Saratoga: Brilliant Speed back to grass in Saranac

Brilliant Speed, the Blue Grass Stakes winner and third-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes, will return to the grass in Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles over the inner turf course.

Brilliant Speed has raced five times on the turf, winning once and finishing second, beaten a nose, in the Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January. In his last turf start, Brilliant Speed finished third, beaten a neck, by stablemate King Congie in the Hallandale Beach at Gulfstream. King Congie was disqualified to third for interfering with Brilliant Speed, who was moved up to second behind Master Dunker, who was declared the winner.

John Velazquez rides Brilliant Speed from post 5.

Brilliant Speed is trained by Tom Albertrani, as is King Congie who will break from post 8 under Rajiv Maragh. King Congie won the Tropical Park Derby on New Year’s Day. In his most recent start, he finished sixth in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby at Colonial.

Seal Cove, trained by Shug McGaughey, and Clement Rock, trained by Todd Pletcher, are both 3 for 3 on turf. Queen’splatekitten, Perregaux, Canaveral, Chinglish, Moonhanger, Sky Blazer, Live in Joy, and Pass the Dice complete the field.