Litfin's preview: New York-breds in the spotlight
Saratoga Showcase Day
Nearly 100 New York-breds entered Sunday’s inaugural Saratoga Showcase Day card. The 11-race program includes six stakes worth $1.15 million.
Three of those stakes – the Funny Cide, West Point and Seeking the Ante – are in the early pick four, along with a maiden special weight turf sprint with an $88,000 pot.
All five 2-year-olds in the Funny Cide come off wins. The best Beyer Figures have been recorded by Upstart (85), Bustin It (81, ) and Bullheaded Boy (76). The key for Upstart is whether he can reproduce his debut performance just nine days later.
The West Point pits last year’s winner, Hangover Kid, against 7-year-old warhorse Lubash; Notacatbutallama; and King Kreesa, who wears a bar shoe first time back from a layoff.
In addition to winning the Kingston, Poker, and Mohawk last year, King Kreesa was a gallant second to Wise Dan in the Fourstardave for former trainer Jeremiah Englehart. This will be his first start for David Donk, and first since finishing off the board in the Hong Kong Mile last December.
“I really didn’t have this as an objective until three weeks ago,” said Donk. “He worked really well and galloped out really well.”
Grade 1 winners clash again in Yaddo
The Grade 1 winners Discreet Marq and Dayatthespa, who finished a length apart when second and fourth in the Matriarch last December, will vie for favoritism in the Yaddo.
Dayatthespa was scratched from Saturday’s Ballston Spa to await firmer footing in the Yaddo, a race she won last year as a prohibitive favorite for Chad Brown.
Discreet Marq shortens up a bit after setting a pressured pace in the 1 1/8-mile Diana and holding on determinedly to wind up third in a three-way photo. She had contested the lead at the stretch call of the Just a Game and the Jenny Wiley before that.
“I wanted to get an easier race for her,” said Christophe Clement.
Captain Serious vs. Empire Dreams in Albany
Captain Serious and Empire Dreams are the principal protagonists in the Albany, the third leg of the Big Apple Triple series for 3-year-olds.
Captain Serious captured the seven-furlong Mike Lee in stakes-record time May 31, and then led to the final yards of the 1 1/16-mile Dwyer before being overtaken by multiple stakes winner Kid Cruz. He stretches out to 1 1/8 miles after chasing a fast pace in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at 6 1/2 furlongs.
“It was an opportunity to find out how far he’ll go and it’s $250,000,” explained trainer Mike Hushion.
Empire Dreams rallied for second in the Mike Lee, before taking the New York Derby at Finger Lakes.
“Stretching him out, he really seemed to benefit from the two turns,” said Tom Albertrani.
Other contenders include Gulfstream Park shipper Little Daddy, who gets a trainer change to Kathy Ritvo; and Effinex, who returns from a two-month layoff and makes his first start for new trainer Jimmy Jerkens.
Horse to watch
GAP YEAR
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Last race: Aug. 22, 7th
Finish: 3rd by head
Beyer: 78
This homebred 2-year-old filly out of Ballerina winner Dubai Escapade broke two lengths slow, circled very wide rallying into the stretch and made up nearly all of a nine-length deficit to just miss in six-furlong debut on a wet track.