Seek Again, Silver Max figure to fight it out in Fourstardave

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With Wise Dan not going for a three-peat in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, favoritism in the one-mile turf race figures to be between Seek Again and Silver Max.

Seek Again gave Wise Dan all he wanted in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, finishing within a head of him. Seek Again came back to finish third as the favorite in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont Park going 1 1/4 miles.

Trainer Bill Mott had the option of running Seek Again in the Fourstardave at a mile or the Grade 1 Arlington Million at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 16.

“If he’s real effective at a mile, there are more options for him at a mile than there are at nine or 10 furlongs,” Mott said Friday. “Obviously, he’s very effective at nine, and he was okay at 10 – he won the Hollywood Derby out there going 10 furlongs.”

Mott said the defection of Wise Dan “made no difference to me” on whether to run.

Silver Max defeated Wise Dan in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile last October, a race that was rained off the turf and onto the Polytrack. Since then, Silver Max has finished fourth to Wise Dan in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and, in his only start this year, won the Grade 2 Firecracker at Churchill on June 28.

Others pointing to the Fourstardave include Big Screen, Grand Arch, Jack Milton, and possibly Dorsett. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Sayaad is “doubtful.”