Plate Trial Stakes
Winner: Paramount Prince
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Patrick Husbands
Owner: Gary Barber, Michael Langois
Beyer Speed Figure: 81

Paramount Prince
Gelding by Society’s Chairman – Platinum Steel, by Eddington
Bred in Ontario by Ericka Nadine Rusnak ($21,000 (CAN) Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Ontario premier yearling purchase by Michael J. Langlois)

Gulfstream Park announcer Pete Aiello could have his skills put to the test in Saturday’s ninth race with the stablemates Slim Slow Slider and Big Daddy Dave.

Both horses rank as top contenders in the first-level allowance at a mile.

“In a perfect world, it would be between Slim and Dave down to the wire,” trainer Peter Walder mused. “If they could get a dead heat, I could keep both owners happy.”

Trainer Brittany Russell is hoping the third time’s the charm for Wondrwherecraigis in Saturday’s $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash for 3-year-olds and up motoring six furlongs at Laurel Park.

A 6-year-old gelded son of Munnings, Wondrwherecraigis finished first in the 2021 De Francis only to be disqualified and placed second for stretch interference. He was second again in this race last summer, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by the salty Beren.

Another one of those midsummer Saturdays with multiple graded stakes at Saratoga and Del Mar supported by a bevy of appealing races at lesser venues. It’s hot almost all over the country – hopefully in this space, too.

Jim Dandy

I still like Disarm to win the Travers Stakes but can’t quite get to him in the Jim Dandy. The colt has progressed steadily through his last several starts, and with the Travers as his major goal, the expectation is for a form plateau here before Disarm hits another level next month at his preferred 1 1/4-mile trip.

The last time Occult was favored in a Grade 3 race around two turns she finished fifth at odds of 9-5 in the Gazelle Stakes on April 9 at Aqueduct. That’s something bettors should keep in mind when Occult starts as the likely favorite Saturday at Monmouth Park in the Grade 3, $250,000 Monmouth Oaks.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As he schooled in the Saratoga paddock late Thursday morning, Forte, looking like a well-chiseled Thoroughbred, was getting a little antsy as the saddle was being placed on his back.

“He knows what’s going on now,” said Forte’s trainer, Todd Pletcher. “You can tell he’s sharp and feeling good. He can be a pretty docile, quiet horse around the barn and every once in a while he’ll let you know ‘I’m here.’ Like now.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gunite was 11-1 when he won the Grade 1 Hopeful here at 2 and 7-1 when he took the Grade 2 Amsterdam at age 3. While he doesn’t figure to be anywhere near those prices Saturday, he likely won’t be favored when he faces reigning sprint champion Elite Power in the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt for male sprinters at six furlongs.

Nimitz Class has blossomed into one of the better handicap horses in the region, and he’ll look to earn another stakes victory at Laurel Park in Saturday’s $100,000 Deputed Testamony for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

The Deputed Testamony is one of five stakes headlined by the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash.

Nimitz Class’s five-race win streak, which included four stakes tallies, was snapped in his most recent start when second in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Sprinters arrived in droves for the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar, none more qualified than multiple Grade 1 winner Dr. Schivel.

Twelve entered the $400,000 Bing Crosby. The winner of the six-furlong race earns a fees-paid entry in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the prestige of defeating an outstanding lineup.