SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Book’em Danno, who won the Grade 3 True North here last month, was expected to ship to Saratoga by the weekend to prepare for a start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt going six furlongs on July 19.

Trainer Derek Ryan was choosing between the Vanderbilt and the $100,000 Reigh Count Stakes at Colonial Downs on July 26, but opted for the more prestigious and lucrative spot for the New Jersey-bred millionaire.

“He’s doing really good. I don’t think it’s going to be a big field again,” Ryan said. “I suppose it’s the logical step.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When East Avenue didn’t show up on the nominations for the Grade 1 Haskell on July 19 at Monmouth Park, it seemed possible that he would be turned back in distance for the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens, a seven-furlong race on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.

But trainer Brendan Walsh on Wednesday called the Jerkens “doubtful” and said there is no current plan for East Avenue, who won the Grade 3 Matt Winn on June 8 at Churchill Downs.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ewing, the impressive 12-length winner of his debut July 5, will more than likely run in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 2, trainer Mark Casse said Thursday.

Casse said after that win, for which Ewing earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure, that he could simply wait for the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 1.

“Long-term I want to get some races into him,” Casse said. “Obviously, the goal is always to get to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Barbadian Runner, a 3-year-old gelding trained by Henry Walters, will go for his fourth stakes victory in the $125,000 Star de Naskra Stakes at Colonial Downs on Saturday. After spending most of his early career at Laurel Park, the talented local runner has spent the last few months on a tour of the Mid-Atlantic region.

“His home base is closed, so if he wants to run, I guess we have to travel,” Walters said.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When trainer Cherie DeVaux looks at the past performances of She Feels Pretty, this is among her first thoughts.

“I think I should have put blinkers on her before,” DeVaux said.

She Feels Pretty was good without blinkers, winning three of six starts. She’s been better with them, winning all four of her starts including three Grade 1 events. Saturday, She Feels Pretty goes for her fifth consecutive win and her fifth career Grade 1 success when she heads a six-horse field entered in the $500,000 Diana Stakes at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Despite suffering a rare defeat here last month when beaten a neck by stablemate Deterministic in the Grade 1 Manhattan, Far Bridge figures to be heavily favored stretching out to a more suitable distance and dropping into Grade 2 company Saturday in the $200,000, 1 3/8-mile Bowling Green Stakes on Saratoga’s inner turf course.

Annascaul turned for home May 10 at Aqueduct in the Take The A Train Stakes looking like a winner. She’d tracked the pace, taken command coming off the turn, and held a clear lead approaching the furlong grounds. And just as suddenly, Annascaul ran out of gas. Not one, not two, but three horses passed her in the final half-furlong.

A turnback in distance from six furlongs at Aqueduct to 5 1/2 furlongs at short-stretch Monmouth, and a drop in class, might be all Annascaul needs to win the $100,000 Blue Sparkler, a turf sprint for 3-year-old fillies.

Let’s briefly talk about weight assignments in graded stakes races – namely, that there should be none beyond simple weight-for-age. Why must the American jurisdiction walk out of step with the rest of the world and apply allowance conditions to races like the Grade 1 Diana, where, for no good reason, Excellent Truth gets four pounds from the others? I’ll wait for an answer . . .

Diana

Luvumorgan, a 3-year-old filly trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., will try to earn her second stakes victory in her fourth career start in the $75,000 Azalea Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. After soundly defeating her stablemate Andrea in the $75,000 Game Face last time out, the pair will square off again in a seven-furlong sprint that is restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pageant Queen was a good-looking debut winner at a fat price. She moves up to added-money company in Saturday’s $125,000 My Dear for fillies, one of two 5 1/2-furlong Tapeta stakes for 2-year-olds on the Woodbine card along with the $125,000 Victoria.

Sent off at nearly 20-1 in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special June 21, Pageant Queen outsprinted some fast workers for the lead and never looked back, scoring by 2 1/2 lengths with a 58 Beyer Speed Figure.