Saturday, July 26 Saratoga - Amsterdam (race 8) COMMENT: Coup de Grace appears to have found his niche as a late-running sprinter. Once considered a potential Kentucky Derby horse, he came into this having won 2 of his prior 3, the wins coming in a stakes at Delaware July 5 and the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct April 5. He was slow into stride, which is his new normal, bided his time toward the back as C. Zee and Big Guy Ian dueled through hot splits, swung wide into the lane and powered home to grab the lead in midstretch and draw off to win comfortably. The Grade 1 King’s Bishop here Aug. 23 is certainly a logical next target. C. Zee ran very well in defeat. He dueled with Big Guy Ian through fast splits, dispatched with that foe turning for home, was no match for the winner but kept on well for second. Captain Serious stalked the pace, made a mild run into the lane but then finished fairly evenly without threatening. Saratoga - Jim Dandy (race 10) COMMENT: Wicked Strong added blinkers and ran a splendid race to easily prove best, stamping himself a major player for the Grade 1 Travers here Aug. 23. Coming off a fourth in the Belmont (was also fourth in the Kentucky Derby) and a bit washy during the warm-up (his norm), he showed more early interest as he stalked pacesetter Legend, who posted modest splits. Wicked Strong swung wide on the far turn, grabbed the lead, rebuffed a challenge from favored Tonalist and drew off to win smartly. Tonalist, winner of the Belmont, bided his time early, moved closer to be just behind the eventual winner going down the backside, made a run at that foe turning for home and into the lane, but couldn’t keep pace with Wicked Strong in the final furlong, while finishing well clear of the rest. The Travers is almost certainly next for him, too. Kid Cruz broke sharply but relinquished the early lead to Legend, bided his time, got shuffled back to last turning for home but got going well again last to finish. He’s pointing for the Travers as well. Commanding Curve, second in the Kentucky Derby, sat last early, made a mild run turning for home, but didn’t sustain it and was never really a factor. [bc_video_id:331423:] Del Mar - San Diego (race 8) COMMENT: Fed Biz hadn’t run since last Nov. 1 when sixth in the Grade 1 BC Dirt Mile, but the layoff didn’t matter as this guy’s speed and love for this racetrack carried him to a smashing victory. He bounced right out to the lead from his outside post, took some pressure from Handsome Mike, but began to extend his margin turning for home and kept on drawing clear to win in a romp, despite his rider losing his whip in the stretch. His time of 1:41 for 1 1/16 miles set a second track record on a day the track played sizzling fast. He obviously loves this Polytrack – he’s not only 3 for 3 here but he also holds the seven-furlong track mark on it. The Grade 1 Pacific Classic Aug. 24 is likely next. However, that’s also the target for defending champ and the biggest guy in the Baffert barn, Game On Dude, and with similar running styles could they get in each other’s way? Footbridge lagged back, came with a smart run into the lane but was no match for the big winner. You Know I Know was last early, steadily advanced while saving ground and continued on well in a very nice effort. He figures to try the Pacific Classic again as well (3rd in it last year). Frac Daddy, the favorite off some big-time efforts on Polytrack, sat midpack but never really mustered a run. Imperative stalked the pace but fell away when it mattered. He’s just not as sharp as when he so impressively won the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in April. [bc_video_id:331425:] Sunday, July 27 Saratoga - Shuvee (race 9) COMMENT: Antipathy, coming off a superb third to top gals Close Hatches and Princess of Sylmar in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont June 14, continued her progress and got the job done here for her first graded win. She broke well to sit second behind pacesetter Swinger’s Party, took over from that tiring rival on the turn, opened up some into the lane and kept to her task despite drifting out in the lane. The final furlong was a very slow 14.09, though some of that could have been a function of the muddy track. Still, off this she may take another swing at Close Hatches and Princess of Sylmar in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here Aug. 22. Stanwyck, making her first start since running third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom April 11, lagged back and finished decently, though she never appeared a threat to get to the winner. Hot Stones, stretching out off a game Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses win, stalked the pace, started a bit of a run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Flashy American, the favorite off a nice third in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap and proven wet-track form, was fifth early and just stayed there throughout. Her effort can be forgiven, though, as she suffered a severely grabbed quarter. Unlimited Budget stalked in third, made a threatening move on the turn, but then but then backed out of it in the lane. She’s just not close the gal she once was. Monmouth - Molly Pitcher (race 7) COMMENT: Majestic River continued her ascent and her love affair with this track as she easily proved best. She romped over optional claimers here May 25 and then easily won the Lighthouse here June 28, earning this shot. Majestic River dogged pacesetting favorite Natalie Victoria from the start,  moved up to challenge that rival turning for home, took command as that gal weakened and drew off to win with ease. She’s now 3 for 3 here, and the way she won may mean she deserves a shot at tougher. Montana Native was just behind the winner from the start, didn’t accelerate as quickly on the far turn, but plugged along well to get second. Lucky Rag Doll lagged back and made decent progress. Natalie Victoria, the favorite after having won 4 of her prior 5, set the pace under pressure but gave way readily once headed. Monmouth - Matchmaker (race 9) COMMENT: Starstruck won this race last year but was winless in her six starts since. However, a return to this place brought about a return to top form as she won fairly comfortably. Starstruck bided her time midpack early while saving ground, moved closer by the far turn, still was behind a wall of horses coming into the lane, but found a seam, and shot through. While she looked good winning this last year, she looked even better this year. Irish Mission, second vs. males in the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup June 2, appreciated the move back turf and to facing girls. She got a great trip stalking in fourth, came with a nice run into the lane, but couldn’t finish with the winner. Watsdachances, last seen running second to now-Grade 1 winner Somali Lemonade in the Grade 3 Gallorette at Pimlico May 17, lagged back and finished well, though she was never really a threat to the top two. Emotional Kitten, making her first start in two months after a couple Grade 1 attempts, was away slowly to be last early, was still last turning for home, swung wide into the lane and made some headway to pass a few. Medea, winner of the Grade 3 Eatontown here June 21, sat midpack but never mustered a run. Monmouth - Monmouth Cup (race 10) COMMENT: Valid finished just a nose behind Bradester when they were third and second behind Itsmyluckyday in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile here July 6, but with Itsmyluckyday not running in this race, Valid turned the tables on Bradester. From his outside post he dogged pacesetting Bradester from the start, moved up to challenge coming into the lane, and edged away late. Bradester went right to the lead and couldn’t quite keep pace late in what was still a fine try. These two finished well clear of the rest of the field. It didn’t hurt them that speed played very well here today. Pants On Fire, the defending champ who was making his first start since finishing last of 16 in the Grade 1 Japan Cup Dirt last Dec. 1, chased the top two from the start but couldn’t keep up in the lane. He figures tougher next time with this under his belt. Long River, dropping off a seventh in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill, sat midpack early and was fairly one-paced throughout. He’s not nearly as sharp as he was last fall/winter. Easter Gift, making his first start since a third in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill last Nov. 29, broke slowly to be well back early, had to check going to the backstretch and was in tight, and never got involved. He ran like a horse who needed the race. Monmouth - Oceanport (race 11) COMMENT: Guys Reward bided his time early while saving ground, came off the rail coming into the lane, and finished with a flurry to get up for the score. Fredericksburg, off since setting the pace and fading to seventh in the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico May 17, went right to the lead, set a modest early pace, picked up the tempo turning for home and gamely persevered to be second. Under Control, off since a smashing optional claiming win at Pimlico May 15, continued his progress as he sat back and came home strongly along the inside. Mshawish, who competed against some of the world’s elite in Europe, Dubai and Hong Kong, broke slowly to be well back early, made a smart wide midrace move to get into contention, but then came up empty. Lochte lagged back and never made a move. Monmouth - Haskell (race 12) COMMENT: Bayern, romping winner of the Woody Stephens, was already likely the quickest one in here, but after he broke sharply and went right to the lead, the other speed types took back. Bayern was able to set comfortable splits and shot clear in the lane to win a laugher, giving Baffert an amazing seventh Haskell. Suprisingly, Bayern was 9-2 off his Woody Stephens win. Albano, romping winner of the the Grade 3 Pegasus here, stalked the pace while staying on the rail, kept to his task gamely, and beat some nice runners to get second. Wildcat Red chased Bayern from the start, tried to make a run at him on the far turn but couldn’t keep up and then weakened. Untapable, the filly who went favored, got bumped at the start, sat midpack while wide and never mustered a run. Social Inclusion was antsy and fractious as usual before the start, stalked the pace after an early stumble, and gave way in the lane. Medal Count, third in the Belmont, broke slowly and never made a move. [bc_video_id:331424:] Del Mar - Bing Crosby (race 8) COMMENT: Big Macher continues to overachieve. Claimed for $20,000 in July 2013 and unraced since winning the Grade 2 Potrero Grande at Santa Anita April 12 and then suffering a quarter crack, he came back smokin’ to beat a strong bunch and notch his first Grade 1 win. He stalked while Pablo Del Monte and Indexical dueled early, took over from those tiring rivals into the lane, and gamely kept hard-trying favorite Goldencents at bay. He’s earned nearly $500,000 since being claimed. Goldencents, the heavy favorite off a strong second in the Grade 1 Met Mile in his first start of the year June 5, did nothing wrong in defeat. He bided his time after getting bumped at the start and finished with good energy to finish second for the second straight year in this race. Good as he is he may be a tad vulnerable at six furlongs vs. top sprinters. Seeking the Sherif, winner of 6 of his last 7, got squeezed back at the start, sat fourth early, made a strong threatening move into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Declassify, winner of the Grade 1 Triple Bend at Santa Anita June 28, broke slowly and was unable to recover. Don’t write him off just because of this poor result, however. [bc_video_id:331426:]