Litfin's preview: Pletcher has juveniles by Eskendereya

Thursday, July 10, preview

PLETCHER HAS PAIR BY ESKENDEREYA IN OPENER

Todd Pletcher has sent out three winning 2-year-olds at the meet, and he has two debuting fillies by Eskendereya in Thursday’s opener, scheduled for the inner turf.

Eskendereya, who was retired after a dominating win in the Wood Memorial with a 109 Beyer Speed Figure, began his career with a second-place finish on grass at Saratoga before winning an off-the-turf renewal of the Pilgrim Stakes by better than seven lengths.

The freshman sire is represented by Eskenformoney, who has been training at Saratoga since early May and has the benefit of two recent turf workouts, and Isabella Sings, a half-sister to dual turf stakes winner Alaura Michelle.

Wesley Ward, who has had a terrific meet with a record of 5-2-3 from 12 starters, counters with the uncoupled duo of Cool Comfort and Heartofthetemple, who have been readied in Kentucky.

PICK SIX CARRYOVER

There is a pick six carryover of $23,166 that begins with race 4 at 2:53 p.m. Eastern. The fate of many budget-minded tickets might rest on favorites such as Wally Did It (6-5) in race 7 and Scarly Charly (8-5) in race 8.

ASHADO’S FIRST WINNER RETURNS IN RACE 5

Regent’s House, the first winner out of two-time Eclipse Award winner and 2014 Hall of Fame inductee Ashado, returns from a layoff of three months in race 5, the first of three allowance races on the card.

Regent’s House was under consideration for the Grade 2 Gazelle following a blowout debut win at Aqueduct but went in an allowance race instead and stumbled badly at the start as the 11-10 favorite on April 11.

Smashing, who also won a maiden race by better than six lengths across town and also is coming off some trouble at the gate when favored in her initial allowance try, should benefit from the outside draw with apprentice Taylor Rice, who posted a three-bagger Sunday.

STAKES DROPPERS IN LATE DOUBLE

Scarly Charly (race 8) and Granny Mc’s Kitten (race 9) get some class relief by dropping from stakes to the preliminary allowance ranks.

Scarly Charly notched Beyers in the 86-89 range through five dirt starts in California, capped by a maiden win March 28. He was then shipped across the country and thrown to the wolves in the Met Mile by his new connections, and, considering it was his first start against winners of any kind, he ran remarkably well to be within four lengths of the lead at the stretch call.

Granny Mc’s Kitten won the P.G. Johnson as a second-out maiden at Saratoga last year. Although she has had some excuses since then, she cannot afford any miscues against several other promising 3-year-old grass fillies, including her stablemate Pink Poppy.

HORSE TO WATCH

RED RIFLE
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Last race: July 9, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 93
Returned from a short layoff as a first-time gelding and held gamely after pressing front-end winner Plainview along the rail throughout a third-level allowance on turf; versatile runner won a $100,000 stakes on dirt this year.