Made You Look fresh for With Anticipation Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Patience is a virtue in all aspects of life, and especially when managing a young and promising racehorse. Such is the case with the 2-year-old prospect Made You Look, whom trainer Todd Pletcher will bring back from a 10 1/2-week layoff as the likely horse to beat in Wednesday’s Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga.
Made You Look has not started since winning his maiden at second asking June 18, rallying from just off the pace to a popular three-quarter-length decision going six furlongs on turf at Belmont Park. Made You Look had run well in defeat in his only previous outing, finishing a distant second to the speed filly Red Lodge, who flattered the effort by winning the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park in impressive fashion earlier this month.
“Pretty much your options after breaking your maiden with a 2-year-old at that time of year is to run in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint at Monmouth,” said Pletcher, referring to the Tyro Stakes, “or in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprints here. Since we felt this is a colt who has been giving us the indication that he wants to stretch out when he trains, we just decided to wait. So, this is the race we’ve pretty much been pointing for since he broke his maiden.
“We ran into a buzzsaw the first time out, he improved a little stretching out to six furlongs in his second start, and hopefully he’ll improve again stretching out to two turns on Wednesday.”
Skipping the Tyro with Made You Look opened the door for the undefeated Ardmore Bay, who won the Monmouth juvenile turf fixture by 1 1/4 widening lengths for trainer Tom Morley on Aug. 7. Ardmore Bay had won his only other start when debuting against New York-breds five weeks earlier at Belmont Park.
Keep Quiet showed major improvement when trying two turns for the first time, leading throughout and drawing away to a 5 1/4-length maiden win Aug. 6. Keep Quiet finished fourth, three lengths behind Made You Look, when the two both futilely chased Red Lodge in their career debuts May 27.
My Bo Chop, who makes his U.S. debut after launching his career in his native France; recent maiden graduates Monsoon K S A, Tell the Truth, and Bird’s Eye View; and the maiden Gemologister complete the field for the With Anticipation.
Key Contenders
Made You Look, by More Than Ready
Beyers: 72-59
◗ He’s worked twice over the Oklahoma turf course since shipping up from Belmont Park, including five furlongs in 1:02.70 on Aug. 24 with regular rider Javier Castellano aboard.
Ardmore Bay, by Bluegrass Cat
Beyers: 65-49
◗ Although he’s won both of his starts, he’ll have a new rider aboard once again, with Manny Franco taking the call from Morley, who is having a big meet here.
Keep Quiet, by Elusive City
Last 3 Beyers: 75-48-46
◗ He owns the highest Beyer Speed Figure in the field but could face an early challenge for the lead from Gemologister and Ardmore Bay, who led throughout in his maiden win.