Saratoga: To Honor and Serve taking drop

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Still in search of his first win as a 3-year-old, To Honor and Serve drops into allowance company in Friday’s eighth race, a third-level allowance heat at 1 1/8 miles.

To Honor and Serve, a multiple graded stakes winner at 2, is winless in three starts this year, including a third-place finish in both the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park before an injury put him on the sidelines. He returned with a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at 6 1/2 furlongs here on Aug 1.

“Obviously, it helps get them back in conditioning, back into fitness,” trainer Bill Mott said when asked about the benefits of the Amsterdam. “He came out of it good, he’s worked well since. I’ve been puzzled sort of where to run him. This race came up. I could probably find a stakes somewhere out of town, but we’re right here. I’d like to see him get back on track. I’m hoping this is a way to do that.”

To Honor and Serve won the Grade 2 Remsen last year at Aqueduct at 1 1/8 miles while on the lead. He looms the primary pace again on Friday in a race in which he is the only 3-year-old against a field of older horses that includes Slevin, Afleet Again, and Gautier.