Cinco Charlie, Nonna's Boy among top contenders in Saratoga Special
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There certainly was no shortage of interest when entries were drawn Thursday for Sunday’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special, with 11 juveniles looking to become graded stakes winners for the first time, including Cinco Charlie and Nonna’s Boy, the third and fourth finishers in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes three weeks ago.
Among the new faces in the 6 1/2-furlong Special is Majestic Affair, who made his only start at Canterbury Downs, where he drew off to an 8 3/4-length victory July 6. Majestic Affair, a son of Majesticperfection, subsequently was privately purchased by James Covello and turned over to trainer Chad Brown.
“Nick Salusto bought the horse for the owner, and they sent it to me,” said Brown. “And from what I’ve seen so far, it looks like they’ve sent a pretty solid horse.”
Brown’s biggest concern is running his new acquisition back a little too quickly.
“He’s only worked once for me, but he breezed well,” said Brown. “I just wish I had a little more time with him, especially since the Special looks to be coming up a pretty solid race.”
Like Majestic Affair, Tizcano also was purchased since winning his debut by 6 1/2 lengths going 4 1/2 furlongs June 22 at Gulfstream Park. Rockingham Ranch acquired the son of Tiznow at the Fasig-Tipton sale of select horses of racing age July 14. Tizcano originally earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest by any 2-year-old at the time, for his maiden win, but that figure was expunged several weeks later after columnist Andrew Beyer said there was some uncertainty as to the accuracy of the times reported in 4 1/2-furlong races at Gulfstream.
Tizcano is stabled at Saratoga with trainer David Jacobson.
Cinco Charlie and Nonna’s Boy likely will vie for favoritism in the Special, along with trainer Bret Calhoun’s stakes winner, W V Jetsetter. The remainder of the field consists of Cleveland Sound, I Spent It, Lord Tyrion, Mr. Z, Rod McLeod, and Stanford.