Litfin's preview: Curlin Stakes features multiple contenders
Curlin Stakes looks wide open
The $100,000 Curlin attracted a field of 10, although the complexion of the 1 1/8-mile race could change because Commanding Curve and Cousin Stephen were cross-entered in Saturday’s $600,000 Jim Dandy..
Commanding Curve, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, drew the rail for the Curlin and post 6 among seven entered in the Jim Dandy. Meanwhile, Cousin Stephen has post 6 for the Curlin but drew the rail for the Jim Dandy, where he could conceivably wind up as the controlling speed.
Even if Cousin Stephen comes out, the pace of the Curlin figures to be hotly contested among several horses, including Charge Now, a half-brother to 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver who won his first two dirt starts on or near the early lead before breaking slowly in a sloppy renewal of the Iowa Derby; Protonico, a sharp allowance winner off a trainer change to Todd Pletcher; Joint Custody, a three-time stakes winner on the Mid-Atlantic circuit; and Life in Shambles, who led at the pace call in both the Sir Barton and the Easy Goer.
The Curlin is the ninth of 10 races, with post time scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Eastern.
Clearbrook challenges males in turf marathon
Clearbrook, a 4-year-old filly who finished third in the Orchid earlier this year, meets males in race 3, a second-level optional $62,500 claimer scheduled for the inner turf course at a1 ½ miles.
Trained by Bill Mott, Clearbrook is part of a Paul Pompa Jr.-owned entry with Artic North, who puts blinkers on for his first start off a $50,000 claim by Pat Reynolds.
Grand Rapport, who as a 3-year-old won the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park and finished second by a nose in the Grade 2 Hall Of Fame Stakes here in 2010, stretches out after winning his last two at Belmont for David Jacobson.
Rapscallion led maidens a merry chase at 14-1 when switched to the grass on the opening Sunday of Saratoga’s 2013 session, and reunites with Alan Garcia, who was aboard for that theft in broad daylight. Rapscallion will likely go for the lead from the outside post heading into the first of three turns. In three starts where he has made the lead, the only horse to beat him is Frac Daddy, a dual stakes winner entered in Saturday’s San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.
Code West heads salty allowance route
Code West, who won the Grade 3 Matt Winn before finishing fifth behind Palace Malice and Will Take Charge in last year’s Jim Dandy, is coupled with 2013 Strub winner Guilt Trip, and the entry figures to go favored in race 6, a highly competitive third-level optional $80,000 claimer.
Like the Curlin, this race is at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, so figure handicappers will get a good gauge on how the races stack up, as opposed to so many occasions where there is but a single two-turn dirt race on the day.
Qualify ships in from Fair Hill looking to win for the fourth time in as many starts this year for Graham Motion, after going through conditions rapidly at Pimlico and Monmouth Park.
Bad Hombre, third in last year’s Curlin, comes off a hard-fought win just 12 days ago and is a threat right back for John Kimmel.
The deep field also contains Stephanoatsee, the 2012 Barbaro Stakes winner; Balance of Power, who has recorded Beyer Figures of 99 and 98 recently; and Abraham, who is fresh off a second-level allowance win by better than nine lengths for Todd Pletcher.