Nothing to Lose beats Silver Tree

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Nothing to Lose, beaten a neck by Silver Tree in last month's Bernard Baruch Handicap, turned the tables on that rival in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 at Saratoga

Receiving a ground-saving trip from John Velazquez, Nothing to Lose split horses inside the furlong marker and outfinished Silver Tree to win the Fourstardave by a half-length. It was one length back to pace-setting Royal Regalia in third.

He was followed by Hotstufanthensome, Union Place, Ay Caramba, Gulch Approval, L'Oiseau d'Argent, Christine's Outlaw, and Royal Spy.

It was the first win for Nothing to Lose since Feb. 21, 2003, when he took the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He was trained then by D. Wayne Lukas. He is now trained by Bobby Frankel.

In the Bernard Baruch, Nothing to Lose was bumped hard entering the first turn and raced close to a dawdling pace. He was outkicked by Silver Tree.

Saturday, the pace was much swifter as Royal Regalia set fractions of 23.70 seconds, 46.47 and 1:09.40 while being pressed by L'Oiseau d'Argent. Velazquez kept Nothing to Lose along the hedge from the time he left the gate until the three-eighths pole, when he came out for running room. Nothing to Lose split horses in upper stretch, then dove to the inside and split them again in deep stretch, and was able to run down Silver Tree, who had taken a short lead approaching the sixteenth pole.

"I thought he ran great.

I thought he should have won last time," Frankel said. "Today there was more speed and he was able to get covered up."

Nothing to Lose, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, covered the 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:39.50 and returned $5.80 as the favorite.

* Smokey Glacken ($7.50) ran six rivals off their feet, leading gate to wire to win the $76,800 Victory Ride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by 3 3/4 lengths. Grand Prayer, the longest shot in the field, rallied to nose out Feline Story for second.

Under Joe Bravo, Smokey Glacken covered six furlongs in 1:09.64. He is owned by Susan and John Moore and trained by Jimmy Jerkens.