Therapist a short price in Cab Calloway

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Therapist is a three-time stakes winner against open company and perfect in two starts against restricted company, a résumé certain to make him the prohibitive favorite when he takes on statebreds once again in the $100,000 Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Series. The restricted stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile on turf is the main event on Monday’s nine-race program at Saratoga.

Therapist has already won the opening leg of the Stallion Series for 3-year-olds on turf, having rallied to a two-length victory going seven furlongs six weeks ago at Belmont Park.

:: Clocker Reports: Get in-depth workout analysis for Del Mar & Saratoga

A homebred trained by Christophe Clement for Oak Bluff Stables, Therapist concluded a perfect juvenile campaign with victories in the Laurel Futurity and Awad at Belmont. He also defeated open company last winter at Gulfstream Park when rallying to a neck triumph in the one-mile Cutler Bay.

Clement said he had considered running Therapist in Friday’s Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes here, but thought that spot was too ambitious.

“He came out of his last race good and is training well,” Clement said. “We were hoping for a little break in the weather. I’d prefer not to run him on soft turf, but there’s not much we can do about it.”

Collective Effort and Santo Antonio finished second and fourth behind Therapist in the opening leg of the series and may have the best chance of springing the upset in the rematch.

Collective Effort needed 11 starts to win his maiden May 26 at Belmont Park, then came right back with another big effort despite an unlucky beginning to easily be second-best in his initial meeting with Therapist. The two improved efforts came after trainer Ray Handal added blinkers to his equipment.

A less-than-firm course would surely enhance the chances of Ten Eyck, who exploded to an eight-length maiden win over a yielding surface when dropped in for a claiming tag for the first time by trainer Tom Morley three weeks ago. Ten Eyck earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure for that performance, far and away the best of his career.

As the lone main-track-only entrant in the field, Stoney Bennett would be the one to beat if the Cab Calloway is switched from the turf to the dirt. Stoney Bennett would be wheeling back on just 10 days’ rest after splashing to an 8 3/4-length victory over a sloppy track in a New York-bred allowance sprint here. That was his first start since being transferred to trainer Linda Rice’s barn this season.

KEY CONTENDERS

Therapist, by Freud
Last 3 Beyers: 85-75-92

◗ He must concede a lot of weight, six to 11 pounds, to his competition under the allowance conditions of the race.

Collective Effort, by Mission Impazible
Last 3 Beyers: 80-80-74

◗ Continues to progress from a Beyer standpoint. Paired up career-best numbers in his last two outings, often an indication that an even better effort is next.

Santo Antonio, by Frost Giant
Last 3 Beyers: 65-60-75

◗ Gets a rider switch to the aggressive Kendrick Carmouche, who might try to steal this one on the front end if he gets him to break alertly on the stretch-out to one mile.