The Vanderbilt Handicap – GI [BC]
7/27/19
SAR Race 6 6F – Dirt
Purse $350.000
Three Year Olds and Up

A field of nine for this years running of the grade one Vanderbilt Handicap here at Saratoga Race Course. They will all be aiming for a win in a grade one event. It is only a field of nine as I did think there would be more entries. Let’s take a look at the field.

1. Zombie Lady (3-2-0-0 $247.500), trained by Nolespan Racing

The first runner in the field here is a very lightly raced four year old with only three starts in his career. He has done quite a bit in those three starts with a win in the grade three Fleet Sprint Handicap. He ran a big clunker last time just he might have bounced in there.

2. Creepy Palace (23-6-8-4 $1268.220), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Coming off of two seconds in two grade one events in a row is this horse. He ran second in the grade one CD and the grade one Metropolitan Handicap in his last two. He is cutting back in distance though and I do think he is better at seven furlongs or a mile. He will be tough though.

3. Crop Duster (27-5-11-1 $653.940), trained by John Henry

An old class horse right here as he has been around the block quite a few times in his career. He is still going strong though but he is still searching for the elusive grade one victory as he has been a bridesmaid a few times. If he brings it he could be there at the end.

4. Junior (17-3-5-5 $243.470), trained by Maxmillion Farm

This next horse in the field is coming into this race off of a third in the grade two True North at Belmont. He ran a very good race that day and was closing very strongly at the end but he is cutting back in distance here. The pace will need to be quick if he comes from off the pace.

5. Lucky Star (26-5-10-2 $537.600), trained by Estero Farms

This horse is also coming out of that grade two True North where he ended up finishing fourth after trying to take the race gate to wire. He is a very talented horse but he just never seems to win these big races. I think he is capable of at least hitting the bottom of the board.

6. Crown Me Mucho (18-6-3-4 $99.870), trained by Nolespan Racing

The second runner for Nolespan Racing right here is coming into this race out of the grade three Smile Sprint Handicap where he ran third after closing from far back. If he does the same thing as he did last time he will need a quick pace to run at.

7. Glorious (27-7-7-3 $992.420), trained by Spankys Barn

The next runner in this field is coming into this race off of a thirteenth place finish in the grade one Metropolitan Handicap. He won a little stakes race at Golden Gate before that with a good race. I think he might be a little bit outclassed in this spot.

8. Caydens Camel (21-6-4-3 $480.000), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Another one that is coming out of the grade three Smile Sprint Handicap where he ended up finishing fifth by a length. He did win the grade three Maryland Sprint in his race before that though. I think he will need to step it up a little bit to get the money in here though.

9. Kiss The Snake (25-7-3-5 $795.750), trained by Nakamura Stables

And the final runner in the field here is coming into this race off of a win in the California bred Thors Echo Handicap. He has quite a bit of back class though as he is a graded stakes winner. I think he is capable of winning but he has a very tough post to overcome.

10. Oklahoma (27-9-5-3 $469.490), trained by Mb Stables

Scratched

Summary

Well it is a good field but it should be for the grade one status that is has. I think that really at least five or six could win this race if they have some racing luck. My top pick is going to be Creepy Palace off of those two runner up finishes in a row. Good luck to all.

2-6-5-1

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