Surface key to decoding Schenectady Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For more than half of the 2015 Saratoga meet, weather has been a non-issue, with 21 of the first 23 days having been conducted under dry conditions. That could change Friday with rain in the forecast, which would significantly impact the $100,000 Schenectady Stakes.
The Schenectady, for 2-year-olds, is scheduled to be run at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Seven were entered for the turf, and the unstarted Sheikh of Sheikhs is entered for the main track only. Laxfield Road will scratch from the Schenectady after running in Wednesday’s Bolton Landing.
If the race is run on turf, Too Discreet would be the one to beat after a sharp debut win on turf against New York-breds on Aug. 2.
Trainer Adam Rice has the uncoupled duo of Don’t Be So Salty and Montauk Cove in the Schenectady. Don’t Be So Salty rallied from well off the pace to win his debut here on turf, giving Rice his first winner at Saratoga, or at any New York track, for that matter. Though neither of his horses has raced on dirt, Rice said he wouldn’t mind if the race was rained off the turf, especially for Don’t Be So Salty.
“I hope there are thunderstorms,” said Rice, who is 2 for 2 at this meet. “I’d like to see him run on the dirt. If he handled the dirt, I’d be really happy. I have confidence in him on the dirt. He’s worked fabulously for me, so I look forward to it.”
Montauk Cove is 1 for 4, with the win coming over the synthetic surface at Presque Isle Downs. He is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth on turf.
:: DRF Bets Exotic Summer: Take out the takeout on Friday's pick five at Saratoga
“He got in a little traffic trouble in his last race,” Rice said. “It looked like we were doing all right. Once he had traffic trouble, he made a little green 2-year-old move, and that horse went by him, and he spooked a little bit.”
Bruised Orange, a filly, was scratched out of Wednesday’s Bolton Landing to run in this race. Dr. Shane, who is 1 for 3 on dirt, gets Lasix for the first time. One Mean Man ships up after a winning debut at Ellis Park.
KEY CONTENDERS
Don’t Be So Salty (Beyer: 69)
◗ Got a quick pace to close into when winning his debut at 9-1 here Aug. 2.
“Horse has been fabulous since, been training great, had a nice, light breeze,” said Rice, whose younger sister Taylor will ride. “I think he’s ready for it.”
Bruised Orange
◗ Won debut over a main track labeled “good” at Keeneland and might prove the horse to catch if this race is transferred to the dirt.
Too Discreet (Beyer: 62)
◗ Full brother to Grade 1 stakes winner Discreet Marq comes back 19 days after winning his debut in front-running fashion.
◗ Likely will run only if this race remains on the turf.