And a G1 in Del Mar
The Saratoga weekend starts off with the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, a Gr 2 over 1600m turf with a field of eight. It's an interesting field headed by West Coast raider Zulu Kingdom from Baffert's yard with Prat riding and they are on 8/5. The UK raider here is Luther from Charlie Fellowes's stables with Rosario booked for the ride on 3/1 and Clever Again 6/1 for Asmussen- J L Ortiz.
Saturday's card starts off with a Gr 2 and then has four Gr1s. The Saratoga Special is Gr 2 over 1300m for the 2yos with six running . Dazzle d'Oro is a Bolt d'Oro colt on 5/2 for Amoss- J L Ortiz. Ewing is by Knicks Go (seems like he was racing 5 minutes ago) and on 8/5 for Casse - I Ortiz, and Obliteration is a well-named Violence product on 7/5 for Asmussen-Prat.
The Fourstardave is over 1600m turf and has attracted Johannes from the West Coast as it gives an entrée to the Breeders' Cup Turf Mile. Tim Yakteen is saddling a runner at Saratoga for the first time and has Rispoli riding. They are on 5/2. We are a big fan of Clement's Deterministic and should Johannes be a little below top form in strange surroundings we will go with him on 9/2 with Ken Carmouche riding and Spirit of St Louis is on 6/1 for Brown-Franco.
The Saratoga Derby Invitational is over 1900m on turf and here Jessica Harrington's raider Hotazhell with Shane Foley riding and they are on 7/5. Test Score has been in good form and is on 7/2 for Motion-Franco and New Century is 5/1 for Walsh- I Ortiz.
The Test is over 1400m for 3yo fillies and has 8 lined up. Current favourite is Echo Sound on 6/5 for Arnold-Saez – she's by Vekoma. Ragtime is a Godolphin filly with Bill Mott. She's by Union Rags and will be partnered by Junior Alvarado. Cash Call is another Baffert pupil who is by McKinzie with Prat riding and they are on 5/1.
Then we come to the Whitney, over 1800m and a field of ten headed by Sierra Leone who we adore and he's 2/1 here for Brown-Prat. Mindframe is on 5/2 for Pletcher – J A Gomez and White Abarrio is back and on 4/1 for Joseph – I Ortiz. Fierceness is on 9/5 and there is some chatter surrounding both Pletcher horses running but providing they do he's on 9/5 and Velzquez will be in the irons.
There was quite an incident in the mounting yard on Wednesday when Corruption, who had just won a race, collapsed and although got back on his feet was very unsteady so everyone pitched in to help getting him ice and fluids and happily we can report that the following morning he seems to be fine but Casse will still have blood tests etc to make sure that is the case but it was wonderful how everyone pitched in to help. Shows there is a heart in racing.
Over at Del Mar on. Saturday it's the Clement L Hirsch G1 for the f&m and not too surprising to see a Baffert horse as favourite – this time it is Seismic Beauty on 2/1 with J J Hernandez on board. The Chilean-bred Richi is on 3/1 – he's also with Baffert these days and Antonio Fresu gets the ride. Kopton is also in this on 5/2 for Mandella-Kimura.
