Speed is the name of the game at Saratoga, especially if the track is wet. Most of the fillies in the Adirondack Stakes have beaten their competition by open lengths and will receive the toughest test so far of their young careers. The colt division isn’t lacking for speed either. One entrant set a track record and another all but equaled a one in maiden races. Will they run back to their promising debuts or will someone surprise?
Adirondack Stakes (G-2)
Six fillies face off in the Adirondack Stakes (G-2) at Saratoga. This is a small but elite field. Three of the six are entering off of dominating wins and two of the six are listed stakes winners.
The morning line favorite Kauai Katie (Malibu Moon - More Than Pretty, by More Than Ready) is the buzz horse. Breaking from the one post, Kauai Katie galloped around the course as if she were alone. She traveled 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.66, wowing by 12 lengths and earned a 107 Brisnet speed figure. Kauai Katie has two full sisters. One is undefeated in two starts while the other is still a maiden after six tries. Their dam placed in juvenile stakes and won a listed turf sprint at three.
KAUAI KATIE faces two undefeated stakes winners in the Adirondack, Cayllano and Salamera.
CAYLLANO (Bluegrass Cat - Blissful Trip, by Trippi) has defeated her foes by a combined 17 ½ lengths. After winning her five furlong debut in a sharp :57.87, she was victorious in the White Clay Creek Overnight Stakes at Delaware Park. She emulates the precociousness of her dam, who also won her career debut, then placed in the Fashion Stakes.
Shipping in from Florida, SALAMERA (Successful Appeal - Autumn Music, by Unbridled's Song) beat maidens in late May. A month later the pretty gray filly was up in time to win the JJ’s Dream by a neck. Three of Salamera’s half sisters own blacktype and one was named Champion Imported Filly in Puerto Rico.
Another Florida shipper, VITAMETA (Street Sense - Emery Board, by Grindstone) was much the best in her five furlong debut, drawing off to win by seven lengths. She has the pedigree to enjoy running two turns and to improve with racing. Her half sister is a G-3 stakes placed miler. Their dam won the one mile Go For Wand stakes and placed in the Florida Oaks (G-3).
Two fillies that were unplaced in the Schuylerville Stakes try again to earn blacktype.
#5 FULLY LIVING (Unbridled's Song - Half A. P., by Pulpit) went wide on the turn in the Schuylerville and just missed getting third place by ½ a length. It was her first start in two months. Fully Living’s dam is a half-sister to Champion Juvenile Halfbridled. Fully Living owns a sharp bullet breeze and Lasix for the first time.
#1 SWEET SHIRLEY MAE (Broken Vow - Joyful Chaos, by Rahy) was a disappointment in the Schuylerville, finishing eight lengths behind the winner. She’s a half to the multiple turf stakes winner Sal the Barber. Sweet Shirley Mae is the only one in the field with experience racing over a sloppy track, so she could move forward if the track is off.
Selections
Track bias: 80% of the races this meet have been won by paces setters or pressers.
All of these lightly raced youngsters are pace setters or pace pressers.
#3 KAUAI KATIE
#5 VITAMETA
#4 CAYLLANO
#2 FULLY LIVING – longshot pick
Saratoga Special (G-2)
Seven closely matched colts will head to the gate in the Saratoga Special (G-2). One precocious baby owns a stakes win. Speed is the name of the game at Saratoga. One entry, Southern Honor set a new track record for 4 ½ furlongs while Shanghai Bobby just missed setting a 5 ½ furlong record.
SHANGHAI BOBBY (Harlan's Holiday - Steelin', by Orientate) won his debut in mid-April. He then wired the field in the Track Barron Stakes at Belmont a month later, getting 5 ½ furlongs in a blazing 1:02.87, just missing the eight year old track record of 1:02.26. His dam is stakes placed and his second dam is the full sister to City Band, winner of the Golden Rod (G-3) and Oak Leaf Stakes (G-1).
SOUTHERN HONOR (Yes It's True - Pontiana, by Deputy Minister) gave notice of his speed when he set a new track record at Parx for 4 ½ furlong in :50.75. He beat maidens by 7 ¾ lengths. He’s the first foal produced by his dam. His second dam is the multiple graded stakes veteran and Maryland Champion Shine Again. She won the seven furlong Ballerina (G-1) and First Flight (G-2) for two consecutive years.
SPURIOUS PRECISION (High Cotton - Scarlet Combo, by Scarlet Ibis) is the only colt in the field with a win over the track. He brings a recent bullet work to the race. His dam is a half sister to a couple of stakes winners, but otherwise, there is little blacktype in this female family.
DRUM ROLL (Majestic Warrior - Sparkling Forest, by Forest Wildcat) broke outward in his debut, rushed up and opened up to win by 2 ¾ lengths. If the track is sloppy, he could put on a show. Offspring of first crop sire Majestic Warrior are really enjoying the mud. He’s a half brother to the stakes placed Bibblesman, otherwise, there’s no blacktype in the distaff family.
IN HARM'S WAY (Hook and Ladder - New Harmony, by A.P. Indy) was victorious over state-bred maidens in his second start. His half-siblings don’t own any blacktype, but this is a stakes winning distaff family. His unraced dam is a half sister to the multiple graded turf horse Parade Ground and his stakes winning full brother Parade Leader. Her half sister Speed Dialer won the Arlington-Washington Lassie (G-2). Another half sister, Wavering Girl was Champion Juvenile Filly in Canada and produced the G1 stakes turf horse Military. In Harm's Way’s third – fifth dams are blue hens.
DAN THE TIN MAN (Songandaprayer - Mrs. M, by Mecke) ambitiously took on stakes runners in his debut, then dropped realistically to beat maidens in his second start. He ships in from Canada and makes his first run over the dirt. Dan the Tin Man’s dam is G-3 stakes placed and is a full sister to a stakes placed runner.
HE'S SO FINE (Purge - World Event, by Quiet American) has a pedigree to enjoy running two turns. Despite this, he beat maiden claimers at five furlongs in his second start. There’s no blacktype in his first two generations, although both half siblings are multiple winners. Princess Rooney Handicap (G-1) winner Game Face is part of this distaff family.
Selections
#3 SPURIOUS PRECISION
#6 SHANGHAI BOBBY
#4 SOUTHERN HONOR
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