Saratoga, Race 1 – Thursday, August 10, 2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
SAR1:081023 – Five and a half furlongs on the lawn. Nine fillies have been entered to try their luck in this unrestricted two-year-old Maiden Special Weight affair, with one gal entered as ‘Main Track Only’ (which it likely will be). Three of these juveniles have never competed in the afternoon, three have run once and three have been out on two occasions. We’ve got a few first level trainers – Ward, Cox and TAP – along with a couple of other good ones – Sharp, Rudy Rod and Hennig. Similar story on the sire side. Rock stars – Gun Runner and Into Mischief each have one in here and so does Street Boss and Girvin, along with two from First-Crop Sire – Catalina Cruiser. Honestly, not an overwhelmingly strong field, but very solid, none the less. Let’s jump in…
#3 – Bundchen (2/1) – Wesley Ward thought enough of this filly to take her over to Royal Ascot after a runner up finish in late April at KEE. However, she did not fare well in England as she chugged home 22nd from 26 runners at odds of 40/1 in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes. She is a Gun Runner filly from an unraced Speightstown mare. Ward signed the ticket on this gal for a hefty $700K, presumably for the current owner – Three Chimneys Farm – at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Sale last year as a yearling (11/66). WW has drilled four works into her since her return from the old country – two at Keeneland and two here at Oklahoma – one on the turf and one across the dirt. Frankly, her times have been just a notch above pedestrian in these breezes. Joel Rosario will manage the reins.
#4 – Into Stars (4/1) – This Brad Cox filly comes at you by way of sire – Into Mischief – and broodmare sire – Dynaformer. Mama was a terrific runner in her day, bringing home $415K from her winnings on the oval. She scored three times from 12 runs, including a win at both the Grade 1 and Grade 3 level. She also recorded a Equibase Speed Fig top of 110. Today’s filly demanded $250K as a yearling in the Keeneland September Sale (65/77). To prep for her first afternoon competition today, she’s worked ten times, all in KY, the first four at KEE and the most recent six under the Twin Spires. Her morning times have certainly not been slow, but they also do not jump of the page. Her best was probably on the 4th of July at CD when she went a half mile in 48.4 seconds (6/48). Flavien Prat gets the opportunity to grace the saddle.
#5 – Permed (5/2) – Is a filly that has already made two starts, both at the Big Sandy, for Todd and was the bridesmaid in both at short odds in each. Street Boss is her sire and her dam is by Curlin. Mom was winless in three tries on the track and this is her first colt. She is a home-bred from Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Since her last race, TAP has given her two 4f maintenance works, both on the island at BEL. Luis Saez gets to pilot her for the first time today.
#6 – Honey Dijon (5/1) – Girvin is the proud daddy to this filly, who was thrown by an Empire Maker dam that could not find her way to the Winner’s Circle in five attempts. However, she did produce a Connect filly that won at first asking in September of her 2YO campaign at Gulfstream Park (73 EBSF). Today’s young gal is a home-bred from Brad & Misty Grady and she’s run in one previous race – it was on opening day here at The Spa. She did not impress in that affair, as she tried to keep up with the leaders, but finished 5th, beaten by 12 lengths by the promising filly, Sugar Hi. Since then, conditioner Joe Sharp has worked her twice here at SAR – once on the turf across the street at the training track and then on this past Saturday, she breezed three poles on the main track in a zippy 35.2 seconds (1/12). Gaffalione gets the return engagement.
Pick – #4 Into Stars – Sire? Into Mischief – check. Dam? – G1 and G3 scores – check. Trainer? Brad Cox – check. Solid work tab? Check. Bundchen is certainly the wildcard, but at M/L of 2/1, she’s not for me. Our Pick is still available in the Game of Silks (as is Bundchen) – so, what are you waiting for? Climb aboard the Silks Express, you may just end up as the owner of one of these outstanding prospects.
