Bernard Baruch

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of eight will line up for the $150,000 Bernard Baruch H. (G2) at
Saratoga on Monday. Favored in the 1 1/8-mile turf event is Maker’s Mark Mile
(G2) winner ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]), who comes off a close third in the
Manhattan H. (G1) to Good Reward (Storm Cat), losing that one by only a half-length. In order to go with more value, however, we will pick Woodford Reserve
Turf Classic S. (G1) victor AMERICA ALIVE (American Chance).

The Neil Howard trainee comes off a third-place outing in the Firecracker
Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) to Kitten’s Joy (El Prado [Ire]), rallying to grab part
after an awkward start. In three of his past four races, the four-year-old has
earned triple-digit BRIS Speed figures. America Alive has fared well at
Monday’s distance, winning the Turf Classic and finishing third by a head in the Mervin H.
Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) (he was later moved to second through
disqualification), both at 1 1/8 miles. Robby Albarado has the call.

Artie Schiller has hit the board in each of his three starts this season —
winning the Maker’s Mark and placing second in the Dixie S. (G2) and third in the
Manhattan. He has one race under his belt at the Spa, a resounding 4 1/4-length
victory in the National Museum Racing Hall of Fame H. (G2) last August. The bay
four-year-old has been working forwardly for conditioner James Jerkens and will
be a threat under jockey Richard Migliore.

WILLARD STRAIGHT (Lion Cavern) will make his third start this season for
trainer Todd Pletcher. Pletcher has been very successful so far this meet when
teamed up with jockey John Velazquez, who has had his picture taken in all three of
this weekend’s graded races at Saratoga — the Diana S. (G1) and Jim Dandy S.
(G2) on Saturday and the Go For Wand H. (G1) on Sunday. Willard Straight has
come home second in both of his outings this year, his last a neck loss in the
Poker H. (G3). The five-year-old chestnut should finish up well in this one.

Despite being winless since annexing last year’s edition of
this race, SILVER TREE (Hennessy) has had a couple of close finishes since. The
Bill Mott trainee weakened in the stretch of the King Edward Breeders’ Cup H.
(Can-G2) last time, but should return to form here. The five-year-old chestnut has been
putting together some good workouts in the mornings to prep for this and could
grab part with Jerry Bailey aboard.

GOLDEN COMMANDER (Deputy Commander) exits an off-the-board finish in the King
Edward, but should improve upon returning to the Saratoga Springs, New York,
oval where he has won three of his four starts on the turf course. With
morning-line odds of 12-1, Golden Commander has a chance for the upset. SEEKING
ANSWERS (Ire) (Shinko Forest) will be stepping up in class for this one off a
close third in the Opening Verse H. at Churchill Downs. He won his last try at
this distance and could hit the bottom of the gimmicks.

NOT PHONE (Arg) (Speakerphone) closed from the back of the pack
last out to defeat optional-claiming foes by a half-length. The dark bay
seven-year-old will have hot jockey
Edgar Prado in the irons and could grab part in this
one, but might face a challenge with the class increase here. DEL MAR SHOW
(Theatrical [Ire]) was not able to defeat optional-claiming company at this
distance in his last attempt and a victory would be questionable here.