Aqueduct: Saratoga Snacks aims for repeat in Alex M. Robb Stakes

Saratoga Snacks, who capped off 2012 by winning the Alex M. Robb Stakes at 4-5, will be a similar price in this year’s edition of the $100,000, 1 1/16-mile race for New York-breds on Saturday.

At 4, Saratoga Snacks has seen limited action due to problematic feet but has been very good when right for Bill Parcells and trainer Gary Sciacca. Making his 2013 debut in June, Saratoga Snacks earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Shy Groom overnight stakes.

Following a tough-trip third in the John Morrissey Stakes, he returned from a 79-day layoff to take the Empire Classic Handicap in October.

“Once I put the glue-on shoes on the horse, it made all the difference in the world,” Sciacca said. “He started doing good. He’s a fighter. Bill says he’s like getting a Lawrence Taylor.”

Four weeks ago, Saratoga Snacks stumbled badly at the start of the Grade 1 Cigar Mile and never was a factor. “He came out of there banged up,” Sciacca said. “He went all the way down to his knees. I think he would have been right there if he was where he was supposed to be instead of trailing the field in last.”

Saratoga Snacks breezed a bullet half-mile in the mud last Sunday. He must overcome the far-outside post against seven rivals.

Moneyinyour Pocket, Zetterholm, and Awesome Vision – third, fifth, and sixth in the Empire Classic – take another shot at the favorite. Those three emerge from the recent Move It Now overnight stakes, won by Awesome Vision, a deep closer whose six victories at Aqueduct include a 4-for-6 record on the inner dirt for trainer Tom Albertrani.

“He’s been training really well and apparently likes the inner track at Aqueduct,” Albertrani said. “He looks like he’s in good form and hopefully can continue his winning ways over there. He’s definitely better at two turns.”

Comandante and West Hills Giant, 3-year-olds coming off a 1-2 finish in the Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series, stretch out from seven furlongs.

Comandante has been on the improve in four starts since transferred to Todd Pletcher, climaxed by winning with a 94 Beyer while keeping West Hills Giant at bay five weeks ago.

“When you have these kinds of opportunities, you have to give them a try,” Pletcher said. “I thought he ran well...he had a perfect outside stalking trip.”

West Hills Giant, a three-time stakes winner and this year’s Gotham Stakes runner-up when he last ran on the inner track, comes off a new top Beyer of 91. He also was entered in Friday’s $100,000 Traskwood overnight stakes by trainer John Terranova.

Bake Shop and Sound of Drums round out the field.