Sapling

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $150,000 Sapling S. (G3) at Monmouth Park has drawn eight
juveniles to traverse six furlongs, and WESTERN SMOKE (Smoke Glacken) appears
ready to add a third stakes win to his line. The Steve Asmussen charge has been
on a roll of late, taking the Prairie Gold Juvenile S. on July 18 by 6 3/4
lengths, then most recently adding a 12 1/2-length trouncing of the Charles Town
Juvenile S. The gray colt earned 99 and 95 respective BRIS Speed ratings for
those efforts, and is the one to beat under Elvis Trujillo.

WHATS UP CUGE (Officer) brings the advantage of being a local into the
Sapling. The Kelly Breen trainee posted a front-running, 7 1/4-length victory in
his second career try on July 26, and was flattered when the runner-up from that
event, Love Who (Not For Love), came back on August 23 to break his maiden by 7
1/4 lengths. The bay colt was caught going a bullet three furlongs in :35 on
Monday to prepare for this one, and could take his stakes bow under Jose Velez
Jr.

NOT MACHO ANY MORE (Macho Uno) captured his career bow on July 16 at Belmont
Park, registering a 2 1/2-length victory while earning a 99 Speed rating. The
gray juvenile hasn’t competed since, but has been working up a storm at
Saratoga, most recently going five furlongs in :59 4/5 on Monday. Trained by
Richard Violette Jr., Not Macho Any More could keep his record perfect in his
stakes bow. Richard Migliore has the call. Note that he’s cross-entered to
Monday’s Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga.

COME FROM BEHIND (Roaring Fever) earned a 96 Speed figure for breaking his
maiden at Saratoga last out on July 29. That was the Bill Mott runner’s second
race and, like Whats Up Cuge, he was flattered when the second-place finisher
came back to take his next start. Come From Behind will get the hot-riding Joe
Bravo aboard, and the pair could challenge in the exotics.

AWESOME SON (Pure Precision) proved to be the quickest of this group when
garnering a 100 Speed rating for his 6 1/2-length maiden victory last out over
the track. The Tim Kelly charge is another local with a big chance to take this
one, and Daniel Centeno will keep the mount.

EL ROCCO (Vicar) set a new track record of :50.95 for 4 1/2 furlongs when
breaking his maiden in his first start at Philadelphia Park. The Bruce Levine
trainee then traveled to Monmouth to finish second in the Tyro S. last out, and
could grab a share here under Eddie Castro.

TOCCET’S CHARM (Toccet) is the only other runner in the Sapling with prior
stakes experience, taking the Jamestown S. last out at Colonial Downs, but his
numbers are a bit lower than others in here. We can’t recommend. ONE ROLL
(Strong Hope) captured his maiden debut at Delaware Park, but also may not be
fast enough to threaten.