SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Rebel’s Romance can probably be forgiven for a disappointing performance in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic four months ago at Meydan. First of all, it was his first loss from six starts on turf, three of his victories coming in Group or Grade 1 races including last November’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland. The Sheema Classic was Rebel’s Romance’s first start since the Breeders’ Cup. Lastly, the Sheema Classic, won by superstar Equinox, has produced the winners of four subsequent Group 1 races. Rebel’s Romance has left the international scene for the summer, arriving in Saratoga a week ago for a two-race program that begins in Sunday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes at 1 3/8 miles. The Bowling Green leads to the Grade 1, $750,000 Sword Dancer on Aug. 26. The connections of Rebel’s Romance offered no excuse for his seventh-place finish in the Sheema Classic, other than acknowledging how tough a spot it was for a return off a 20-week layoff. “Obviously, seventh is not quite where we hoped we’d finish,” said Chris Connet, assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby. “It was a pretty deep field. The horse who won it looks to be a real superstar. He ran slightly below par, horses do that from time to time.” :: DRF's 2023 Saratoga headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. Rebel’s Romance, owned by Godolphin Racing, hadn’t done that in his previous five starts on turf, all at 1 1/2 miles. The Bowling Green is designed to get to the Sword Dancer, but Connet doesn’t believe the shorter trip will hinder the 5-year-old gelding by Dubawi. “He’s not a slow horse by any stretch of the imagination,” Connet said. “A small step back in trip is no bother for him.” Richard Mullen will ride Rebel’s Romance from post 9 in a field that drew 11 but is limited to 10 starters with the rails on the inner turf course set at 18 feet. The pace of the Bowling Green is somewhat in question. On paper, Strong Quality looks like the primary speed. However, his connections are contemplating scratching from the Bowling Green to await the Arlington Million on Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs. If that happens, that would leave Channel Maker, the dead-heat winner of the 2018 Bowling Green, as the potential speed. The 9-year-old Channel Maker, the male turf champion of 2020 and earner of $3.7 million, has not finished in the money in any of his four starts this year. Soldier Rising ran two of his better races here last summer, winning a third-level allowance at 1 3/16 miles and finishing third in the Sword Dancer, beaten one length by Gufo. Soldier Rising, trained by Christophe Clement, has twice finished second in Grade 1 stakes this year, the Man o’ War at Belmont Park in May and the Manhattan at Belmont in June. “Both races were very good,” Clement said. “He got beat, but they were very good races.” Clement said he too is using the Bowling Green as a way to get to the Sword Dancer, “but the Bowling Green is a much tougher race than expected.” Clement acknowledged Soldier Rising needs pace and noted that his other horse in the race, Tawny Port, figures to be close to the pace. Clement said Tawny Port has gone off-form on dirt, so “let’s try to do something different,” he said. “I thought he’s trained okay on the turf.” Never Explain has really come around this year, winning a pair of allowance races at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 3 Dinner Party at Pimlico on Preakness Day. Most recently, he finished second, beaten a half-length by Catnip, in the Monmouth Stakes. Catnip came back to run second in last weekend’s Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth. Trainer Shug McGaughey said a horse ran up behind Never Explain in the Monmouth Stakes “and got him in the bridle,” McGaughey said. This will be Never Explain’s first try at 1 3/8 miles. “That shouldn’t be a problem as long as he’ll settle,” said McGaughey, who has Luis Saez to ride. :: Visit the Saratoga Handicapping Store for Past Performances, Clocker Reports, Picks, Betting Strategies, and more. Rockemperor won last year’s Bowling Green for Chad Brown, but is winless in four starts since. He comes into this year’s Bowling Green off a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Manhattan. Brown also sends out Highest Honors, sixth in the Manhattan last out. Verstappen, winner of the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland in April, and The Grey Wizard, runner-up in the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup on June 9, add depth to this field. Daunt, second in allowance company last out, would draw into the field should there be a scratch. The Bowling Green goes as race 10 on an 11-race card that begins at 1:10 p.m. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.