Litfin: Saratoga Horses to Watch for the week of Aug. 10

J LA TACHE
Trainer: Graham Motion
Last race: Aug. 9, 6th
Finish: 2nd by 4 1/2
Beyer: 62
Juvenile filly by Harlan’s Holiday dueled with $800,000 purchase Constellation for a half-mile, and gamely held second behind that favored rival in a promising debut.

SET THE TRAPPE
Trainer: Tony Dutrow
Last race: Aug. 8, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/4
Beyer: 74
This $300,000 colt by Trappe Shot dueled through the opening half-mile, opened up in the stretch, and held well for second to the favorite, while running into the teeth of a strong anti-speed bias first time out.

BAR OF GOLD
Trainer: John Kimmel
Last race: Aug. 8, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 88
New York-bred filly cut back in distance for the Grade 1 Test, pressed the pace for a half, gained the lead in the stretch, and held to be clearly second best as the only early-pace horse to wind up anywhere close at the finish on an extremely closer-biased track.

COURTIER
Trainer: Bill Mott
Last race: Aug. 7, 9th
Finish: 3rd by 1
Beyer: 88
Making his first start since January and his first on Lasix, this 3-year-old broke from post 10 in the Hall of Fame Stakes, and pressed the pace throughout before being overhauled in the final stages; earned a new top figure by 10 points.