All Star Stakes Analysis For Saratoga, August 31
BERNARD BARUCH
SILVER MAX hasn't been as reliable this year as he was at 3, but comes off the fastest race of his life wiring the Oceanport. He has since trained swiftly, and will be able to dictate the pace. ZA APPROVAL was scratched from Fourstardave due to unsuitable course conditions; the firm turf-loving closer won Grade 3s back to back before chasing 3-10 Obviously in the Shoemaker Mile. TETRADRACHM was purchased after running second to Lea (see today's Forego), and got through N3X ranks as much best four weeks ago; money chances coming right back over the same course and distance.
For multi-race exotic purposes, Silver Max and Za Approval are As; Tetradrachm is a B.
FOREGO
JUSTIN PHILLIP got his first Grade 1 and went over the $1 million mark with a good setup in the A.G. Vanderbilt, a race he lost by a neck last year. The hard-knocking veteran must sidestep a bounce coming off a career best 109 Beyer as he chases entrymate FAST BULLET. The latter is a sparingly raced but talented 5-year-old whose only loss was BC Sprint when outsprinted early on a speed-biased track; his sire, Speightstown, equaled Saratoga's 6F track record in the 2004 Vandy. SARATOGA SNACKS was hemmed in throughout the John Morrissey while 21-time winner Saginaw was free and clear outside. The fast New York-bred is on a bounce-rebound pattern third time back, and another 105 or so as in his return would put him in the running. SAGE VALLEY is the only other horse who seems fast enough to contend based on recent form.
Justin Phillip and Fast Bullet will be a short-priced Zayat Stable entry, but Saratoga Snacks may be an inviting price, and can’t possibly get a worse trip than last time. They are As, while Sage Valley, the James Marvin winner, is a B.
WOODWARD
You can't find a more textbook example of the bounce-rebound form pattern than PAYNTER, who battled back from life-threatening illness to win his comeback with a 114 Beyer, and bounced several lengths in a game try vs. Kettle Corn (2nd in last week's Pacific Classic). He is sitting on go in return to preferred surface. FLAT OUT's favorite surface is "Big Sandy," but the Belmont-loving 7-year-old was good enough to run second in the 2011 Woodward to eventual Horse of the Year Havre de Grace. He has had a breather since winning his second Suburban. SUCCESSFUL DAN fell while en route from paddock to the track, dusted himself off and came rolling late to overhaul MUCHO MACHO MAN in the Whitney, Unlike Paynter and Flat Out, he has never won carrying today's weight of 126 pounds.
Paynter grades out as an A. Flat Out, Successful Dan and Mucho Macho Man form the B-team.