Litfin's preview: Bakken heads feature

Thursday, Oct. 2, preview

Although still eligible for the second-level allowance conditions of Thursday’s featured eighth race, Bakken has shown exceptional talent through four starts, and the lightly raced 4-year-old colt looms a clear favorite in the $80,000 optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Bakken has raced only once this season for trainer Chad Brown, finishing second in the Grade 2 True North behind Palace, who subsequently won the Alfred G. Vanderbilt and Forego at Saratoga. Bakken was the 5-2 morning-line choice in the Vanderbilt but had to be scratched after spiking a fever.

Also dropping from stakes is Captain Serious, the beaten favorite in both the Amsterdam and the Albany. The New York-bred figures to relish the return to Belmont, where he has posted his two fastest Beyer Speed Figures for Mike Hushion, including a 98 for winning the Mike Lee in stakes-record time.

Candyman E, who won the Grade 3 Toboggan in his 7-year-old debut for former trainer David Jacobson, makes his first start since being claimed for $80,000 by Mitch Friedman on Aug. 31, when he gave futile chase to River Rocks, the runner-up in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Kelso Handicap.

Candyman E is the lone entrant in for the $62,500 claiming tag.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?

Other than the feature, the only non-claiming event on the program is race 6, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds scheduled for the inner turf course at 1 1/16 miles.

Assuming Mother Nature’s cooperation, Chad Brown will shoot for a meet-leading 12th grass win with Kerjillion, who will be favored from the inside post after a solid debut finishing second to stablemate Offering Plan, who came back to run third in last Sunday’s Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes.

Christophe Clement, who has the second-most turf victories (five) at the stand along with Bill Mott, sends out first-time starter Fulmer, a homebred colt by Kitten’s Joy.

Fulmer’s older half-brother, Blue Pigeon, won his juvenile debut at Saratoga last year at a $44.80 mutuel. However, he has been a beaten favorite in four attempts against first-level allowance opponents this season, including a second at odds-on in Wednesday’s seventh race.

PICK SIX CARRYOVER

How tough was Wednesday’s pick six? Tough enough that there was a solitary consolation payoff of $9,145 for one ticket that managed to snare five of the winners. As a result, there is a $27,437 carryover that gets under way with race 4 at 2:23 p.m. Eastern.

HORSE TO WATCH

TRADESMAN
Trainer: Tom Albertrani
Last race: Sept. 27, 1st
Finish: 2nd by 2
Beyer: 72
This Darley Stable homebred trailed early after breaking slowly and circled very wide, making up nine lengths through the third quarter in a promising debut at seven furlongs.