Saratoga: Balance the Books comes from last to win With Anticipation

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When Chad Brown examined the speed figures Wednesday night for the horses entered to run in Thursday's Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga, he was hoping that his horse, Balance the Books, could draw into the field from the also-eligible list.

Though at first he wanted a few scratches so the horse wouldn't break from too far outside, Brown decided that one scratch would be enough.

In the end, Brown got four scratches and Balance the Books landed in post 9. Utilizing a strong closing kick under Julien Leparoux, Balance the Books rallied from last to nail pacesetting Joha on the wire to win the $200,000 With Anticipation by a head. It was 1 3/4 lengths back to favored Charming Kitten in third.

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"When I examined the numbers I figured if I could just draw in from any post he has a chance to win it," Brown said. "When we decided to run there was only one scratch at the time."

The win gave Brown a sweep of the 2-year-old turf stakes this week. On Wednesday, he won the $100,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes with Watsdachances.

Balance the Books, owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, was coming out of a second-place finish to Craving Carats in an Aug. 4 maiden race, one in which Balance the Books rallied from 15 lengths back to finish within one-half length at the finish.

On Thursday, Balance the Books was again last, but only about eight lengths off the pace, established by Joha and Ramon Dominguez. When Leparoux guided him into the seven path turning for home - with a bump from Hightail - Balance the Books kicked hard and got up in time.

Balance the Books, a son of Lemon Drop Kid, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.30 and returned $10.80.

"When I asked him to go I knew I had a lot of horse, he gave a great kick," Leparoux said. "Ramon obviously got the jump on us, but I could see I could catch him and he ran great today."

Brown doesn't believe Balance the Books will always have to come from dead last. He believes with experience the horse "will get a little sharper and more tactical."

Brown said Balance the Books will be pointed toward the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in November. He will either prep in the Pilgrim on turf at Belmont on Oct. 7 or the Breeders' Futurity over the Polytrack at Keeneland on Oct. 16.