SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Much in the same way Technical Analysis is a proven horse-for-course at Saratoga, so too, it appears is her stablemate Portfolio Company. Portfolio Company has two wins and a second in three starts at Saratoga, where on Saturday he will attempt to become a first-time stakes winner in the $135,000 Lure Stakes. On Thursday, Technical Analysis ran her Saratoga record to 4-1-0 from five starts by winning the De La Rose Stakes. Portfolio Company, like Technical Analysis, is owned by Seth Klarman and trained by Chad Brown. The Lure, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf course, drew a field of nine, including the New York-bred stakes winner Dakota Gold. In addition to his ability to handle Saratoga, Portfolio Company also appears to have improved since being gelded. He won two straight allowance races at Belmont Park following a troubled-trip fourth in an allowance at Keeneland in April. Brown said gelding Portfolio Company “settled him down quite a bit. He’s ready to try a stake again. He’s always been a head-strong horse, he settled a bit more.” Another tangible in Portfolio Company’s favor is his ability to handle a course with give in the ground. Rain was in the forecast Friday night. :: DRF's 2023 Saratoga headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. Joel Rosario rides Portfolio Company from the rail. Conversely, trainer Danny Gargan is concerned about the potential for soft ground for Dakota Gold, who comes in off a three-length victory in the Hudson Valley Stakes over firm Belmont turf on July 3. “He likes it firm; soft ground is just not his thing,” Gargan said. “But he’s doing really, really well right now. He’s stronger than he’s ever been.” Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Dakota Gold from post 3. There does appear to be speed in the Lure with Doctor Davis and Mid Day Image likely to try and wing it on the front end. Doctor Davis, trained by Arnaud Delacour, has won his last two on the lead since being stretched back out in distance. Mid Day Image has two wins and two thirds sprinting for David Jacobson. The last time he raced long, he won an allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs on the front end for trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. Speaking Scout won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar last December, but is 0 for 4 since, with two of those losses coming at the Grade 1 level. He is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes. Catnip, the Monmouth winner, came back to run second in the Grade 1 United Nations and the runner-up Never Explain came back to run third in the Grade 2 Bowling Green. The European-based runner Chazzesmee has won two of three starts this year for trainer James Stack. Most recently, he finished second of 18 in a listed stakes at The Curragh. Smokin’ T finished a solid second to Big Everest in the Cliff Hanger in May. Tiz the Bomb has lost nine straight since winning the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks in April 2022. Ocean Atlantique drops out of a pair of Grade 1 tries against Up to the Mark, including a fourth in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs in May. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.