Ballston Spa BC

ALINGHI (Aus) (Encosta de Lago) will make her much-anticipated U.S. bow for
Bobby Frankel on Monday in the $200,000 Ballston Spa Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) at
Saratoga. The 1 1/16-mile turf test has drawn a field of 12, as well as
four main-track-only entrants, and we’re going to try to beat the likely
favorite with QUE PUNTUAL (Arg) (Contested Bid). Second in the Diana H. (G1)
last time over this same surface, the Angel Penna Jr. trainee is in top form
this year.

Prior to her runner-up finish in the Diana, Que Puntual was a half-length
winner of the Nassau S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine. She entered that one off an
impressive win against allowance company at Keeneland, and her only hiccup since
coming to the United States late last year came as a fourth-place finish in her seasonal
bow. The five-year-old bay is twice Group 1-placed in her native Argentina, and
we think she’ll be able to save ground from the outside post and come with a big
late run to cross the wire first under Cornelio Velasquez.

Alinghi has missed the board just once in her career, gets top jockey Edgar
Prado in the irons, and will receive Lasix for the first time. She has trained brilliantly for Frankel in the mornings, and will undoubtedly be
tough to deny in this spot. The four-time Group 1 winner may have a problem with
the distance, though, as she has been competing at six furlongs for the majority
of this year, and we’ll hope to catch her with our top choice in the stretch
drive.

Wally Dollase will saddle STUPENDOUS MISS (Dynaformer) for the Ballston off a
win in the All Along Breeders’ Cup S. (G3). The dark bay four-year-old recorded
a Speed rating of 89 for that win, the lowest she has received since shipping to
the U.S. five starts back. A winner of her last two, Stupendous Miss gets the
return services of Gary Stevens and rates a serious threat to our top
selections.

SNOWDROPS (GB) (Gulch) is also a Grade 3 winner this year, annexing the
Suwannee River H. in February. She has been off for two months, but the
Christophe Clement-trained gray performs well fresh, as she took the Politely S.
last out after a more than two-month layoff. Your call.

The Bill Mott-conditioned DELTA PRINCESS (A.P. Indy) had finished first or
second in her last five starts before faltering last time, crossing the wire
sixth of seven in the Diana. Prior to that one, the six-year-old mare recorded
back-to-back Grade 3 victories in the Mint Julep H. and Locust Grove H., the
former at 1 1/16 miles, but her spotty record at the Spa worries us.

PATH OF THUNDER (Thunder Gulch) enters off win in the split De La Rose S.
over this same course, but the Todd Pletcher-conditioned bay only garnered a
BRIS Speed rating of 91 for that effort. Still, the $1.2 million yearling
purchase is proven both on Saratoga’s turf (2-1-1-0) and at 1 1/16 miles
(3-1-1-0). While we don’t think she’ll spring the upset on such a deep field,
she is a good use for the exotics.

CLOAKOF VAGUENESS (El Prado [Ire]) won the other division of the De La Rose
in her most recent start for trainer Philip Hauswald, garnering a 103 Speed
figure, but Edgar Prado jumps ship to ride Bobby Frankel’s Australian import,
Alinghi, and we’ll follow the leading rider at Saratoga and go against her
chances for the win.

LA REINA (A.P. Indy) recorded an impressive BRIS Speed figure of 102 for her
fifth-place finish in the De La Rose last out, and the versatile Shug McGaughey
charge can win from off the lead or setting the pace. She may be tested for
class here, so we’ll use the four-year-old chestnut in the bottom of the
gimmicks.

SPRING SEASON (Seeking the Gold) finished third only beaten a length before
being placed second through disqualification in the Modesty H. (G3) most
recently. The six-year-old mare is another that could surprise in the exacta or
trifecta at long odds.

FINERY (Lear Fan) rates our longshot special at 20-1 on the morning line. The
William Turner-trained five-year-old is a perfect three for three at the
Ballston distance, and the multiple Grade 3 winner, who annexed the 8
1/2-furlong Beaugay H. (G3) earlier this year, can close with authority if given
the right trip.

Multiple Grade 1 winner RISKAVERSE (Dynaformer) has been off for nearly two
months and we’ll have to let the six-year-old beat us at Saratoga, where she
shows a record of 3-0-2-0. LENTIL (Alphabet Soup) was second by a nose in the
Eatontown H. (G3) last time, but we see the six-year-old doing too much on the
front end and getting caught in the stretch.

Todd Pletcher will saddle CAPESIDE LADY (Cape Town) if the race is taken off
the turf. The four-year-old filly has the best chance of the four
main-track-only entrants based on her back-to-back wins recently at Monmouth
Park, including a victory in the Molly Pitcher Breeders’ Cup H. (G2).

ENDER’S SISTER (A.P. Indy) appears to like second and third, so use her in the
gimmicks if she draws in. PROVINCIAL (Pulpit) may be outclassed if she gets in
the Ballston for McGaughey, so we’ll go against.

AESCULUS (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) is unproven at Saratoga and steps up in class
here. We’ll give her a race if she runs.