Saturday, August 2 Saratoga - Alfred G. Vanderbilt (race 8) COMMENT: Palace was no match for Clearly Now when a well-beaten second to that foe in the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint on July 5, but he appreciated the move to this track as he notched his second graded stakes win of the year (won the Grade 2 True North at Belmont on June 6). He showed a bit more speed than usual from his rail draw to stalk pacesetting favorite Happy My Way, moved outside turning for home, doggedly kept to his task, and was able to reel in that rival and edge away in the final strides. The Grade 1 Forego here Aug. 30 is possible, though trainer Linda Rice said they might instead wait for the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont on Sept. 27. And if all goes well there for the former claimer, a swing at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in November. Happy My Way did everything right but just got toppled. The favorite off three straight wins, including a Grade 3 at Pimlico on Preakness Day (May 17), he bounced right out to a clear lead, set a brisk pace, was still clear by midstretch but couldn’t fend off the winner. It was a good run, and he’ll reportedly wait for the Vosburgh and a possible rematch with the winner. Falling Sky sat in fifth early, came with a decent run, and ran on well for third, though he was never really a threat to the top two. Vyjack had an awkward start to get away last, sat last early, came with a decent run turning for home, but was unable to sustain it. Saratoga - Test (race 9) COMMENT: Sweet Reason turned a competitive renewal into her own affirmation that she’s a top-class 3-year-old filly, at least around one turn. She was ill during the winter, so it’s a big story that she’s recovered well enough to be a three-time Grade 1 winner. She stumbled at the start but recovered to bide her time well back early while Fiftyshadesofgold set a solid pace, pushed by Southern Honey. She commenced her run turning for home, swept past her rivals, and was edging away in the final yards. Obviously, she loves it here, too, as she’s now 3 for 3 here. The trouble is, her one-turn options against fellow 3-year-old fillies get limited from here on out. So, she might next run into Untapable in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 20. Miss Behaviour stalked the pace and kept to her task well. The run looks even better when it was reported that she came back with some cuts on a hind leg. The Grade 2 Prioress here Aug. 30 is her target. Little Alexis got squeezed back at the start, moved up nicely while saving ground, swung out into the lane, and finished strongly, just failing to get to Miss Behaviour for second. Fiftyshadesofgold went right to the lead from her rail draw, took pressure from Southern Honey, dispatched with that foe, still had the lead as Sweet Whiskey came to her into the lane, but then couldn’t quite keep pace in the final furlong, though she only lost second by two noses. Sweet Whiskey stalked in fourth, made a threatening run into the lane on the inside but flattened out. Saratoga - Whitney (race 10) COMMENT: Another case for the importance of speed. Moreno, who may well have run his best race here last year when second in the Grade 1 Travers (beaten just a nose by Will Take Charge), used his speed to dictate the tempo, and that proved enough, as he notched his first Grade 1 win. He went right out to the lead, set modest splits while pressured some by Golden Ticket, extended his lead some into the lane, and stayed on smartly to hold his advantage. The Grade 1 Woodward here Aug. 30 could be next, where he would likely run into a number of these again and possibly a new shooter like Lea, a Grade 1 winner at Gulfstream Park this year. Or, his connections said they might wait for the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Sept. 27. Itsmyluckyday stalked the pace, angled out into the lane, doggedly kept after the winner, but just couldn’t get to him while finishing well clear of third. He’s stepped up his game and will also likely target the Woodward. Will Take Charge lagged back and finished decently for third, though he never looked like the winner. Palace Malice, generally considered the best horse in the United States off four big wins this year in as many tries, seemed in a great spot stalking in third early but came up completely empty when it mattered in a perplexing effort. Provided they exited this race well, those last two also figure to have the Woodward on their radar. [bc_video_id:332122:] Mountaineer - West Virginia Derby (race 8) COMMENT: A terrific renewal involving some of the game’s second-tier 3-year-olds. Tapiture, 15th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and last seen winning the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs on June 14, bided his time early while Vicar’s in Trouble set a solid pace, launched his bid into the lane, had to steady in midstretch, but kept to his task gamely and just got up in the final jump. The Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx in late September could be next. Candy Boy likewise lagged back, in front of the eventual winner early, saw that rival edge past as they started their rallies turning for home, commenced a strong run that carried him a couple of lengths clear of Tapiture by midstretch, but then was unable to fend off that rival in the final yards. Still, it was a very nice try. He likely goes back to Southern California for his next run. Vicar’s in Trouble set a solid pace, battled back when hooked by Candy Boy in midstretch, but weakened some in the final furlong, though he finished far clear of the others. Del Mar - Clement L. Hirsch (race 8) COMMENT: Iotapa, coming off a monstrous 10 1/4-length win in Santa Anita’s Grade 1 Vanity when on the lead all the way, showed not only that she doesn’t need the lead but that she’s apparently as good on synthetic, as she showed courage to prove best. The 4-year-old daughter of Afleet Alex sat in second while Broken Sword kicked off to a clear lead, doggedly went after that foe into the lane, gamely reeled her in, and just edged past. It’s still dicey whether she wants anything to do with Beholder, Close Hatches, and Princess of Sylmar, but she continues to develop and looks like a legit Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff combatant. The Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita (the site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup) on Sept. 28, is likely next, and should all go well there, the BC Distaff looms. Broken Sword broke sharply, went right out to a clear lead, set modest splits, battled back gamely when hooked by the winner in midstretch, but just couldn’t quite keep pace with that rival while finishing clear of the rest. This was a fine try and reinforces the idea that she may be best on synthetic. Parranda, moving from turf, bobbled at the start, sat last early, and came with a steady run but was really no danger to the top 2. Fiftyshadesofhay stalked the pace while saving ground, was still a threat turning for home and into the lane, but then sputtered. Sunday, August 3 Del Mar - Best Pal (race 8) COMMENT: Skyway, a huge winner on Polytrack in his debut at Keeneland on April 5 and a decent third in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs on June 8, showed his quality as he returned to Polytrack and flourished. The son of Sky Mesa, who somewhat surprising went favored over the more accomplished local Story to Tell, stalked in fourth early as Two Six Wins set the pace. He moved closer going to the far turn, went after then-leader Bad Read Sanchez inside the eighth pole, took command, and edged away late, though he lugged in some in the lane. Surely, a date in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on closing day Sept. 3 figures in his future. Henry’s Holiday was slow into stride to be last early but came with a smart run while saving ground. The Futurity figures on his radar as well. Bad Read Sanchez dogged pacesetter Two Six Wins from the start, took over from that foe into the lane, still had the lead inside the eighth pole, but couldn’t keep pace with the top two in the final sixteenth. Story to Tell, coming off a smart win in the Willard Proctor at Los Alamitos on July 13, stalked the pace but gave way readily in the lane in a disappointing effort.