Cross Border drops south in class for Lubash

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Cross Border takes a significant drop in class, cuts back in distance, and returns to one of his favorite courses when he heads a short field entered in Wednesday’s $85,000 Lubash Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga.

Cross Border, a 6-year-old ridgling by English Channel, most recently finished fifth, beaten just one length by Instilled Regard, in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont Park on July 4. Cross Border made all the pace in that 1 1/4-mile race before being overtaken late.

Maker said he was planning to run Cross Border in the Kingston Stakes at Belmont on July 5, but that race, restricted to New York-breds, failed to fill.

“To be safe we entered in there and kind of felt it was a paceless race and we almost pulled it off,” said Maker, who trains Cross Border for Kirk Wycoff’s Three Diamonds Farm. “He shows up every time – he loves to win. We feel very confident in the race this week.”

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In particular, Cross Border loves to win at Saratoga. Last summer, he won three races here, including a starter allowance at 1 1/16 miles – the distance of the Lubash – and two statebred allowances at 1 1/8 miles.

The Lubash drew a field of only six, including the main track-only entrant Yankee Division. The conditions of the race exclude stakes winners, which is why more horses, such as Therapist, aren’t in the race.

Maker also entered the 3-year-old Dante’s Fire, who is coming off a statebred allowance win on July 4 at Belmont. Maker said there is a chance Dante’s Fire could scratch to run in a race restricted to 3-year-olds, such as Saturday’s Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park.

Blewitt, a 6-year-old son of Uncle Mo, is 3 for 5 versus statebreds on dirt and, most recently, finished fourth in the Commentator Stakes. Trainer Todd Pletcher was going to give Blewitt a try on turf in the Kingston before that race failed to fill. This is the next turf option for statebreds. Blewitt worked once on turf at Belmont.

“I thought he worked well enough to give it a look,” Pletcher said. “We’re looking for New York-bred two-turn opportunities. If we can be successful on turf that would double his opportunities. If it rains and comes off that wouldn’t hurt our feelings.”

There is a 60 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms on Wednesday.

The J Y is 0 for 5 at Saratoga while Rapt is 0 for 6. Rapt was third in a $40,000 claiming race, his first start of the year, on June 25 at Belmont.

With a short field, the Lubash is carded as race 3 on a 10-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

The first steeplechase race of the meet, the $75,000 Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes will go as the first. Snap Decision, a winner of five consecutive races, is the probable favorite but must carry 162 pounds, spotting 6 to 9 pounds to six rivals.