Csaba enters Skip Trial off win with eyes on Saratoga

Csaba has given trainer Phil Gleaves ample reason to spend the last two summers at Saratoga. On Saturday, Csaba will try to punch his ticket to the Spa one more time when going to the post as the favorite in Gulfstream Park’s $75,000 Skip Trial overnight stakes.

The Skip Trial will be decided at 1 1/16 miles and drew a familiar field of eight that includes local handicap mainstays such as Sr. Quisqueyano, Argentine Tango, the old veteran Palatine Hill, the up-and-coming and versatile Grand Tito, and the red-hot Kings Over. Both Palatine Hill and Kings Over are trained by Peter Walder.

Csaba is coming off a game wire-to-wire victory over Decisive Moment in Calder’s Memorial Day Handicap while showing improved speed with the addition of blinkers. The pace should be honest in the Skip Trial, with Sr. Quisqueyano, Palatine Hill, and perhaps even Grand Tito looking to vie for the lead.

KEY CONTENDERS

CSABA (Last 3 Beyers: 91-91-66)
* The addition of blinkers appeared to have helped his concentration in the Memorial Day, as he not only made the lead but fought back bravely when headed briefly by the runner-up in early stretch.
* He has not done much in the morning since his last start, showing only three works in the eight weeks since his last outing, none very impressive but all on the slow side by design.
* Although he has won twice at Gulfstream, he is definitely a better horse over the Calder surface and could prove vulnerable at a short price if not tripping out just right in this spot, as he is drawn in a somewhat precarious post considering the short run to the first turn at this distance.

KINGS OVER (Last 3 Beyers: 89-88-93)
* Has become a monster of late as well as continuing to be a model of consistency from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint during his current four-race winning streak, while also proving versatile enough to win from close to or off the pace.
* He’s done most of his damage during the current win skein at a mile, although he’s finished one-two in 6 of 8 starts at the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Skip Trial.

SR. QUISQUEYANO (Last 3 Beyers: 68-88-92)
* Finished well behind Csaba in the Memorial Day but was compromised when getting hung wide from a very tough post at the distance and failing to get into his comfort zone, which is close to or, better yet, on the lead.
* He does not appear as sharp this summer as he did a year ago, when winning a pair of local overnight stakes against similar company, although he was good enough to finish second behind multiple Grade 1-placed Itsmyluckday two starts back in the Best of the Rest Stakes.