AMERICAN GRADED STAKES
PREVIEWS
| HOPEFUL S.
(G1), 4TH-SAR, $250,000, 2YO, 7F, 2:36 P.M. (EDT), 9-4 |
|
| 1 |
SCAT DADDY, 2, c, by JohannesburgLove Style, by Mr. Prospector O-Scatuorchio James T Pletcher Todd A; B-Axel Wend (Ky) |
| 2 |
IRISH ACE, 2, c, by Grand SlamHeartful Lady, by Irish River (Fr) O-Farmer Tracy; B-Tracy Farmer (Ky) |
| 3 |
CIRCULAR QUAY, 2, c, by Thunder GulchCircle of Life, by Belong to Me O-Tabor Michael B Dorean Tabor; B-Doreen Tabor (Ky) |
| 4 |
UNBRIDLED EXPRESS, 2, c, by Unbridled’s SongSkye Castles, by Sky Classic O-Conway Hillerich Racing Flint Bernard S; B-Conway & Hillerich Racing Inc & Bernard Flint (Ky) |
| 5 |
PEGASUS WIND, 2, c, by Fusaichi PegasusRide the Wind, by Meadowlake O-Baker Robert C Mack William L; B-Dreamfields Inc, Mark Simendinger & Ashford Stud (Ky) |
Just five juveniles have been entered for Monday’s seven-furlong, $250,000 Hopeful S.
(G1) at Saratoga. In a race that appears wide open, we
will go with SCAT DADDY (Johannesburg), who is undefeated in two career starts.
The Todd Pletcher trainee came flying late to win the Sanford S. (G2) in his
last start after breaking his maiden at first asking by 5 1/4
lengths over a sealed muddy track at Belmont Park. Jockey John Velazquez retains the mount aboard the dark bay.
PEGASUS WIND (Fusaichi Pegasus) finished fifth in his debut in the Bashford
Manor S. (G3), but redeemed himself when he came home a dominant seven-length victor against maiden
company over this track in his next start. The D. Wayne Lukas-conditioned bay earned a 100 BRIS Speed
rating for that attempt, the highest in this field. Cornelio Velasquez replaces
the injured Rafael Bejarano.
CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch), also trained by Pletcher, is undefeated in
two career starts and exits a solid score in the Bashford Manor at Churchill
Downs, in which the chestnut rated near the back of the pack before driving
along the rail to get up for the win. He can use that late kick to his advantage
here against a speedy group under jockey Garrett Gomez. He will be coupled in
the wagering with entrymate Scat Daddy.
IRISH ACE (Grand Slam) has only one start under his belt, a four-length
victory versus maiden rivals here. He worked a bullet four furlongs in :48 on
August 27 for trainer Nick Zito and could hang on for part. UNBRIDLED
EXPRESS (Unbridled’s Song) hit the wire third in his debut before breaking his
maiden by four lengths on July 9 at Churchill Downs. The Bernie
Flint-conditioned gray has been working very well for his stakes debut and
cannot be counted out.