King’s Bishop

A field of seven will head to the gate for this year’s 21st running of the
$250,000 King’s Bishop S. (G1) at Saratoga. The seven-furlong event is
highlighted by the undefeated LOST IN THE FOG (Lost Soldier), who will attempt
his ninth consecutive victory. The dark bay colt could be beatable this time out
due to a recent quarter crack in his left-hind foot, causing trainer Greg
Gilchrist to exercise him in a bar shoe to avoid further injury. Given this and
the fact that he will most likely go off as the heavy favorite due to the
defection of Bellamy Road (Concerto) to the Travers S. (G1), we will go with
SOCIAL PROBATION (Jules).

Conditioned by Carl Nafzger, the gray colt has lost each of his last two outings by
three parts of a length, the most recent coming in the Amsterdam S. (G2) over
this same track. He has rallied from the back of the pack under jockey Calvin Borel, who has the call Saturday, to record BRIS Late Pace figures of 111, 110
and 104 in his last three. This late running style should come in handy with a
likely speed duel in the early going between Lost in the Fog, FUSAICHI ROCK STAR
(Wild Wonder) and possibly THE DADDY (Valid Expectations) and SANTANA STRINGS
(Wheaton). Watch for Nafzger to pull off the possible upset and take home his
first win of this year’s Saratoga meet.

The well-traveled Lost in the Fog has been perfect in his career, earning eight
victories at six different tracks. He returns to New York for the third time to
make his Spa debut in the King’s Bishop. Lost in the Fog comes off a 7 1/4-length win in the Carry
Back S. (G2) versus overmatched foes, earnings a 114 BRIS Speed figure, the
highest of his career. Russell Baze has the call.

The Daddy exits a 12-length score against New York-bred allowance company on
August 13. The Salvador Gonzalez trainee drops four pounds from that one and
could fare well if jockey Robby Albarado lets him sit the pace. The Daddy is
perfect in two starts, but his lack of experience and the short turnaround could
hinder his efforts. Listed at 20-1 on the morning-line, however, he could be a
good money play.

STORM SURGE (Storm Cat) got off to an awkward start in the Amsterdam but
regained his footing to battle for the lead until the stretch, where he wound up finishing fourth
in that one. The Dallas Stewart trainee seems to appreciate the shorter
distances and could grab part. Rafael Bejarano will ride.

BETTER THAN BONDS (Sweetsouthernsaint) comes off a four-length win over
allowance company and has the late speed to put him on the board. The Robert
Reinacher-conditioned colt earned a 103 Speed figure and 111 Late Pace rating in
that last one. If jockey Richard Migliore keeps the bay off the pace, they could
hit the bottom of the gimmicks.

Santana Strings exits a victory in the Amsterdam in his first start at
Saratoga. His only victories have come when battling for the early lead, a task
which will not be easy with Lost in the Fog and Fusaichi Rock Star coming out of
the same starting gate. The Steven Asmussen-trained chestnut’s only come-from-behind
performance came in the Lost Code Breeders’ Cup S., where he finished three
parts of a length short at the wire. Your call.

Fusaichi Rock Star has been training forwardly for trainer Bob Baffert, but
his front-running style will do him no favors in this one. We will bet against.