Crist: Hall of Fame Stakes Analysis

If you have a good grass 3-year-old this time of year, you can send him a mile and a quarter for $500k in the G1 Secretariat at Arlington Aug. 16 or for $200k at a mile and a sixteenth in today’s G2 Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga. The Arlington race usually draws a few European who excel at the distance and generally outclass the U.S. runners, one reason Bobby’s Kitten is the 7-5 favorite in today’s Hall of Fame instead of trying the longer and more difficult Secretariat.

Bobby’s Kitten is a legit favorite in the HOF. He’s more accomplished and has kept tougher company than his five opponents, and if he gets loose early he’s probably gone. Still, there are two alternatives to the favorite who would have to improve to beat him – but just might.

Give No Quarter returned from a 7 ½ month layoff to make his grass debut at Belmont June 9 and won it as if he has a bright future and room to improve. If he can move forward second time off a layoff and with one grass race under his girth, he could be good enough.

The other is Bashart, who also will be making his second start off a layoff but did not return in the pink. He was overeager off his winter break and prompted a quick pace, coming up short in the lane. Today he sheds his usual blinkers, a change that may keep him off any hot early fractions. He showed his quality last summer winning both his Saratoga starts including the G2 With Anticipation. Today’s the day he gets to show whether he can recapture and exceed his 2-year-old form. If he can, this may be the last time you get as good a price on him as his ML 4-1.