Litfin's preview: Address Unknown heads steeplechase
Address Unknown, who has found a new lease on life since being transformed into a steeplechaser at the age of 7, looks to remain unbeaten over fences in the Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes, which kicks off Thursday’s 10-race card at 12:25 p.m.
Rain on Tuesday night and through yesterday afternoon resulted in the cancellation of Wednesday’s jump-up race and washed four other races to a muddy main track. The turf probably will be no better than yielding for the 2 3/8-mile Walsh.
Address Unknown was next to last in the John’s Call here last year and eased in the Valedictory on Woodbine’s Polytrack in his final start of 2013.
He returned to win his first steeplechase on firm turf May 24 at Fair Hill and three weeks later drew off to win an allowance on “good” ground at Monmouth Park by better than 10 lengths.
Among eight geldings coming out of the Jonathan Kiser Stakes on July 24, the fourth-place finisher Bluegrass Summer is a candidate to improve in his second start of the season for Jonathan Sheppard.
Tahoe Tigress back for another try
Tahoe Tigress, fifth in last year’s Saratoga Dew, is back for another try in the 1 1/8-mile race for New York-bred fillies.
The problem for Tahoe Tigress is that of her seven career wins, only a $12,500 restricted claimer at Calder was around two turns. All of her fastest races have been delivered at Belmont Park.
Dreaming of Cara, fourth in this race a year ago, is second off a layoff after running evenly on turf 10 days ago. She is coupled with Carameaway for the fifth time this year.
Get Gorgeous, a late bloomer who has notched three of her five victories at age 8, tries to make it three straight wins since a trainer change to David Donk.
Little Rocket is 10-1 on the morning line, and the shipper from Finger Lakes could be a live longshot returning to Saratoga, where she led second-level allowance sprinters all the way last August.
Two invaders from Finger Lakes got the money here Monday.
Horse to watch
SMOKE POLICE
Trainer: Chad Brown
Last race: Aug. 11, 6th
Finish: 3rd by 3/4
Beyer: 66
This first-time starter pressed the early pace between rivals, dropped several lengths off the leaders coming into the stretch, and continued on willingly to narrow the gap in the final furlong.