Saratoga Dreamer seeks first open stakes win in Wolf Hill
Saratoga Dreamer returned from a seven-month layoff to win a second-level optional-claiming race at Belmont Park in early June. On Sunday, he will aim for his first open stakes victory in the $60,000 Wolf Hill at Monmouth Park.
The Wolf Hill, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, has a field of 10, including Pool Winner and Bold Thunder, who were cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 3 Parx Dash. The lineup also includes a handful of stakes-caliber runners returning from layoffs of varying durations.
Saratoga Dreamer, a 4-year-old son of Elusive Quality trained by Christophe Clement, is 4 for 8. His wins include three New York-bred races, including the Rego Park Stakes at Aqueduct. He won his comeback race last month on the lead but will be shortening up from seven furlongs in this spot and is likely to come from off the pace.
Joe Bravo picks up the mount.
Pool Winner was half of an Alan Goldberg-trained entry in the Parx Dash, which came up a very tough race. He comes into this off three straight victories – his 2015 finale and two since May 8 – and figures to be part of what should be a hot pace in the Wolf Hill.
Leading rider Paco Lopez will be aboard.
Bold Thunder has been a regular in East Cost turf-sprint stakes since 2014 but tailed off during the second half of last year. He will be making his first start for the Patricia Farro stable since March. He is exceedingly fast, and this is an excellent spot for him to return to form.
The 6-year-old New Jersey-bred multiple stakes winner Rainbow Heir will be making his first start since December. A winner of 8 of 19 starts and $388,000, he is now trained by Jason Servis after racing for Ben Perkins Jr. the last three seasons.
Other comebackers in the field include Beantown Saint, a winner of 4 of 9 starts for John Servis, and Joe Franklin, who is now with trainer Greg Sacco.