Saratoga Special a class test for W V Jetsetter
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer George Weaver hasn’t had very long to get acquainted with W V Jetsetter, who was purchased privately and sent to Saratoga less than two weeks ago. But what Weaver’s seen, he’s liked enough to believe he’s got as good a chance as any to win Sunday’s $200,000 Saratoga Special.
The 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga Special drew a well-matched field of 11 promising juveniles and will be televised live as part of the Jockey Club Tour on Fox along with its filly counterpart, the Grade 2 Adirondack.
The Texas-bred W V Jetsetter is one of only two stakes winners in the field, along with Cinco Charlie. W V Jetsetter won a restricted stakes going five furlongs at Lone Star on July 12. His winning Beyer Speed Figure of 81 is topped only by the 82 Cinco Charlie earned in winning his maiden this summer in Kentucky.
“I’ve only had this horse about 10 days, I worked him one time, and he worked very well,” said Weaver. “He’s got a really long stride, he covers a lot of ground, and he’s very mature for his age. He looks and acts like an older horse. I thought he won pretty easy last time. He looked like he ran well waiting a little bit, being in reserve, and I’m hoping he can get a similar trip on Sunday as he did in the last one. He really looks like he wants to go further, so the extra furlong should only help him.
Mr. Z, Cinco Charlie, and Nonna’s Boy finished second, third, and fourth behind Big Trouble in the Grade 3 Sanford here. They return on three weeks’ rest and figure to vie for favoritism in the Special.
Mr. Z had to check several times in traffic in the six-furlong Sanford, then bulled his way between horses in midstretch and was outfinished while making just his second start.
Cinco Charlie, the winner of the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs, was hung wide while disputing a suicidal pace and did well to finish third in his local debut, beaten less than two lengths.
Nonna’s Boy swept around horses to join Cinco Charlie for command entering the stretch and vied for the lead inside the eighth pole before faltering late as the 8-5 favorite in the Sanford.
I Spent It, Tizcano and Majestic Affair each enter the race off a promising debut win. Like W V Jetsetter, both Tizcano and Majestic Affair were subsequently purchased from their original owners.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 I Spent It. Trainer Anthony Dutrow is 9 for 12 with a $6.02 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints with two-year-olds in their second career start following a winning debut.Click for more details. – Dan Illman
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
KEY CONTENDERS
Mr. Z (Beyers: 79-62)
◗ Showed a ton of heart when overcoming a tough trip and bulling his way between horses to just miss in the Sanford.
◗ One of only two members of the field, along with Cinco Charlie, to have started at least twice at six furlongs.
◗ Gives every appearance that he’ll relish the added distance of the Special.
Cinco Charlie (Last 3 Beyers: 76-81-82)
◗ Owns the two highest Beyers in the field, an 82 for his maiden win and the 81 he received for his victory in the Bashford Manor.
◗ Does his best running on the lead and figures to have plenty of company up front with Lord Tyrion and Tizcano drawn to his inside and Majestic Affair outside.
Nonna’s Boy (Beyers: 75-75)
◗ Was forced to rally four paths off the rail while making his run into the stretch when stretching out from five to six furlongs for the first time in the Sanford.
◗ Trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez teamed up to win this race last year with Corfu.
W V Jetsetter (Last 3 Beyers: 81-76-48)
◗ Proved capable of rating in his earlier races and should only benefit from the extra furlong he’ll get to work with Sunday.
◗ Must prove he can class up against graded stakes company after beating statebreds in his last start.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Majestic Affair. Trainer Chad Brown is 4 for 11 with a $2.21 ROI over the past two years in dirt sprints following a maiden victory.Click for more details. – Dan Illman