Litfin's preview: Class relief for Spy in the Sky

Wednesday, Aug. 20, preview

Spy in the Sky, who has earned more money in steeplechase races than the rest of the field combined, gets weight from all seven of his rivals in Wednesday’s 12:25 p.m. opener.

Spy in the Sky has won three stakes at Saratoga, including the 2009 New York Turf Writers Cup, but he will be looking for his first win since taking the 2012 A.P. Smithwick Memorial at odds of 25-1. The 10-year-old Spy in the Sky is one of four ‘chasers entered for the optional $30,000 claiming price.

Virsito and Bodie Island, who ran first and third in a similar spot three weeks ago, each tote 13 pounds more than Spy in the Sky and figure to attract strong support.

FIVE STAKES WINNERS IN BETTER TALK NOW

The $100,000 Better Talk Now (race 9) came up pretty solid, as five of the seven 3-year-olds entered are stakes winners. Likely to vie for favoritism are Storming Inti, who won the Kitten’s Joy at Gulfstream Park in his first start of the year but is winless in five starts since then, and Pure Sensation, who displayed a couple of new dimensions in winning the Quick Call at 5 1/2 furlongs here last month.

Pure Sensation was coming off six consecutive pacesetting starts on dirt when switched to turf for the Quick Call and put in an eye-catching late burst after being extricated from traffic in the stretch to get up in time. The big question will be whether he handles the added distance Wednesday.

“I think he’s a top-class sprinter at six, seven furlongs,” said Christophe Clement. “The quality and class he’s got, for sure. I’m just not sure if he has the same quality and class going a mile … but he had a very nice work several days ago on the grass, and he rated well in the morning, so let’s try and see what happens in the afternoon. There are no sprints for straight 3-year-olds on the grass, and if there’s any way for him to get a mile, we’ll have a lot more options.”

One entrant who will relish the distance is Heart to Heart, who won big at a mile when brought back in the spring by new trainer Brian Lynch and shortens up after leading to the stretch of the Toronto Cup at 1 1/8 miles.

Lynch’s recent shippers from Woodbine include two who ran one-mile races in 1:33 and change over the course, Silver Freak ($13.40) and Fourstardave runner-up Grand Arch at 11-1.

HORSES TO WATCH

CARTA DE ORO
Trainer: Rusty Arnold
Last race: Aug. 17, 3rd
Finish: 4th by 8
Beyer: 60
First-time starter hesitated while looking for running room in upper stretch, steadied at the sixteenth pole when a rival drifted in and just missed the show spot in an educational debut.

ARE WE NOT MEN
Trainer: John Toscano
Last race: Aug. 18, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 1 3/4
Beyer: 71
Coming in off some sharp workouts, he was squeezed back at the start, lagged toward the rear for six furlongs, and finished with good energy when claimed from a maiden $40,000 turf route.