Hall of Fame – J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

While it’s no surprise that STRAIGHT STORY (Giant’s Causeway) has been
installed as the morning-line favorite for Friday’s $150,000 National Museum of
Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2) at Saratoga, it is somewhat unexpected that his odds
are pegged at an attractive 7-2. Judging by what the Alan Goldberg trainee has
accomplished so far, we would have ranked him as the prohibitive favorite in
this turf event for sophomores.

Not only has Straight Story been beaten all of a head in the Colonial Turf
Cup (G2) and Virginia Derby (G2), but the dark bay was arguably a trifle unlucky
in each. He was floated ridiculously wide in the Colonial Turf Cup, yet came
again and narrowly failed to catch the rail-skimming Battle of Hastings (GB)
(Royal Applause [GB]). In the Virginia Derby, Straight Story chased a fast pace
on good ground, opened up in the stretch, and was just nailed late by the same
rival. Virginia Derby third Take the Points (Even the Score) came back to win
last Saturday’s Secretariat S. (G1), paying a hefty compliment to the top two.
Cutting back in trip to 1 1/8 miles should prove ideal for Straight Story, and
he promises to get a forwardly-placed, ground-saving trip beneath new rider John
Velazquez.

The well-bred EL CRESPO (A.P. Indy) is much better than his sixth in the
Virginia Derby suggests, making him a potential upsetter here at 12-1 on the
morning line. Successful in the Palm Beach S. (G3) at this distance earlier in
the season, the Rusty Arnold pupil was a furiously closing third in the
Arlington Classic S. and a gradually gaining runner-up in the Jefferson Cup
(G2), both races with little to no early pace. El Crespo got a better pace
set-up in the Virginia Derby, but may not have appreciated the rain-softened
ground. With firm turf in the offing at the Spa, and no shortage of early speed
signed on, conditions should be favorable for him to put his best foot forward
for Julien Leparoux. We’re not thrilled that he’s conceding a fair amount of
weight as the 122-pound highweight, though.

LIME RICKEY (Lemon Drop Kid) is another bringing the strong Colonial Downs
form with him to Saratoga. The Frank Alexander colt was a rallying third in the
Colonial Turf Cup and fourth in the Virginia Derby, and back in March, he
finished second to El Crespo in the Palm Beach. Given the fact that Lime Rickey
is admirably consistent on the grass (12-2-4-4 on the surface), we expect him to
run his usual solid race. Javier Castellano, who last guided the colt to an
allowance score over older horses three starts back, returns to the saddle.

The reliable NO INFLATION (Repriced) has yet to run a bad race on turf
(6-1-4-1), and he was just caught on the line in the American Derby (G2) in his
latest venture. Although the Tom Proctor charge will be facing a tougher group
on Friday, we respect his combination of tactical speed and workmanlike
consistency. COURAGEOUS CAT (Storm Cat) will get a class test in this spot, but
the bay enters on the upswing for Bill Mott. A full brother to multiple Grade 1
turf star After Market, who captured the Hall of Fame in 2006, Courageous Cat is
coming off a game victory in his stakes debut in the A Gift S. at Belmont. He is
another who will likely be in the hunt early. While we suspect that he might be
overbet because of his pedigree and connections, we won’t discount his chances
with Kent Desormeaux.

The Christophe Clement-trained SAL THE BARBER (Alphabet Soup) exits a
front-running, 4 1/4-length score in the Don Jack S. at Belmont, and a repeat of
that effort would make him dangerous here. The dark bay won’t get the easy,
uncontested lead through slow fractions that he enjoyed last time, however. AL
KHALI (Medaglia d’Oro) encountered trouble en route to his runner-up finish to
Courageous Cat in the A Gift, and with a clean trip, he is eligible to do better
in his debut for Mott. Formerly trained by Todd Pletcher, Al Khali has not
looked entirely straightforward — he’s the one who carried Straight Story out
into the center of the course at Colonial — and we’d rather watch him deliver
first.

CONSERVATIVE (Unbridled’s Song) has not quite lived up to his mouth-watering
pedigree, with his career highlight so far being a runner-up effort in the
Lexington S. (G2) on Keeneland’s Polytrack, and he was most recently a
lackluster fifth in the Swaps S. (G2) on Hollywood’s Cushion Track. The Shug
McGaughey trainee has not tried the turf since his maiden win in February, so
we’ll give him a graded race on the surface. MIDNIGHT MISCHIEF (Medaglia d’Oro)
will be making his grass, and stakes, debut for Roger Attfield. We respect the
connections, but we’d prefer to see how the Woodbine shipper fares at this
level. OUT AT NIGHT (Aptitude), who was beaten in a high-priced claiming event
at Delaware in June, is ambitiously spotted.