Site Read could be real deal
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Mott got off to a sensational start at the 2015 Saratoga meet, perhaps highlighted by the debut victory of the 2-year-old colt Site Read, a 21-1 shot, on the second day of the meet.
Mott hopes to kick off the final week of the Saratoga summer in similar fashion when he sends out Site Read – at much lower odds – in Wednesday’s Grade 2, $200,000 With Anticipation Stakes.
The With Anticipation, for juveniles at 1 1/16 miles on turf, drew a field of only six and was carded as race 3 on the 10-race program.
Site Read, a son of Tizdejavu, charged from 12 lengths off the pace in his debut to win by 4 1/2 lengths. He ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:40.84 and earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure.
“If time means anything, he ran a little quicker than his competition,” said Mott, who was listed as the owner of the colt for his debut. “I hope he can repeat the effort.”
After the maiden win, Mott sold a third of the colt to NBA player Rashard Lewis and Jake Ballis.
“I hope he continues to go on for them,” Mott said. “Before, there was no pressure.”
Site Read, who breaks from post 5 under Jose Lezcano, will meet a pair of runners from trainer Todd Pletcher’s stable, Unbridled Daddy and Azar. They ran one-two in an Aug. 16 maiden race.
Monster Bea was sold privately to Gary Barber and turned over to Mark Casse following a maiden win here Aug. 8. Runaway King and Next Shares complete the field.
KEY CONTENDERS
Site Read (Beyer: 82)
◗ Took advantage of a hot pace to win a maiden race going away July 25.
“I thought he had been working very good, almost too good to be true,” Mott said.
◗ Four horses who finished behind Site Read have run back, and none has won.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Site Read. Trainer Bill Mott is 31-10-3-4 with a $3.51 ROI over the past two years in turf routes with last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Unbridled Daddy (Beyers: 71-69)
◗ Unleashed a powerful late kick to make up 13 lengths and run down stablemate Azar to win a maiden race by three-quarters of a length going 1 1/16 miles.
“Closed impressively off of soft fractions,” Pletcher said. “He has a pretty impressive turn of foot. Azar, I thought he had a big chance turning for home. He ran a much-improved race off of his first start. The other horse just ran better.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Unbridled Daddy. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 31-2-5-2 with a $0.32 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with juvenile last-out maiden winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Monster Bea (Beyers: 74-46)
◗ After finishing fourth on synthetic at Presque Isle Downs in his debut, he came to Saratoga, where he pulled an 11-1 upset while stretching out to 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 8.
◗ Monster Bea turned in a sharp five-furlong workout over the Oklahoma turf course Aug. 16.