AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| WOODWARD S.
(G1), 10TH-SAR, $500,000, 3YO/UP, 1 1/8M, 5:49 P.M. EDT, 9-1 |
|
| 1 |
LAWYER RON, 4, c, by LangfuhrDonation, by Lord Avie O-Hines Racing LLC; B-James T. Hines Jr. (Ky) |
| 2 |
DIAMOND STRIPES, 4, G, by NotebookRomantic Summer, by On to Glory O-Four Roses Thoroughbreds; B-Rogers Samuel H. Mr. & Mrs. (Fl) |
| 3 |
MAGNA GRADUATE, 5, h, by Honor GradesPeacock Alley, by Fast Play O-Alexander Elisabeth H; B-Nicole Zitani & Ramon Rangel (Ky) |
| 4 |
SUN KING, 5, h, by CharismaticClever But Costly, by Clever Trick O-Farmer Tracy; B-Cambridge Farm & James Daniel Conway (Ky) |
| 5 |
CORINTHIAN, 4, c, by PulpitMultiply, by Easy Goer O-Centennial Farms; B-Gracefield Equine & Hargus Sexton (Ky) |
| 6 |
WANDERIN BOY, 6, h, by Seeking the GoldVid Kid, by Pleasant Colony O-Stone Farm; B-Arthur B. Hancock, III (Ky) |
| 7 |
POLITICAL FORCE, 4, c, by Unbridled’s SongGlitter Woman, by Glitterman O-Allen Joseph; B-Allen Joseph (Ky) |
| 8 |
BRASS HAT, 6, G, by PrizedBrassy, by Dixie Brass O-Bradley Fred F; B-Fred F. Bradley (Ky) |
Smashing Whitney H. (G1) victor LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) leads a field of eight
postward in the $500,000 Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday. Trained by
Todd Pletcher, the four-year-old chestnut crushed the track record in the
Whitney and hasn’t missed a beat since, posting three solid drills in the
interim. The tactical colt should endure a useful trip from just off the pace
early before pouncing, and we see no reason to play against the leader of the
handicap division. John Velazquez has the call.
WANDERIN BOY (Seeking the Gold) might have been 29-1 in his runner-up
performance in the Whitney, but we don’t view that effort as a fluke in the
least. Conditioned by Nick Zito, the six-year-old has finished first or second
in his last seven efforts when leading at the first call, including a
dominant win in the Brooklyn Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) last September. If the chestnut
grabs the early lead, which we fully expect, it seems likely that his chances at
a top placing are well within reach. Rafael Bejarano has the assignment.
MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor Grades) gives Pletcher a strong one-two punch and could
be the most likely upsetter if the top pair regress in this spot. A game second
with a troubled trip in the Stephen Foster H. (G1) two prior, the five-year-old
was much farther off the early tempo than he prefers in the Whitney last out and
could improve dramatically with better navigation under Garrett Gomez.
BRASS HAT (Prized) showed little in the Whitney most recently, but we’ll give
the six-year-old one more chance to receive a healthy paycheck in this one. The
Grade 1 hero will be making his third start off the extended layoff and will
have less traffic through which to navigate in his second try over the
Saratoga main oval. We’re not certain of the gelding winning this race, but
a top-four finish is expected beneath Willie Martinez.
DIAMOND STRIPES (Notebook) has yet to run a bad one for Richard Dutrow and is
yet another exotics threat in this deep field. The well-regarded gray finished third in the Stephen Foster and Whitney in his last pair, but we’re
afraid that the gelding may have hit his ceiling in those two. An inside draw
and the services of Edgar Prado give the late runner a decent chance at a
payday.
SUN KING (Charismatic) is not as bad as his Whitney debacle might indicate and is not out of
the question to fill some trifecta and superfecta wagers for Zito. The
five-year-old has to go back to April of 2006 to claim his last win, and he’s
been unplaced in three of his last four outings. The blinkers come off for the
dark bay, who will be guided by Alan Garcia.
POLITICAL FORCE (Unbridled’s Song) is winless in six tries over this oval and
has never given us the impression of being able to negotiate nine panels over
this deep surface. A winner of the weak Suburban H. (G1) most recently for
Allen Jerkens, the gray colt will likely be forwardly placed early before tiring
late beneath Cornelio Velasquez.
Metropolitan H. (G1) star CORINTHIAN (Pulpit) is another one whose ability at
1 1/8 miles over this track we question. Conditioned by James Jerkens, the
chestnut colt is too inconsistent and quirky for our liking.