A race over the track and a little extra experience may have made the difference during the latter stages of Saturday’s $200,000 Adirondack Stakes, with Just Wicked finally getting the better of the gritty pacesetter Tonasah in the closing yards to post a well-deserved 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 dash for juvenile fillies.
Untapable, second in the Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap on Aug. 2, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 over the Oklahoma training track Saturday in preparation for a rematch with Stopchargingmaria in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 29.
Curalina, elevated to first in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here July 26, worked four furlongs in 48.65 seconds over the Saratoga main track in company with Tango Time as she prepares for this coming Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama Stakes.
While the potential star of the Grade 1 Travers was scheduled to audition on Sunday in California, several members of the Mid-Summer Derby’s supporting cast were in rehearsal mode Saturday morning at Saratoga.
Coming off a win, a stellar work, and breaking from the rail with a short run to the first turn in 1 1/8-mile races at Saratoga, it’s hard not to think that Carameaway stands a pretty good chance of successfully defending her title Monday in the $100,000 Saratoga Dew for New York-bred fillies and mares.
Curlin’s Fox, the winner of Friday’s 87,400 Sandy Blue Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf, will be pointed for the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 17, trainer Carla Gaines said on Saturday.
Class Leader has never run in a Grade 1 race or won a graded stakes. Imperative is a Grade 2 winner who is winless in seven Grade 1 or Group 1 races on two continents and has not raced since April.
Not too many of the pick four sequences at the meet have been to my liking. Often there have been three pretty good races with one I haven't liked for one reason or another. But Sunday's sequence looks intriguing, and I am going to take a swing. I will put in a traditional ABC play through DRF Formulator and will look to press certain combinations as well.
There’s not much to separate the eight entrants in Saturday’s featured Fourstardave at Saratoga. Everyone routinely runs Beyer Speed Figures between 98 and 101, six of them have won at the Grade 2 level or higher, and most are at their best distance going a mile today.
Horseplayers who enjoy betting against favorites will appreciate the Del Mar card on Sunday. Overlays are sprinkled throughout the program, including five who are listed below.
