Ballston Spa

A terrific field of turf distaffers will compete in Saturday’s Ballston Spa
S. (G2), which begins a guaranteed $1 million Pick 4 pool on Travers S. (G1) day
at Saratoga. SWEET TALKER (Stormin Fever), MY TYPHOON (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway)
and ASI SIEMPRE (El Prado [Ire]) are the top contenders in the 1 1/16-mile inner
turf event, but we’re going to take a stab at a price and tab KAREN’S CAPER (War
Chant) for all the money.

Nell Gwyn S. (Eng-G3) heroine Karen’s Caper is a couple of noses shy of being
a Grade/Group 1 winner. The Stonerside Stable homebred was beaten a nostril in
both the Coronation S. (Eng-G1) and Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1)
last year. In the former, the bay rallied to the lead in deep stretch only to be
nipped on the line. In the latter, she lacked room from between foes turning for
home, worked her way to the outside near the furlong marker, then closed with a
rush to just miss in an incredible blanket finish that ended with Sweet Talker
first, and this year’s Beverly D. S. (G1) winner Gorella (Fr) (Grape Tree Road
[GB]) third.

Karen’s Caper went on the shelf after finishing unplaced in the Breeders’ Cup
Filly & Mare Turf (G1). The Bobby Frankel trainee returned to action 29 days ago
against second-level allowance foes going one mile over this course. She was
unhurried after breaking slowly, got caught four wide around the first turn,
advanced from the far outside around the second turn, then finished evenly while
running her final quarter-mile in about :23 1/5. It looked like a perfect set-up
for an improved performance in this spot. She should offer good value here under
new rider Edgar Prado.

The classy Sweet Talker is a gem of consistency, with six wins and three
seconds in her last nine starts. After winning her first two starts of the
season, the dark bay finished a game second to Japanese star Dance in the Mood
(Jpn) (Sunday Silence) in the CashCall Mile Invitational S. (G3) at Hollywood
Park and then second by a head to Angara (GB) (Alzao) in the Diana S. (G1) over
yielding ground on the outer course here last out. She will concede weight to
her rivals, but nonetheless will be hard to keep off the board as the probable
favorite.

The Bill Mott-trained My Typhoon set the early pace before finishing a
determined fourth, beaten just three-quarters of a length, in the Diana. In her
previous start, she closed gamely to win the Mint Julep H. (G3) at Churchill
Downs despite having trouble at the start. My Typhoon likes to attend the early
running and should be a factor for a top three placing under new rider Garrett
Gomez.

Valley View S. (G3) winner and Jenny Wiley S. (G2) runner-up Asi Siempre
closed well to capture the restricted De La Rose S. going one mile over the
inner course here last out. The Patrick Biancone trainee figures to come running
late under standout apprentice Julien Leparoux. Our concern is that she has some
class questions and that she could be overbet.

OZONE BERE (Fr) (Verglas [Ire]) defeated ART FAN (Lear Fan) and My Typhoon in
the Gallorette H. (G3) in her U.S. debut at Pimlico and comes off a fourth-place
effort in a Grade 2 event in Canada. However, she may be in a little deep
against some of these. Art Fan uncharacteristically set the pace before
finishing a good third to Film Maker (Dynaformer) in the All Along Breeders’ Cup
S. (G3) at Colonial Downs in her latest. She brings good form into this event
and could earn a small share with improvement.

SIXTY ROCKETTS (Belong to Me) won the allowance at 18-1 that Karen’s Caper
used as her comeback race. She is an improving sort but this is a tough spot for
her stakes debut. STELLA BLUE (Fr) (Anabaa) could be the pacesetter but she
would be a surprise with these.