A full field of twelve will go head to head here at The Spa on Saturday, all looking to gain respect with their fellow horsemen, while gaining ground on positioning themselves for a shot at the BC Juvenile in November.
- The SAR Special Grade II – Purse $200.000
- Saratoga Race Course – For Two Year Olds
- Six and One half Furlongs- Main Track
- August 10th, 2019
Some of Saturday’s runners have gain points towards this years Juvenile, others are building earnings to make a dent at getting a better top position, but either way you look at it, all of these ten trainers are hoping for the ideal prize at the end of the tunnel. Questioning themselves as to have they done all the right preps, are the instructions correct, were they able to find the right horse/jockey combination to bring home the win. This game called horse racing can make life challenging, but the rewards are just as great as well.
Weights: All 119 Pounds
Changes:
Yankee Doodle Dandy – Adds Bute
Orion Nebula– Removes Lasix and blinkers
Dragster- Adds blinkers and shadow roll
Here’s a rundown of this season’s entries;
1 Not So Nice ( La Canada Racehorses ) – Has finished in the top three in all four of his career starts with a record of ( 1-2-1 ). Has accumulated $58 in earnings, placing him in 34th position as far as the BC Juvenile points standings go. Competed in the $100 Nevin Stakes in early July and closed to finish third going five and a half. The added furlong should be agreeable to this son of No Return. Should be charging.
2 Yankee Doodle Dandy ( Blushing Meadows ) – Sits 7th in BC Juvenile points with one point to his credit from his effort in the Gr. III Bashford Manor placing third. Will be facing the same top three runners from that event in this go around and hopefully will be better placed. Will be adding Bute for this event after placing a shadow roll on during his most recent. Trainer is looking for the combination and hopefully he finds it today.
3 Fancy This ( Mb Stables ) – Is positioned in 5th in the Juvenile points race with this group. Has just a single BC Point to his credit with his photo finish effort for third in the Bashford Manor with his inside runner here today. Seven is not a lucky number for this two year old as he went under the knife on July 7th, but maybe the number three silks will be. Has been keenly working eight days apart since, and seems poised to strike. Factor.
4 Tall Greek Stud ( Oquinn Farm ) – based on his earnings, he is in the 23rd spot when it comes to the BC Juvenile points. Trainer is having some considerable success this season with two year olds, finishing first 13 out of 73 starts, or 17.8 %. Has made back to back adds to this black colts regiment, Lasix then Bute and he managed to break his maiden after just three career starts. That came over this very track, so he knows the surface. Laparoux remains in the irons as well. Can repeat.
5 Aggravated Sky ( Estero Farms ) – Trainer added Bute and blinkers two starts ago and this chestnut responded nicely bringing home his maiden win. Stepped up in his most recent effort to compete against Alw67.5 company, and he charged late to get up for second just a length shy. Must be noted that he broke from the extreme outside from the gate, so he overcame that disadvantage as well. His HRP speed figures are impressive as well and could steal it all away late.
6 Certain Cash ( Eastern Equine )- Nice to write about this old friend for a change. He is sending out this two time starter who seems to like to have his picture taken. In mid June he would lose by a nose in a photo to one who now sits 27th in the Juvenile standings, then won his most recent maiden event by a head going six panels in under a 1:10 time, impressive. Hernandez likes to mix it up early, so he may very well fit this one in nicely.
7 Orion Nebula ( Fractious ) First of two entries for this trainer, and was just a recent purchased in the third week of June. Trainer has removed a couple of items from his regiment and this will be his first try for his new interests. Already has won two straight in just two career starts, and that should deserve some merit. Not really sure when the changes were made, but this little puppy is fast and they better not let he run away with the spotlight today. Catch him if you can.
8 Sexy Back ( Night Rider Stables ) Is from the same sire that produced this years Belmont Stakes winner Admiration, and he his hoping to follow in that one’s footsteps. He broke his maiden last time out going six furlongs in a nice 1:09 and four time and that came over at Belmont Park as well, so maybe their is an attachment to that track for Aggravation foals? Just one of three in his career and may have liked a better inside post position for this affair. Maragh is back and they both need to show up today.
9 Commander Kemp ( Joshua Stables ) – Has been focusing his efforts over at Parx in his two career starts, and managed to find the winners circle last time out going five and a half against MdSpWt45 company. This event is definitely the right move forward for him, and his trainer has been interesting to alter his works back and forth between dirt and turf. Was post time favorite in both starts, so the public has faith. Trainer is firing at 23% with two year olds this season.
10 Pound It ( Fractious ) – Earned a 92 SRF figure last time out in the $150 Tremont event where he closed to finish fifth, just two lengths shy from the number 12 post. Doesn’t get much relief moving in two spots for this event, but he knows how to overcome it late. Has a sharp five furlong work eight days prior to this race, so it should keep him keen. Should be among a group of runners showing up late, so hopefully traffic wont hold him up down the lane.
11 Spirited Stride ( Mb Stables ) Not the best of draws for this already two time winner in three starts. Even though he had an improving effort two starts ago against Alw87.5 company after breaking his maiden, his trainer still decided to go the gelded route, and the following affair brought him that second win. Works are keen but the post position has me concerned with this group of runners. Unless instructions have changed, he will be full of run late and needs to be tight in to get a prize.
12 Dragster ( D J C Racing Stables ) Has two BC Juvenile points to his credit going runner-up in the Bashford and his trainer is a two time winner of this event. Looks to defend after winning last season with a horse by the name of Not To Be Denied who is still searching for his first win as a sophomore. Bad news is he has to overcome this dreaded 12 hole for this event, but this two year old can produce. Had success with Wilson at WO, and would have liked to have seen a rematch here. Best finisher in the Bashford, so take note.
Duffer
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
