TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
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SAPLING S. (G3), 9TH-MTH, $150,000, 2YO, 6F, 5:06 P.M. EDT, 8-20 |
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| PP | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | WT |
| 1 | DIABOLICAL | KLESARIS STEVE | VELASQUEZ CORNE | 121 |
| 2 | BALLADO DANCER | CASSE MARK | ELLIOTT S | 121 |
| 3 | CALEB POND | JUVONEN ERIK | PIMENTEL J | 121 |
| 4 | HE’S GOT GRIT | ASMUSSEN STEVEN M | GRYDER A T | 121 |
| 5 | THE VILLAGE VICAR | RYERSON JAMES T | DECARLO C P | 121 |
| 6 | BROADWAY RIDGE | SEEGER ROBERT J | PENNINGTON F | 121 |
| 7 | CONFRONT | KELLY TIMOTHY J | TRUJILLO E | 121 |
Seven juveniles will square off in Saturday’s $150,000 Sapling S. (G3) at
Monmouth Park and DIABOLICAL (Artax) looks very formidable. The Steve Klesaris-trained
juvenile displayed a terrific turn of foot when capturing his career bow at
Belmont Park on July 7, effortlessly drawing off to a 9 3/4-length decision and
receiving a 108 BRIS Speed rating. Diabolical avoids Henny Hughes (Hennessy) by
shipping to New Jersey and rates a slight edge under Cornelio Velasquez.
HE’S GOT GRIT (Songandaprayer) is a major contender. Entered for an $80,000
claiming tag in his career bow, the Steve Asmussen-trained gelding sped to the
early lead and easily wired his rivals. He made his next appearance in the Tyro
S. at Monmouth and gamely maintained his advantage throughout, earning BRIS E1 and
E2 Pace ratings of 103 and 111, respectively, in the wire-to-wire win. He’s Got
Grit has recorded triple-digit Speed ratings in both starts and may keep moving
forward for Asmussen.
BALLADO DANCER (Outflanker) ships in from Canada for Mark Casse off a 2
1/4-length maiden score after finishing a respectable fourth against stakes
rivals in his career bow. The Florida bred picks up the services of Stewart
Elliott and will attempt to parlay a forwardly placed trip into a top-three
placing.
CALEB POND (El Corredor) was no match for Henny Hughes in his last start and
has been freshened for this appearance by trainer Erik Juvonen. The bay colt
appears to be training forwardly for his return and offered a nice rally to win
his first career start from just off the pace. He looks like a legitimate top-three candidate. CONFRONT (Line in the Sand) finished a solid second to He’s Got
Grit last time and owns a 3-1-2-0 mark at Monmouth. The Tim Kelly-conditioned
gelding figures to sit a good stalking trip off a stiff early pace and merits
consideration for the exotics.
THE VILLAGE VICAR (Vicar) adds blinkers but will need to show more than he
did last time when finishing fifth in the Tyro. We’ll let him beat us. BROADWAY RIDGE
(Quaker Ridge) romped by five lengths in his career debut at Philadelphia Park
last out but earned only an 81 Speed figure. We’ll give him a race against
winners.
| TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS: | 1st-DIABOLICAL | |
| 2nd-HE’S GOT GRIT | ||
| 3rd-BALLADO DANCER |