Someone's win streak must end

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Something will have to give when a couple of improving 3-year-old turf horses, and Brilliant, put their three-race win streaks on the line Monday at Saratoga in the $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Breeders' Cup Stakes. The Grade 2 race for 3-year-olds is carded at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

After Market is perfect in three starts, all on turf, for trainer Bill Mott. A homebred son of Storm Cat, After Market won his only try at 2 in November at Aqueduct, returned from a seven-month layoff to win a first-level allowance race at Belmont on June 15, then became a stakes winner four weeks later when he rallied to score by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes. After Market has been ridden by Cornelio Velasquez in each of his races.

"He's improved with every start and is doing very well," Mott said. "He wanted to be on the lead last time, he was a little strong and anxious early, but Cornelio was able to get him settled down."

Brilliant has never been worse than third in eight career starts and has become even better since trainer Neil Howard switched him to grass during the spring. He has since won three straight on grass, including the Grade 2 Jefferson Cup at Churchill Downs on June 17.

"He seems to be improving with every start since we got him on the grass," said Howard. "I've got high hopes for him but this is going to be his toughest test yet."

A field of nine was entered for the Hall of Fame with Cotton King to run only if the race is switched to the main track. The remainder of the field consists of the entry of Galantas and Green Lemon, Spider Power, Manchu Prince, Sir Classic Chris and Jade's Revenge. Galantas was cross-entered in Sunday's Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park.

Spider Power finished second in the Grade 3 Hill Prince and third in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby in his last two starts and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the nine-furlong distance of this race should suit his horse well.

"He's a very nice horse who has had some eventful trips," said McLaughlin. "A mile and one-quarter might not have been his best game last time. I think he's a better horse stalking and then making a kick going a mile and one-eighth."

Manchu Prince finished fourth, a head behind Spider Power, in the Virginia Derby. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Manchu Prince has captured 3 of 5 starts, with his only losses coming in graded stakes.