Hopeful

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Twelve juveniles will vie in the competitive Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga on
Monday, closing day at the Spa. We could sensibly choose from at least eight in
here who wouldn’t surprise for the win, but we’ll settle with BACKTALK (Smarty
Jones), the morning-line favorite. The consistently good colt is drawn widest of
all for Tom Amoss, but we’re not deterred and will tab the impressive
two-year-old for his fourth straight victory. A rallying winner in his debut,
the Kentucky-bred followed with similar triumphs in the Bashford Manor S. (G3),
and most recently, the Sanford S. (G2). There should be enough early gas to help
set up this one for his closing run with new rider Richard Migliore.

ASPIRE (Tale of the Cat) was a sharp maiden winner against a potentially nice
field for Eddie Kenneally and should improve under Julien Leparoux. The
well-meant juvenile rated nicely in his first run before mowing down his foe in
a visually impressive run, and if he can carve out a decent trip from the three
post, he will be a big top-three candidate late, if not more.

We feel that DUBLIN (Afleet Alex) also has a big chance in here from the 11
post for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. A sharp maiden winner last out
over this oval, the expensive chestnut has displayed a strong closing kick as
well, but we envision him being closer to the early tempo than our top pick with
Jamie Theriot. If the colt can get into range early, he could be the one with
slight improvement.

We have a hunch that AIKENITE (Yes It’s True) is better than most think, and
the Todd Pletcher trainee could be a live longshot to include in the gimmicks.
The dark bay topped a horse in his debut who returned in fine fashion to win on
Saturday, and while this one earned a modest 78 BRIS Speed figure for his win,
big improvement is expected from this hot barn. Calvin Borel will hope to cap a
nice weekend with an upset aboard the colt.

PRINCE ROONEY (Tale of the Cat), a smashing 15-length winner of the
Mountaineer Juvenile S. last out, is a bit of a wild card to us. The Steve
Asmussen pupil earned a commendable 98 BRIS Speed figure for his work at
Mountaineer last out and has posted a quartet of works in the area since, so we
have to include the shipper. Shaun Bridgmohan will be up.

The blue-blooded LISTON (Storm Cat) was a stubborn winner at first asking for
Kiaran McLaughlin and rates a chance in here with slight improvement. The dark
bay beat a solid cast in his first run on the dirt oval and has seemingly done
well in the interim, so if the Darley homebred jumps up in his second career
start he could be dangerous late beneath Alan Garcia.

ENUMERATE (Proud Accolade) was a touch unlucky in the Sanford last out and
will hope for better racing luck on this day for Asmussen. The impressive bay
has run superb races to begin his career, looking especially good in his maiden
score at Churchill Downs, so there is no reason to omit the bay against these.
Robby Albarado has the assignment atop the win contender.

WESTOVER WILDCAT (Forest Wildcat) drew the rail which will likely crush his
chances in here for conditioner Tony Dutrow, who has had a strong meet at
Saratoga. The dark bay was a fine maiden hero over this strip, showing vast
improvement from his debut, but he could easily get shuffled back in this bulky
field. GRAND SLAM ANDRE (Grand Slam) won a pair of stakes against inferior foes
in his last pair and has already run five times, leading us to believe that he’s
already reached his ceiling this campaign.

FLATTER THAN ME (Flatter) has a lot of ability but didn’t show much in his
debut over this oval, and we generally don’t like to play horses that struggled
over this oval in the past. ONE NOTE SAMBA (Grand Reward) crushed state-bred
foes last out but will find this field infinitely more difficult for Pletcher.
OVERLAP (Chapel Royal) won an off-the-turf event at first asking for Barclay
Tagg, but we’ll wait for this one to stretch out and run on the green.

NOT MACHO ANY MORE (Macho Again) finished second in Saturday’s Sapling S.
(G3) and will be scratched from this race.

TRACK BANDIT SELECTIONS:		1st-BACKTALK
		2nd-ASPIRE
		3rd-DUBLIN