward in their racing careers to perhaps, getting to the BC themselves. There are seven in this race, and here is a look!
#1- Classic Cliche (Blushing Meadows, ridden by D Moran)- The gelding by the late Timdala will be making a somewhat quick turnaround here, having recently run in the AP Million, or maybe time just flies and it really has been three weeks since that already. The trainer was patient with him early on, and even though he did not break his maiden until the end of April it was still just his fourth start. A month later, he was victorious in the $200.000 Snow Chief for CA-breds. Since then, a couple Grade 1 attempts have not gone according to plan, but I really like the way that he raced in the Snow Chief. If he brings that again, he’s gonna make it tough on the competition here.
#2- Doctor Moriarty (Jerry Garcia Racing, ridden by J J Castellano)- He has won three of nine starts so far in his career, but has not seen the winners circle when the trainer has tried to advance his career into the stakes level. This will not be his turf debut, technically, as he did very early in his career race once on the grass against maidens. Realistically, though, it’s a noteworthy change. Recent works point this potentially going pretty well, and the trainer hopes this will be what cures his Doctor at this level.
#3- Sonic (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by R J Albarado)- Last month, Sonic took to this race track and ran in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing, and turned in a solid fourth place finish. He is one of three to come out of that race, and the other two took the top two spots. This month, Sonic gets a little more distance, but I am not sure that is actually favorable when measuring him up against Fluctuation and King Chuck. At six furlongs, Sonic led Fluctuation by two. At the wire, he was beaten by two, and that concerns me. He ran a couple beauties at seven furlongs heading into that race, and would give him the nod at that distance.
#4- Fluctuation (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- While Sonic was finishing fourth in the National Museum of Racing, Fluctuation was closing hard in the stretch and picked up the victory. The win was the fifth of his eight race career, and he is now two for three on the turf. Even though it’s not a huge total yet, Fluctuation does lead this field in career earnings, and there really is much to like about him. He is consistent, and knows how to find his way to the winners circle, and I really like him going longer here. I’m looking for a fantastic stretch run in this race between him and a couple others, and believe that this race will come down to heart. If it does, you gotta like his resume of getting it done.
#5- Raj Action Packed (Night Rider Stables, ridden by F Prat)- The Iron Chito gelding has been a regular at New York race tracks, and as often raced with a NY-bred restriction. Seven of his ten races are with that. His most recent run was a second place performance right here at the Spa where he was second, and was also coming on strong. He is one of few, like Fluctuation, King Chuck, and Classic Cliche, who I can see all make fantastic stretch bids. Raj Action Packed has had some seconditis when in that situation before, so I am leaning elsewhere.
#6- King Chuck (Gdp Inc, ridden by J R Leparoux)- King Chuck was the runner up in the National Museum of Racing, and would love to fluctuate the running order between him and Fluctuation here in this race. Other then his debut, he has been a model of consistency, and has never failed to hit the board in his last eight races. Two of them have been wins, including a stunning performance on yielding GP turf in the $75.000 Miesques Approval. In the National Museum of Racing, he and Fluctuation seemed to race with each other the whole way and the rematch is going to be interesting.
#7- Admirals Aces (Grimley, ridden by M Franco)- After being scratched out of the Sword Dancer here last week, Grimley may have been trying for a softer field (more because the Sword Dancer field was so strong), in this race. If that is the case, then he probably got what he wanted here. It will be a shorter race, too, and I think it suits him a lot better. The highlight of his career so far was his 4th place run in the Grade 1 FL Derby. Sure, it wasn’t a win, but based on who he ran against that day as he was making his graded debut, it was an impressive performance. Since then, he did get a win on the grass here at the same distance in an optional claiming event. I think this audible may pay off for the trainer.
Prediction: 7-4-6-1
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
