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Vanzzy Tops Saranac Field

Three-time stakes winner Vanzzy (Verrazano) looks to take his game to the next level Saturday in Saratoga’s GIII Saranac S. Capturing the Display S. last term, the bay won this year’s Rushaway S. in March on the Turfway synthetic and was fourth next out when trying grass for the first time in Belmont’s GII Pennine Ridge S. June 20. Third in the GIII Kent S. on the Delaware lawn July 4, he scored a decisive victory in the Jersey Derby last time at Monmouth July 26.

“His last race was his best, and he’s just getting better,” trainer Michael Pino said. “I think he fits, his last race was good he tucked in saved some ground and pushed away that’s a better trip. It looked like he had a good finish. Where he sits early on depends on how the race goes. He can do either, but I would rather sit a little off it.”

Chad Brown can never be overlooked in a grass stakes and he sends out French import L’Imperator (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). The bay won three of his four starts overseas for his previous connections and was privately purchased by Madaket Stables, Robert LaPenta and Wonder Stables and sent to Brown. L’Imperator receives Lasix for the first time in this event.

Don Juan Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) seeks his first black-type victory Saturday. Missing by a neck in a June 7 allowance at Belmont, the gray scored a decisive win in a one-mile test at the Spa July 25.

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Basin Looks to Remain Perfect at the Spa

Basin (Liam’s Map) is two-for-two at Saratoga so far in his young career and looks to extend that record and return to winning ways in the Spa’s GII Amsterdam S. Saturday, which will be his first start for trainer Todd Pletcher. Previously trained by Steve Asmussen, the bay earned his diploma here at second asking last July and dominated the GI Runhappy Hopeful S. next out in September. Third to now-retired Grade I winner Nadal (Blame) in the GII Rebel S. in March, he was fourth in the nine-panel Oaklawn S. Apr. 11 and checked in second behind ‘TDN Rising Star’ Charlatan (Speightstown) in one division of the GI Arkansas Derby, but was awarded the winning purse when that rival was disqualified from the money for a lidocaine positive. Basin was last seen fading to 10th in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. around two turns at Keeneland July 11.

“He’s been training well and I’ve been pleased with his works,” Pletcher said. “We’ll see how he responds to the cutback in distance.”

Long Weekend (Majesticperfection) won his first three starts of the year by just over 11 1/2 combined lengths, including the Mar. 21 Gazebo S. and Apr. 25 Bachelor S. His only loss this year came when a close third in a sloppy renewal of Belmont’s Gold Fever S. July 10, but he was promoted to second after the DQ of the original runner-up.

“There’s no secret to our game plan,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “He’s very, very fast out the gate and we’re going to try and use that speed. We were a little disappointed with how things turned out at Belmont with the track condition and not breaking well that day, which was very uncharacteristic of him. We thought he fought hard but was certainly compromised right at the start of the race. We’re looking to make amends for that.”

The unbeaten Yaupon (Uncle Mo) takes a step up to black-type company in this event. A narrow debut winner at Churchill June 20, the $255,000 OBSOPN buy wired a track-and-trip optional claimer July 18, earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure. The dark bay enters this test off a three-panel bullet in :37 flat (1/7) over the Oklahoma training track Aug. 24.

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Whitmore Seeks Second Forego Score

The hard-knocking Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) captured the 2018 GI Forego S. and, after missing last year’s Saratoga meet, he looks to take home the trophy again in this year’s renewal Saturday. Runner-up in the King Cotton S. at the start of this term Feb. 8, the chestnut captured the Hot Springs S. Mar. 7 and followed suit with a win in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Apr. 18. He completed the exacta behind Volatile (Violence) in this venue’s GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. last time July 25.

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

Also exiting the Vanderbilt are third-place finisher Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) and fourth-place finisher Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior). A Grade I winner at two and three at Saratoga, Mind Control captured in the GIII Toboggan S. Jan. 18 and GIII Tom Fool H. Mar. 7. He was sixth to subsequent GI Met Mile hero Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Runhappy Carter H. June 6 prior to the Vanderbilt.

Firenze Fire, whose lone top-level victory came during his juvenile campaign, captured the GIII General George S. at Laurel in his final start for Jason Servis prior to that conditioner’s arrest as part of a federal indictment for horse doping. Transferred to Kelly Breen, the homebred was fourth in the Carter, but returned to the winner’s circle at Belmont in the June 27 GII True North S.

A Grade I winner at two in the Champagne S., ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Complexity (Maclean’s Music) romped in an Aqueduct optional claimer in November and was fourth to Omaha Beach (War Front) next out in the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Dec. 28. Subsequently shelved, the bay made a victorious return in a one-mile event at Belmont July 2.

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Maker Holds Strong Hand in Sword Dancer

When it comes to Grade Is on the turf in New York, it is typically Chad Brown who has three or four strong entries. However, in Saturday’s GI Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga–a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf–Brown is surprisingly absent and it is Mike Maker saddling a strong trio.

Cross Border (English Channel) appeared to come up up a neck short of likely race favorite Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy), who won the 2017 renewal of this race, in this venue’s GII Bowling Green S. last time Aug. 1, but was promoted to first after that re-opposing rival was disqualified and placed fourth for interference. Prior to that, he romped by 6 1/4 lengths in the state-bred Lubash S. at the Spa July 22.

“I don’t know what it is about Saratoga, but he seems to flourish up here,” said Maker’s 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.”

His stablemate Aquaphobia (Giant’s Causeway) is the latest example of Maker’s success at the claim box. Haltered for $62,500 in January, he won the Old Man Eloquent S. in the claiming crown Feb. 17 and was fourth next out in the GII Mervin Muniz Memorial S. at Fair Grounds Mar. 21. Runner-up in the Sunshine Forever S. back in Hallandale May 9, the bay was fourth in Churchill’s GII Wise Dan S. June 20 and captured the GI United Nations S. at Monmouth last out July 18, good for a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

Completing the Maker trio is Marzo (Medaglia d’Oro), also claimed for $62,500 back in August of last year. Capturing the GIII Sycamore S. at Keeneland in October, the gelding was third in his seasonal bow in the GIII John B. Connally S. at Sam Houston Jan. 26. Seventh in the Mervin Muniz, he was subsequently shelved and resurfaced in the Bowling Green, where he set the early pace before fading to fifth.

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