After key scratches, Booked likely favorite in Sanford
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A field of nine 2-year-olds, eight of whom won their most recent starts, has been entered for Saturday’s Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. Unfortunately the six-furlong dash, which had its inaugural running in 1913, is expected to lose two of its leading players, Ashcroft Lane and Waggley, whose connections announced their intention to scratch earlier in the week.
Even with those defections, the tradition-rich Sanford looms a wide open betting proposition. The impressive local maiden winner Booked is likely to go postward a tepid favorite while trying to give trainer Steve Asmussen back-to-back Sanford victories. Asmussen won the race a year ago with Obliteration.
Trainer Rob Falcone Jr. said Ashcroft Lane, a 9 3/4-length winner of his only previous start, had something “pop up” as he was cooling out from a routine gallop on Wednesday. The setback will keep the speedy youngster out of the race.
“Just a real disappointment and awful, awful luck,” Falcone said. “So gutted for the horse and connections. I was really looking forward to running him back.”
Wesley Ward said he has opted to scratch Waggley, the lone filly and stakes winner in the original lineup, after she drew post 1 for her local debut. Waggley, perfect in two starts, beat males as the favorite in the scratch-reduced Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill on April 29.
“We skipped the Schuylerville on opening day because she’s already a listed stakes winner and we were looking for a graded win or placing for her in this spot,” Ward explained. “But after drawing the rail, we are now contemplating looking elsewhere for that opportunity.”
Booked finished a disappointing second following a poor start as the even-money favorite in his debut at Churchill but made amends when shipping locally to defeat maiden opposition by 1 3/4 lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs on June 7. Booked earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest number posted by any member of the lineup.
“He stood there and absolutely missed the break from the one-hole in his debut,” Asmussed said. “I waited to run him back [at Saratoga] Belmont week, the race went as expected and I think there’s more there. And he is the only one in this field with a win over the course.”
In light of his poor start from post 1 in his debut, the fact Waggley will scratch could negatively impact Booked, who will break from the rail once again under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.
Goodbye to Romance was an impressive winner at first asking for trainer Jena Anonucci, prompting the pace before edging away to a 3 1/4-length maiden special weight tally going five furlongs at Aqueduct on May 15.
“I love we’ve had all that space between his first race and this next one back,” said Antonucci. “It’s given him a lot of time to grow up and mature, which is an ideal scenario for a young horse. He won his first race under wraps, just cruising to the wire, and we’re looking forward to having that added ground.”
Flavien Prat will replace Santana aboard Goodbye to Romance.
Regent’s Park, a $1.4 million yearling purchase, was an easy debut winner as a prohibitive 1-2 favorite while meeting three overmatched rivals launching his career going 4 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth Park. He will be facing much stiffer competition while stretching out to six furlongs on Saturday.
Other first-out winners in the field include the Santa Anita-based Pocket Listing; Kentucky invader Vissino, and Gulfstream Park shipper Rasasi.
Pocket Listing ran to his big works and 1-2 backing making his debut last month at Santa Anita, leading at every call while cruising to an easy 8 1/2-length victory for trainer Doug O’Neill. The homebred son of Listing continues to train forwardly for his stakes bow, having breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 while finishing strongly and running well clear of his workmate last Saturday at Santa Anita, according to the Daily Racing Form workout report.
Vissino overcame early trouble and a wide trip to win right off the bench for trainer Mark Casse while showing the ability to pass horses and come running late from off the pace. That quality could prove a major asset in a Sanford lineup loaded with early speed.
Jack’s Golden Goal is the lone maiden in the field but did finish a solid second behind Booked kicking off his career here last month. He will add blinkers for his rematch with the likely favorite and enters the race off a bullet half-mile work in 46.40 seconds 11 days earlier at Belmont Park.
– additional reporting by David Grening
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