Saratoga BC

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A field of only six has been entered in Sunday’s $250,000 Saratoga Breeders’
Cup H. (G2), and OFFLEE WILD (Wild Again) has been installed as the even-money
favorite on the morning line. This status comes as a result of his win in the
Suburban H. (G1) last out, and the Richard Dutrow Jr. trainee looks to be in
another class than the rest of his rivals here. However, after his last big win
— a 8 1/2-length score in the Excelsior Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) — the
five-year-old faltered in his next start, and we’ll take a chance the same could
happen here.

With this in mind, we’re going with TAP DAY (Pleasant Tap) to turn the
tables on his rival. The Mark Hennig charge was just 1 1/4 lengths back in
second in the Suburban last out, earning a 103 BRIS Speed rating. He came with a
nice rally from third in that 1 1/4-mile event at 25-1 and could still go off at
a good price on Sunday. Listed at 4-1 on the morning line, the dark bay
four-year-old easily captured the Frisk Me Now S. before his Suburban run,
garnering a career-best 109 Speed figure, and could earn his first graded
victory here. Jockey Eibar Coa remains in the saddle.

Offlee Wild stamped himself as a horse to watch last year after taking the
Massachusetts H. (G2) over dual classic winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), but
was sidelined the rest of the year after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips
from his ankle and knee. He returned in the John B. Campbell Breeders’ Cup H. in
mid-February, finishing second by just a neck, then easily captured the
Excelsior. The dark bay bounced a bit in the Pimlico Special (G1) two back,
finishing sixth, before posting his first Grade 1 score in the Suburban. If
Offlee Wild runs back to that form, he’ll be tough to deny here under Edgar
Prado.

ROYAL ASSAULT (Kris S.) has been earning some nice numbers of late and
rallied last out to take the R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial H. at Delaware Park.
Third last season in the Belmont S. (G1), the Nick Zito trainee has been game in
nearly every start this year and will be a definite threat in the top three with
Gary Stevens in the irons.

SUAVE (A.P. Indy) posted a front-running victory in an optional claimer last
out while making his four-year-old debut. The bay colt tried the 10-furlong
distance over the track last year in the Travers S. (G1), where he ran sixth,
and is in a much better spot this time to make an impact. He’s been working well
in the past couple months to prepare for his return and could challenge for it
all. John Velazquez has the call. BILLY ALLEN (Ire) (Night Shift) ran fourth in
the Washington Park H. (G2) last out while making this U.S. debut and will be
getting Lasix added for this one. Based on his European form, the bay
four-year-old is a contender for all the marbles.

EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) won this event in 2002 and last year,
but hasn’t been able to regain his past glorious form in three starts so far
this year. We don’t think he’ll repeat for a third time.