Clement sends out strong pair in Saranac

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – One of the reasons trainer Christophe Clement has had such a quiet Saratoga is due to the success he had toward the end of the Belmont spring-summer meet.

Two of the horses that were part of that success, Up the Ante and Therapist, form a strong 1-2 punch for Clement in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles over Saratoga’s Mellon turf course.

Up the Ante, a son of Smart Strike, won twice during the Belmont meet, including a front-running 3 1/2-length victory in the Manila Stakes, where he beat Raging Bull, one of the top contenders in the Saranac.

“He had a very aggressive type of ride and it worked out,” said Clement, who entered the final five days of Saratoga with three wins from 29 starters. “I would expect the same kind of thing again.”

The Manila was run as a one-turn mile race. In the Saranac, Up the Ante must prove he can get 1 1/8 miles around two turns.

“There’s always a question until you try it, but I don’t know why he wouldn’t stay a mile and an eighth,” Clement said.

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Therapist has won 6 of 8 starts, including a pair of New York Stallion Stakes going seven furlongs and a mile. Irad Ortiz Jr. has stayed with Maraud in the Saranac, so John Velazquez picks up the mount on Therapist.

“If John Velazquez can get him to settle, he should stay a mile and an eighth,” Clement said. “He’s got a very good turn of foot as long as he settles.”

Raging Bull unleashed a devastating turn of foot to run down Maraud and win the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes here on Aug. 3.

Free Drop Billy, a Grade 1 winner on dirt, makes his turf debut in this spot. He is a half-brother to the multiple European Group 1 winner Hawkbill.

KEY CONTENDERS

Up the Ante, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 95-83-81

◗ Clement said the horse needed a little time to regroup after his Manila Stakes victory but likely wouldn’t have run in the Hall of Fame when the turf came up soft.

◗ He had things his own way in the Manila, and was able to quicken as fast as Raging Bull in the final furlong.

Raging Bull, by Dark Angel
Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-86

◗ He is 3 for 4, with his sole loss coming in the Manila Stakes when Joel Rosario left him too much to do.

◗ He will be at the mercy of pace, though he could get a contested one here.

Maraud, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-82

◗ Looked like a winner in the Hall of Fame before Raging Bull nailed him at the wire.

“He got caught off guard last time,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He was battling with a foe right next to him, and once he put that one away he and Irad both felt they had it won and got nailed the last jump.”