Saratoga, Race 1 – Friday, September 1, 2023
By 2YO EdgeMan
SAR1:090123 – Five and a half furlongs on the lawn. Kentucky Downs is dark today, so we’ll shift back to The Spa. 10 colts are set to have at it in this turf sprint (assuming they don’t move it to the main oval). More than half the field will be racing for the first time (six), two dudes have been out once, one has three races of experience and one has taken a spin four times. No surprise, but we have another great list of trainers set – TAP, Maker, Motion, Handal, Clement, Stall, Jr. and Sharp. Fine sires abound, too – Hard Spun has two in here, along with one each from WinStar’s Speightstown, Midshipman, Collected, Mendelssohn, Not This Time and Hard Spun. Add to that list, Spendthrift Farm’s excellent First-Crop Sire, Omaha Beach. Let’s break down five of these fine fellas…
#2 – Irish Gent (7/2) – Aptly named, this colt is by Irish-bred Ten Sovereigns (also bred in Ireland) and he’s out of a winless Irish mare. Nearly $480K (converted to U.S. dollars) was his price tag at Goff’s Yearling sale last year, most of 87 yearlings by his sire that were sold last year (in fact, it was $170K more than the next most expensive). This colt is owned by Lawana and Robert Low and trained by Pletcher and he’ll be making his first career start. In prep for his debut, this dude has put in six unspectacular workouts here at Saratoga over the past 60 days, with the best being a half-mile move of 48.65 seconds over the main oval (23/204). Irad will be his guide.
#3 – Sonofaship (6/1) – This Mike Maker-conditioned colt is by Midshipman out of an Elusive Quality mare. He has a ½ brother that went 3 for 15 earning $172K (including a runner-up finish in a G2), while winning as a FTS at GP, posting a roasting fast 102 EBSF (although it was in December in his 2YO season). Today’s runner sold down at the 2022 Texas Thoroughbred Association Yearling Sale for $80,000, which was in the top quarter of his sire’s yearlings that sold last year (9/42). He’s been out in the afternoon on four occasions, most recently at Evangeline Downs where he broke alertly and held the lead for a half mile or so and then gave way, ultimately finishing fourth, beaten by four lengths. He’s hoping the switch to turf will help him today, along with the four works that he’s put in since his last run. On 8/19/23 at Churchill’s Training facility, he went 5/8th in 1:00.8, which earned him a bullet (1/11). Manny Franco will handle the reins on this fella for the first time.
#4 – Sanderson (8/1) – Another firster, this colt is trained by Graham Motion, owned by Madaket Stable, and is sired by Collected. He also has turf in his pedigree from his dam’s side, as she’s from Kitten’s Joy – however, she never could find the Winner’s Circle. $120K was the winning bid for this guy, earlier this year as a 2YO at OBS (4/31). He’s made nine morning visits to the track at Fair Hill, four of his last five were 5/8th of a mile over their All-Weather strip (none blazingly fast). Flavien will handle the riding duties.
#5 – Hard Par (9/2) – Being a golfer, I gotta say, I love this name. This colt hails from Hard Spun and was thrown by a mare who is sired by Strategic Mission. Mom won 10 races in her career (from 41 starts) and banked $265K. In the sales ring, this colt brought $80,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton New York Preferred Sale last year (28/69). He’s been out one time at Saratoga and on that afternoon he got up for a second-place finish, beaten by 3 ¾ lengths at this same distance on the turf by Jimmythetooth (who has not been out since his victory). Since that run, trainer Ray Handal has sent him out for three morning drills, all pretty average from a time standpoint. Katie Davis returns in the saddle.
#6 – Reverend Moon (3/1) – The Morning Line favorite will give it a shot for the second time in his young career. Christophe Clement trains this homebred for Robert Evans and he comes from the wonderful debut sire, Omaha Beach. His mama, by Malibu Moon, never was able to win a race. This runner’s first attempt was here at the Spa on 8/12/23, again at five and a half furlongs on the lawn. He never could really gain any serious momentum in that affair, checking in at the end in fourth place, 4 ¾ lengths short of the winner. He’s only had time for one breeze since his race and that was a very solid move of 48.25 seconds, covering four poles (2/17). Joel Rosario will slip his boots into the irons with a return engagement on this colt.
Pick – #2 Irish Gent – I always regret it when I don’t pick the valedictorian of his/her sales class and this guy was the leader by a big number. Clearly, the turf should suit his fancy, based on his Irish breeding. The Low’s are 2 for 3 in these 2YO MSW races here at SAR over the previous five years and Pletcher ain’t too bad (sarcasm intended). His works have not been lights out, but the one mentioned above shows some talent and Irad is Irad.
Kentucky Downs is back in action on Saturday with two of ‘our races’. Keep the faith and here’s hoping that you cash some nice tickets. Thanks for reading and always know that you are the most important part of this piece – in other words, you are an Important Edgie.
