Saratoga Race Course | Horse Racing Free Tips

Weekend Lineup: Charles Town Classic, ‘Win And You’re In’ Sword Dancer

Saratoga Race Course will play host to four graded stakes on its 11-race card Saturday, highlighted by the Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer Stakes, a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Keeneland. Also featured will be the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at seven furlongs on the main track for older sprinters; the Grade 2 Amsterdam at six furlongs for sophomore sprinters; and the Grade 3 Saranac at one mile on the inner turf for 3-year-olds.

The Sword Dancer is one of two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races on tap for August 29 as the Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar is an automatic qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The Sword Dancer will be shown on NYRA's “Saratoga Live” telecast on FS2. Saturday's Pat O'Brien Stakes will be televised live on TVG as part of their comprehensive coverage of racing at Del Mar.

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

Friday August 28

5:46 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Lake George Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Robert and Lawana Low's Sweet Melania will attempt to keep her consistent record intact when she headlines Friday's 25th running of the Lake George for 3-year-old fillies going one mile over the inner turf. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Sweet Melania arrives at the Lake George off an easy wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 3 Wonder Again at Belmont Park, which she won off a nearly eight-month. The American Pharoah chestnut began her career on the main track but made her third career start a winning one when debuting on grass over the Spa's inner turf last July. Sweet Melania followed up with a runner-up effort in the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga before a victory in the Grade 2 Jessamine at Keeneland. She completed her juvenile campaign by running third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082820USA9-EQB.html

9:43 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks at Charles Town on TVG

Multiple graded stakes-winner Tonalist's Shape heads up a field of 10 in the Charles Town Oaks, one of seven stakes on the card. Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Tonalist's Shape won her first five career starts, including the Grade 3 Forward Gal and Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes earlier this year. The daughter of Tonalist most recently finished fourth in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 18.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CT082820USA10-EQB.html

10:18 p.m.—$600,000 Grade 2 Charles Town Classic at Charles Town on TVG

Grade 1 winner Math Wizard aims to secure his first victory since taking the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby when he faces nine challengers in the 1 1/8-miles Charles Town Classic. Math Wizard ran second last time out in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes, his best finish since his breakout triumph in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CT082820USA11-EQB.html

Saturday August 29

2:18 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Daniel M. Ryan's Vanzzy has proven capable of winning over any surface thrown his way and will try to build off a recent turf stakes victory in the Saranac, a one-mile test for sophomores over the inner turf. Trained by Michael Pino, the bay son of Verrazano was a last-out winner of the Jersey Derby on July 26 at Monmouth Park, which he won by 3 ½ lengths over the firm turf. Vanzzy began his career over the main track, graduating at second asking going one mile on October 14 at Parx, before winning the Display over the all-weather surface two months later at Woodbine.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082920USA3-EQB.html

2:29 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes at Monmouth Park on TVG

In a turf race that features three from Chad Brown's powerhouse stable and one trained by Todd Pletcher, Kelly Breen will take his best shot with his classy Jersey-bred Valedictorian. With Breen's hope that she may be the lone speed, Valedictorian will look to get back on track in Eatontown Stakes, the feature on Monmouth Park's 14-race card. She won the race a year ago, one of 12 career victories that have helped her to $737,115 in lifetime earnings.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MTH082920USA5-EQB.html

4:17 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Saratoga Vision, a 3-year-old daughter of Court Vision, will look to record a couple of firsts in Saturday's Ontario Colleen, part of Woodbine's 10-race card. Owned and trained by Alexander Patykewich, the Kentucky-bred would notch her first stakes crown with a victory in the one-mile turf Ontario Colleen while also breaking her maiden in what will be her 13th start. Bred by Charles Fipke, Saratoga Vision has a pair of seconds and a trio of thirds from 12 starts, including a strong runner-up showing in her latest effort, the Grade 3 Selene Stakes on July 25 at Woodbine.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO082920CAN7-EQB.html

4:32 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Jackpot Farm's Basin is entered in a sprint for the first time since his juvenile campaign, making his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher in headlining a six-horse field in the Amsterdam Stakes. Under Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, Basin started the year on the Triple Crown trail, running third in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes to start his 3-year-old campaign in March at Oaklawn Park. He again ran on a sloppy and sealed track next out, running fourth in the Oaklawn Stakes in April. Keeping at the two-turn 1 1/8-mile distance, Basin won his second career Grade 1 in a division of the Arkansas Derby on May 2, crossing the wire second, six lengths back of Charlatan, who was later disqualified from purse money.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082920USA7-EQB.html

5:07 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Veteran war horse Whitmore will face off against three other Grade 1 winners in Saturday's 41st running of the Forego Stakes. Boasting a record of 35-14-11-3 and lifetime earnings of over $3.1 million, Whitmore will attempt to join Groovy (1986-87) and Quick Call (1988-89) as the only horses to win multiple editions of the Forego. A winner of the 2018 Forego over subsequent Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup winner City of Light, Whitmore boasts six graded stakes victories. Whitmore arrives at the race off a runner-up finish to Volatile in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 25 at the Spa.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082920USA8-EQB.html

5:43 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Trainer Mike Maker will saddle a trio of top contenders, led by New York-bred Cross Border, who will look to win his third race of the 2020 Saratoga Race Course summer meet in Saturday's Sword Dancer. Bred in the Empire State by Berkshire Stud and B. D. Gibbs, Cross Border is a perfect 5-for-5 at Saratoga. His Saratoga domination continued on July 22 when 6 ¼-lengths the best in the 1 1/16-mile Lubash for state-breds, and despite being wheeled back on just 10 days rest, Cross Border crossed the wire second in the Grade 2 Bowling Green and was elevated to first following the disqualification of Sadler's Joy for lugging in.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082920USA9-EQB.html

9:38 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

Flagstaff is a lovely, little town in the mountains of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff is also a very fast racehorse who could be tough to beat at Del Mar Saturday afternoon in the 35th running of the Pat O'Brien Stakes. Flagstaff, a 6-year-old gelding by Speighstown, didn't make it to the races until his 4-year-old season and only shows 13 starts in total. Five of them have been wins, though – the last two coming in stakes at the O'Brien's seven-furlong distance – and he sports earnings that read $485,785.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082920USA10-EQB.html

Sunday August 30

5:46 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

The top-three finishers of the Summer Colony earlier this month will each take a step up in class on Sunday, with Nonna Madeline looking for a second straight win as part of a nine-horse field of older fillies and mares in the Shuvee Stakes. One of three entrants for trainer Todd Pletcher, Nonna Madeline won her first career stakes in the 1 1/8-mile Summer Colony on August 5, posting a 1 ¼-length score over a fast track. Running at the same distance in the 44th running of the Shuvee, the 4-year-old daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) enters having run first or second in her last three starts.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR083020USA9-EQB.html

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Jack And Noah Gives Casse First Win Of Saratoga Meet In Wednesday’s Mahony Stakes

Gary Barber's Jack and Noah broke alertly and never looked back, wiring an eight-horse field by drawing away to a 3 1/4-length victory in Wednesday's $85,000 Mahony for sophomores at Saratoga Race Course.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse entered the second running of the Mahony winless during the summer meet but tallied nine runner-up finishes. Jack and Noah finally eliminated the goose-egg for his conditioner, rocketing to the front under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez from the outermost post and building a six-length lead on the field with the opening quarter-mile in 21.50 seconds on the Mellon turf course labeled firm.

Jack and Noah registered the half-mile in 43.55 and built a 7 ½ length-edge at the three-eighths mark. In the stretch, Competitive Saint made up some ground, but the pacesetter was never seriously challenged, completing 5 ½ furlongs in a final time of 1:01.28.

Jack and Noah won for the second time in his three starts, building on a one-length score in the six-furlong Sir Cat in June at Belmont Park. The gray son of Bated Breath set the pace last out before tiring and finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Quick Call on July 24 at Saratoga. A month later, the French bred responded to a return engagement on the track by winning for the fourth time in eight starts overall.

“He was out of there right from the start,” Velazquez said. “Last time, the track was a little bit soft, so it took him a couple of strides to get out of the gate. Today, the track had a little more grip to it, so he got a nice grip coming out of there. All the way around the turn, I knew he was going well. I was just hoping that down the stretch things would go our way, and they did. I was proud of the horse's effort.”

Casse earned his first victory with his 32nd starter of the meet, with the 5-1 selection returning $12 on a $2 win bet. Jack and Noah improved his career earnings to $216,300.

“We didn't tell Johnny too much. He's been here before and has a game plan going in,” Casse assistant Jamie Begg said. “Last time, he missed the break, but the turf was also a little soft, so when he needed to run last time, he struggled a bit through the softer turf. The turf has been a lot better recently, so we were confident going in and as soon we saw Johnny break on top like that, I knew we were away to the races.”

Earlier in the meet, Casse came close in graded stakes company, finishing second with Got Stormy in Saturday's Grade 1 Fourstardave, Tap It to Win in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on Whitney Day, August 1, and with Make Mischief in the Grade 2 Adirondack on August 12.

“It's one of those things where if we had a few wins, we'd be having a decent enough meet,” Begg said. “We've been pretty consistent with the graded horses hitting the board. We just needed to get one and having it be in a stake with a horse coming back is pretty good.”

Competitive Saint, making his stakes debut after starting his career 2-for-2 for trainer George Weaver, finished 1 ½-lengths in front of Buy Land and See for second.

Island Commish, Flap Jack, 9-5 favorite Maven, Old Chestnut and Power Up Paynter completed the order of finish. Cajun Casanova and Turned Aside scratched, as did main-track only entrant Sky of Hook.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with a nine-race card that features the $85,000 Smart N Fancy older fillies and mares going 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in Race 7 at 4:41 p.m. First post is 1:10 p.m.

The post Jack And Noah Gives Casse First Win Of Saratoga Meet In Wednesday’s Mahony Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Veteran Whitmore Chasing Another Grade 1 in Saturday’s Forego

Veteran war horse Whitmore will face off against three other Grade 1 winners in Saturday's 41st running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing at Saratoga Race Course.

The seven-furlong event for older horses over the main track is named in honor of one of the greatest racehorses of all time, who won eight Eclipse Awards during a storied racing career. Owned by Martha F. Gerry's Lazy F Ranch, Forego was named Horse of the Year for three straight years (1974-76) while displaying versatility having won stakes at distancing ranging from seven furlongs to 2 miles. Forego won some of New York's most historic races on multiple occasions including the Woodward (1974-77); the Met Mile (1976-77); the Brooklyn (1974-76).

Boasting a record of 35-14-11-3 and lifetime earnings of over $3.1 million, Whitmore will attempt to join Groovy (1986-87) and Quick Call (1988-89) as the only horses to win multiple editions of the Forego.

A winner of the 2018 Forego over subsequent Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup winner City of Light, Whitmore boasts six graded stakes victories including three triumphs, in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park [2017-18 and 2020]. In addition to wins in the 2017 Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico and Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland, the 7-year-old son of Pleasantly Perfect has also scored four straight editions of Oaklawn's Hot Springs, winning every year since 2017.

Owned by trainer Ron Moquett in partnership with Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners, Whitmore arrives at the race off a runner-up finish to Volatile in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 25 at the Spa. Moquett originally intended on training up to the Phoenix at Keeneland en route to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, where Whitmore has finished a respective second and third in the last two runnings.

“I always leave it up to the horse,” Moquett said. “We came out of the last race fresh and in good shape, so I decided I'd run him once before the Phoenix instead of having to work him back a couple times. The thing about New York in Grade 1s is that they always show up, so you got to bring your 'A' game. It's a talented group of trainers and big group of owners that want to win.”

Whitmore has breezed twice over the Churchill Downs main track since the Vanderbilt, most recently breezing five-eighths in 1:02.60 on August 22.

Moquett said a clean trip is the key to a positive result for Whitmore.

“That's the main thing,” Moquett said. “Pace makes the race as we've seen in a lot of these races. He's always good enough to make a big difference but you want him to do it without being put at a disadvantage.”

Whitmore has displayed the ability to perform well wherever Moquett sends him having won over six different tracks, including Oaklawn Park where he has won nine of his 14 victories.

“I've always been able to draw the line through that excuse,” Moquett said. “I hear gamblers say that he's an Oaklawn horse, but people forget that we ran behind the champion sprinter Roy H in the Breeders' Cup at Churchill. He's run against Mitole, where he had to go up against the track bias at Santa Anita and make up ground to run third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint last year. So, he's always been a horse that's been able to put up a strong effort anywhere.”

At the age of 7, Whitmore will attempt to become the oldest horse to win the prestigious Spa sprint.

“He likes to run,” Moquett said. “I've had some horses that you can tell aren't interested in racing after a while, but the horse always makes the decision of what they do in our barn. So, we ask the questions and with Whitmore, he's always answered that he wants to go have fun and run.

“He's nobody's pet,” Moquett continued. “He shows up with his work boots and lets you do whatever you do that takes care of him. He's just okay with chilling out at the back of his stall. He's a very smart horse.”

Jockey Luis Saez, who previously rode Whitmore to a runner-up effort in 2019 Count Fleet behind Mitole, will return from post 2.

“A lot of riders have ridden Whitmore and a lot of riders have had success with him, we were happy we were able to snatch up Saez,” Moquett said.

Looking to become a Grade 1 winner at the Spa at ages 2, 3, and 4 is Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' Mind Control, who was third in the Vanderbilt last out.

Trained by Gregg Sacco, the 4-year-old son of Stay Thirsty was an upset winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful in September 2018 and went on to take the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy the following year at the Spa.

Since the Vanderbilt, Mind Control has trained forwardly for Sacco at his Monmouth Park base, recording a trio of breezes over the New Jersey oval. He recently went five eighths in 1:01.20 on August 22.

“He came out of the Vanderbilt in great shape,” Sacco said. “He had three works at Monmouth and each one was right on queue. We're really happy where he's at with his training and the way his attitude is going into the Forego.”

Mind Control was entered in last Saturday's Grade 3 Phillip H. Iselin at Monmouth Park, but scratched in favor of the Forego.

“We took a look at it,” Sacco said of the Iselin. “We had [multiple stakes winner] Bal Harbour entered in there as well for [owner] Mr. Brunetti [of Red Oak Stable] and he wanted to take a look at the race, so we entered just to see what was in there and decided to go with our original plan of running in the Forego.”

A five-time graded stakes winner, Mind Control began his 2020 campaign with scores in the Toboggan and Tom Fool (both Grade 3 events at Aqueduct) before finishing a distant sixth over a sloppy going at Belmont Park in the Grade 1 Runhappy Carter on June 6 en route to the Vanderbilt.

Sacco was proud of his horse's effort in the short but compact Vanderbilt field, where he was only 1 ½ lengths beaten to Volatile.

“Volatile is arguably the best sprinter in the country and Mind Control ran a dynamite race,” Sacco said. “It wasn't our original plan to cut him back to six furlongs. He didn't run his race in the Carter, but he didn't care for the track. He didn't really benefit from that, so we wanted a solid race like the Vanderbilt in preparation for the Forego.”

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, a two-time winner of the Forego, has been aboard Mind Control for four of his five graded stakes wins and will retain the mount from post 10.

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle Grade 1 winner Complexity and lightly-raced Fortin Hill.

Owned by Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, Complexity arrives off an allowance optional claiming victory going a one-turn mile at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old son of Maclean's Music will seek a triumphant return to Grade 1 form having won the Grade 1 Champagne in October 2018 at Belmont Park over eventual Runhappy Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Code of Honor.
Jockey Jose Ortiz has been aboard for all but one of Complexity's seven lifetime starts and will be aboard from post 6.

OXO Equine's Fortin Hill is the only Forego contender with no prior experience against stakes company but has won three of his four lifetime starts. The son of Mucho Macho Man was a recent allowance winner at Belmont Park going the Forego distance, where he bested stakes winner Amundson while registering a 101 Beyer.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. attempt a ninth stakes win of the meet when piloting Fortin Hill from post 11.

Mr Amore's Firenze Fire, who was second in last year's Forego, will seek his first Grade 1 triumph since taking the 2017 Champagne during his 2-year-old campaign.

Trained by Kelly Breen, the Florida-bred son of Poseidon's Warrior is a six-time graded stakes winner dating back to the Grade 3 Sanford in July 2017, which was his lone victory at the Spa. During his 3-year-old season he recorded two graded stakes victories including a nine-length triumph in the Grade 3 Dwyer, where he garnered a career-best 107 Beyer, and a close win in the Grade 3 Gallant Bloom at Parx. Firenze Fire was victorious in his seasonal bow, which took place in the Grade 3 General George on February 15 at Laurel Park.
Breaking from post 8, Firenze Fire will receive the riding services of Junior Alvarado, who piloted 2013 Forego winner Strapping Groom.

After scoring his first career Grade 1 victory with Vexatious in the Personal Ensign earlier this month, trainer Jack Sisterson will send out three contestants for the Forego on behalf of Calumet Farm.

Everfast, a runner-up in last year's Grade 1 Preakness Stakes to War of Will, defeated winners for the first time last out in a seven-furlong tilt at the Spa, winning by 2 ½ lengths as the favorite.

The son of Take Charge Indy worked a half-mile in 49.20 seconds over the Oklahoma training track on August 22.

“He's coming in extremely well,” Sisterson said. “I think it was the best breeze I've seen form him. Typically, he can be a lazy horse on his own. I really believe he came out of the win better than he did than going in. He really stepped up his game training wise and he's telling us he's ready for another opportunity at a Grade 1.”

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. will look to be the first jockey to win three straight editions of the Forego since Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey (2001-03) as he pilots Everfast from post 1.

Lexitonian was close to tasting a Grade 1 win last out with a late-closing second in the Bing Crosby at Del Mar. The winner of last year's Grade 3 Chick Lang at Pimlico displayed different tactics last out and made up ten lengths coming from well off the pace.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve,” Sisterson said of the chestnut son of Speightstown. “He made up some ground late in the Bing Crosby. He shown a new dynamic of running. He really likes to be forwardly placed and runs well with some pressure around him. California speed is a different kind of speed, he got ran off his feet earlier and picked up his momentum later on.”

Lexitonian will be ridden by Jose Lezcano from post 3.

Rounding out Sisterson's trio is True Timber, who seeks his first stakes triumph after having acquired graded stakes black type seven times.

The 6-year-old son of Mineshaft boasts earnings just over the million-dollar mark and made his debut for Sisterson off a five-month layoff against tough allowance optional claiming company going 6 ½ furlongs on July 12 at Keeneland.

Formerly conditioned by Kiaran McLaughlin, True Timber has placed twice in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct and the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Belmont Park.

“He's a beautiful looking horse and he was sent to us in great shape,” Sisterson said. “We just gave him a break after running some tough races. We allowed him to put his feet where he wanted to from a training standpoint. He moved forward each week. It was a perfect allowance spot at Keeneland bringing him back. It was a difficult race. From a standpoint of him finishing third it was a steppingstone.”

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who was aboard True Timber for his maiden victory in December 2016 and piloted the horse to a pair of graded stakes placings in the Grade 3 Jerome and Grade 3 Withers, will be reunited with True Timber from post 5.

Four-time New York-bred stakes winner Funny Guy will attempt to become the first horse bred in the Empire State to win the Forego since Palace in 2014.

Owned by Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable and Swick Stables, the 4-year-old Big Brown colt won the John Morrissey on July 30 at the Spa going the Forego distance. He made his seasonal bow in the Commentator on June 12 at Belmont Park, where he recorded a career best 101 Beyer. Funny Guy was sixth in his lone open company start in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby last September and will look to give trainer John Terranova and co-owner Gatsas Stables their first win in the Forego since Shadow Caster won in 2000.

Jockey Joel Rosario will attempt his ninth stakes win of the meet when piloting Funny Guy from post 4.

Rounding out the field are Live Oak Plantation's Win Win Win [post 7, Javier Castellano] and R. A. Hill Stable's Majestic Dunhill [post 9, Manny Franco], both of whom are stakes winners on both dirt and turf.

The Forego is slated as Race 8 on Saturday's 11-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Streaking Cross Border Headlines ‘Win And You’re In’ Sword Dancer

The Sword Dancer, a 12-furlong inner turf test for 4-year-olds and upward, offers an automatic berth in the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Turf on November 7 at Keeneland Race Course.

Saturday's blockbuster card offers four graded events including the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing at seven furlongs on the main track for older sprinters; the Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam at six furlongs for sophomore sprinters; and the Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac at one mile on the inner turf for 3-year-olds.

Three Diamonds Farm, currently third in the Spa summer meet owner standings with six wins, will be represented by Maker trainees Cross Border and Marzo.

Bred in the Empire State by Berkshire Stud and B. D. Gibbs, Cross Border is a perfect 5-for-5 at Saratoga. The 6-year-old English Channel ridgling notched the natural hat trick last summer at the Spa, winning an open allowance in July ahead of August scores in a restricted allowance tilt and a restricted optional-claiming event.

That run of form propelled Cross Border to the Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational in October at Belmont Park, where the dark bay earned a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure when fifth, defeated 2 ½-lengths to Arklow.

Cross Border earned graded-stakes placed status in January when second by a neck to Spooky Channel in the Grade 3 William L. McKnight at Gulfstream Park and two starts later was defeated just a length to Instilled Regard when fifth in the Grade 1 Manhattan on July 4 at Belmont.

His Saratoga domination continued anew on July 22 when 6 ¼-lengths the best in the 1 1/16-mile Lubash for state-breds, and despite being wheeled back on just ten-days rest, Cross Border crossed the wire second in the Grade 2 Bowling Green and was elevated to first following the disqualification of Sadler's Joy for lugging in and bumping Cross Border, who was forced into the path of Channel Maker.

“I don't know what it is about Saratoga, but he seems to flourish up here,” said Maker assistant Nolan Ramsey. “Not only does he show it in his past performances, but physically the horse does well up here. His coat looks great and he really enjoys his training. We nicknamed him “The Machine” because he just really gets into his training. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it is about Saratoga, but he likes it up here.”

Ramsey said the added distance Saturday should be within reach for Cross Border.

“I think he's probably best a mile and three-eighths. At a mile and a half, if we get the right set up, it shouldn't be a problem,” said Ramsey.

Jose Ortiz retains the mount aboard Cross Border from post 6.

Marzo, bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, set the pace in the Bowling Green and stayed on for fifth, defeated 2 ¼-lengths. The 5-year-old Medaglia d'Oro gelding made the grade in the Grade 3 Sycamore in October at Keeneland traveling 12 furlongs. Winless in five starts following the Sycamore score, Marzo did earn blacktype when third in the Grade 3 John B. Connally at Sam Houston in January.

“The horse is doing exceptionally well and he's proven at a mile and a half,” said Ramsey.

Ricardo Santana, Jr. will guide Marzo from post 3.

Maker will also saddle Grade 1 winner Aquaphobia, who has posted 8-of-9 career wins on firm turf. The 7-year-old Giant's Causeway gelding, bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. M. Roy Jackson, broke through at the highest level last out when stalking and pouncing to a one-length win in the 11-furlong Grade 1 United Nations on July 18 at Monmouth Park.

Maker claimed the horse for $62,500 in January at Gulfstream and promptly won the Old Man Eloquent in February traveling 1 1/16-miles on the Gulfstream Park turf. Owned by Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Hooties Racing and Skychai Racing, Aquaphobia was a good second to recent Grade 1 Fourstardave victor Halladay in the Sunshine Forever in May at the Hallandale Beach oval.
Out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Real Quiet mare Pussycat Doll, Ramsey said the veteran bay exudes class.

“He's been a horse that was on my watchlist for a longtime. We've always liked him,” said Ramsey. “We picked him up this winter at Gulfstream and he's really flourished for us. He's really come together. I think the more distance he gets the better he is. He's an all-class horse and I don't think it matters whether it's a mile and a quarter, mile and three eighths or a mile and a half, he seems to be able to handle it all. He's a very professional horse and I expect a big race from him.

“I loved his breeding and I loved his running style,” added Ramsey, regarding the productive claim. “He's a very honest, very classy horse. They're kind of hard to come by, a horse that can be as honest as him for as many years. He's always been right there. That's something we always look for.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr., leading rider at the Spa with 44 wins heading into Wednesday's card, picks up the mount from post 2.

Al Shahania Stud America's Pedro Cara, a 4-year-old French-bred son of Pedro the Great, enjoyed a productive sophomore season that included wins in the Prix Frederic de Lagrange in July at Vichy and the Group 2 Qatar Derby in December at Doha. In between those winning efforts, Pedro Cara was a game second, defeated just a nose to Spanish Mission, in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational in September at Belmont.

Pedro Cara made his seasonal debut in February at Doha when third in the Group 1 H.H. The Amir Trophy at Doha, a length and a half back of the Graham Motion-trained runner-up Standard Deviation.

The gelding was subsequently transferred to the care of Motion and will make his first start in eight months, having breezed weekly on the all-weather surface at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland for Motion since July 11, including a seven-furlong effort in 1:27.60 on August 24.

“He ran in Qatar when I took Standard Deviation over, so that was my first introduction to him,” said Motion. “He didn't get over here until the summer and he had a bit of a foot issue when he got over here, but he hasn't missed a beat since we started breezing him.”

Motion said Pedro Cara should be a factor in the wide-open Sword Dancer.

“I think he's a gritty little horse. He's not very big but he's tough,” said Motion. “There's not a real standout in this division, so he fits in well with this group of horses.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will have the call from post 7.

Woodslane Farm's Sadler's Joy will make his fourth appearance in the Sword Dancer for trainer Tom Albertrani. The 7-year-old Kitten's Joy horse won this event in 2017, finished sixth in 2018 and last year rallied bravely to finish second by a neck to Annals of Time.

The Kentucky homebred chestnut shows no signs of slowing down in his fifth season of racing having posted Beyer Speed Figures ranging from 96 through 101 in five starts. The late-running Sadler's Joy finished third, defeated less than a length, in the Grade 1 Manhattan in July at Belmont and crossed the wire first last out in the Bowling Green before being demoted to fourth.

He will emerge from post 8 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R.A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's multiple Grade 1-winner Channel Maker will make his third appearance in the Sword Dancer following a runner-up effort in 2018 and a fourth last year.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old English Channel gelding broke through at the top flight in the 2018 Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in August at the Spa and doubled up in the Grade 1 Man o' War in May 2019 at Belmont Park, which was his last winning effort.

Bred in Ontario by Tall Oaks Farm, Channel Maker boasts a record of 34-5-5-4 with purse earnings of $2,219,051. He arrives at the Sword Dancer from a troubled trip in the Bowling Green when elevated to third and will have the services of Manny Franco from post 4.

Rounding out the field are Highland Sky (post 1, Junior Alvarado) and Corelli (post 5, Joel Rosario).

The Sword Dancer is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 11-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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