SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Eight of the 10 juveniles in Saturday’s $175,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga won their career debuts. Gold Sweep was not one of them. Despite that fact, it is Gold Sweep who will be heavily favored to win the Grade 3 Sanford, the first of three graded stakes for 2-year-olds to be run, as always, during the Saratoga meet culminating with the Grade 1 Hopeful on closing day. Gold Sweep finished second, beaten a neck by Wilson Q, going five furlongs launching his career at Churchill Downs on May 18. The 75 Beyer Figure he earned in defeat that day is better than any number posted by his Sanford rivals. The son of Speightstown exceeded that performance when coming back four weeks later to dominate the 5 1/2-furlong Tremont at Belmont by nine lengths, receiving a whopping 91 Beyer while winning with speed to spare. “I was a little disappointed he lost his first start, but you watch the race and you knew you were leading the right horse back to the barn. He just needed a little more ground that day is all,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Gold Sweep for owner Mike McCarty. “[The Tremont] was a huge jump forward. For a 2-year-old to run a nine Rag [Ragozin Sheet number] in June is special. And he’s trained well since. :: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.  “He’s a nice, big, strong colt and I feel good about the opportunities that are present for him and I don’t think he’s going to have any trouble as far as they want to go.” Gold Sweep’s nine rivals won their maidens at five different tracks over both dirt and synthetic surfaces at distances ranging from two to 5 1/2 furlongs. Yo Yo Candy is the only other member of the lineup with stakes experience, having finished a distant third, 10 1/4 lengths behind Gold Sweep, after a bit of a wide trip in the Tremont. He will wear blinkers for the first time in the rematch. D. Wayne Lukas has won the Sanford three times but not since 1998 with Time Bandit. The Hall of Fame trainer will look to break the long drought with Market Street, who led gate to wire winning off by 3 3/4 lengths over a sloppy track just 16 days earlier at Ellis Park. Market Street is well drawn on the outside and figures to be part of a contentious early pace scenario that should also include Florida invaders Dickens and Jive, both of whom are owned by the BC Racing Stable of Brian Cohen. They were with the pace throughout when graduating at first asking earlier this spring at Gulfstream Park. :: DRF's 2023 Saratoga headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. Jive was scheduled to run in the Tremont but scratched as a precautionary measure after an incident in the paddock prior to the race. Call the Cavalry overcame an eventful start breaking from the rail to earn his diploma for trainer Kenny McPeek in his debut last month at Belmont but has drawn the inside once again. He is one of several late threats along with Triple Trea and Ramming Speed, both of whom rallied to victory, albeit over synthetic surfaces at Presque Isle and Woodbine, in their most recent starts. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages. – additional reporting by David Grening