Fourstardave

A well-matched group of six turf runners has been assembled for Saturday’s
$200,000 Fourstardave H. (G2) at Saratoga, but LEROIDESANIMAUX (Brz) (Candy
Stripes) does seem to hold an edge over his rivals in the 8 1/2-furlong inner
turf test. The Bobby Frankel-trained five-year-old has earned four consecutive
century-topping BRIS Speed ratings lately, and will be going for his seventh
straight victory. His last two wins came in Grade 1 events, but the most recent
of those was on March 5 at Santa Anita in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1). The
five-month break doesn’t deter us, though, as the chestnut horse captured that
race off a four-month break. John Velazquez will replace Jon Court in the irons,
and we can’t pick against Leroidesanimaux despite his 6-5 morning-line odds.

Because we’re going with the probable favorite on top, we’ll try to get some
value in this race with AMERICA ALIVE (American Chance). The bay four-year-old
was something of a surprise when winning the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S.
(G1), but couldn’t sustain that form into the Manhattan H. (G1) in his next one,
where he ran eighth. Trained by Neil Howard, America Alive has shown much more
in his past two, finishing third in both, and has recorded century-topping BRIS
Late Pace figures from those events as well. At 6-1 on the morning line, he
could chalk up another surprise win with this one. Robby Albarado has the call.

SENOR SWINGER (El Prado [Ire]) returns here off a 54-day break, but has been
working well in preparation for this one, getting five furlongs in :58 on
Saratoga’s turf Monday. The gray five-year-old has been competitive in all four
of his races this year, and has yet to place off the board from five attempts at
1 1/16 miles. The Bob Baffert trainee will be making his first start over
Saratoga’s green but owns a good enough late rally to come with a challenge in
the end. Edgar Prado in the saddle only helps Senor Swinger’s chances.

SILVER TREE (Hennessy) led as the defending champion in the Bernard Baruch H.
(G2) last out, but couldn’t hold off Artie Schiller (El Prado [Ire]) and
finished a half-length back of that rival at the wire. He earned a 101 BRIS
Speed rating for that effort but is a versatile type and can rally as well as
set the pace. Jerry Bailey retains the mount, and the two will be a threat in
the exotics.

HOTSTUFANTHENSOME (Awesome Again) owns four wins from eight starts at the
distance and was a good fourth in last year’s edition of the Fourstardave. He
could move up a couple of spots this time around, so consider for the top three
at a price. STEEL LIGHT (Stravinsky) will be making his fourth U.S. start in
this one off a nice third in an off-the-turf optional claimer last out. The
Christophe Clement trainee is stakes placed in Ireland but may not be quite up
to this level just yet. We’ll watch for now.