SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – On the day the Saratoga meet comes to an end, Wit will be looking to begin his career anew when he returns from a seven-month-plus layoff in the $150,000 Bernard Baruch Stakes at 1 1/16 miles over the Mellon turf course. Wit, trained by Todd Pletcher, was a two-time graded stakes winner on dirt, including the Grade 3 Sanford here in 2021 and Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct in 2022. After reaching his ceiling on dirt, Wit was transferred to the turf last summer at Saratoga, where he finished second in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes before winning the restricted Better Talk Now. Wit was beaten less than a length in the Grade 3 Bryan Station at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. In his lone start in 2023, Wit finished eighth, beaten only 3 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream in January. “We had to give him some time after that, he had a steady campaign.” Pletcher said. “As sometimes happens, you have what you expect to be a little bit of a short break, a hiccup here or there, and you’re set back a little while. We’re happy to have him back. Hopefully, he runs well and we can go back and try the Pegasus again.” Emaraaty is a Saratoga horse-for-course, having won 4 of 5 starts here including the Bernard Baruch last year on closing day. He has only run once since, a last-place finish in the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont in June. :: Visit the Saratoga Handicapping Store for Past Performances, Clocker Reports, Picks, Betting Strategies, and more. Trainer Chad Brown said he was pointing Emaraaty to the Elusive Quality Stakes at Belmont in May, but the horse got sick upon shipping up from Florida. He made a last-minute decision to try the Poker, where he finished sixth. The horse got sick again earlier this summer, but has been back on a steady work pattern since mid-August. “He really loves Saratoga and he’s doing very well,” Brown said. “He’s coming off a strong work.” Public Sector has done his best work at Saratoga, winning 3 of 5 starts including the Hall of Fame and Saranac in 2021. He capped a three-stakes winning streak in the Hill Prince at Belmont in the fall of 2021. He has lost eight straight races since, including his lone start this year, the Cliff Hanger Stakes at Monmouth in May. “He’s lost his way a little bit. I put a little blinker on for this race and we’ll see what happens,” Brown said. Trainer Linda Rice made a late decision to enter Pioneering Spirit, who on Aug. 26 finished third in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer. That snapped a four-race win streak that began in a maiden $40,000 claiming race on May 11 at Belmont. :: DRF's 2023 Saratoga headquarters: Previews, past performances, picks, recaps, news, and more. Bring Me a Check, whom Pat Reynolds claimed for $80,000 on July 26, also is coming back on short rest after finishing third in an allowance going 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 23. With only five runners for turf, the Bernard Baruch is carded as race 3 on an 11-race closing-day program that begins at 12:40 p.m. Jade Rocks was entered for the main track only. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.