With Anticipation

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Friday’s $100,000 With Anticipation S. (G3) will feature an overflow field of
juveniles going 1 1/16 miles over Saratoga’s Mellon turf course, and we’ll look
for a youngster with some experience at the Spa. ZAPSTER (Ghostzapper) fits the
criteria, just missing in a solid runner-up effort 29 days back, and we’ll pick
him to break his maiden in this spot.

The gray colt is by freshman sire Ghostzapper, whose first winner came via
dead-heat in a stakes event at Delaware Park, and we still expect big things
from the 2004 Horse of the Year at stud. Zapster is bred to relish the grass on
his female side and debuted in a six-furlong turf maiden at Belmont Park on July
11, checking in an even fourth in the 10-horse field. He showed nice improvement
when stretching out to a route last time, leading the way into the stretch, and
despite being caught in the final strides, it was still a very encouraging
effort from the Todd Pletcher runner. Edgar Prado picks up the mount and figures
to sit a forwardly placed trip from post 4, and Zapster looks very live to us.

PADDY O’PRADO (El Prado [Ire]) exits a troubled trip in his turf debut,
steadying at the top of the stretch in the August 5 maiden special weight over
track/trip, but he re-rallied impressively to to just miss by a neck in second
with a flying finish. The Dale Romans pupil is well-drawn in post 2 with Robby
Albarado, who seems to do his best with two-year-olds at the Spa, and we won’t
be surprised to see the gray colt strike the second time around.

DEAN’S KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy) edged Paddy O’Prado with a perfect trip on the
front end last time, and we won’t be surprised to see another fine showing from
him in his second start at a route. The Michael Maker charge wound up in front
last time but has shown that he can stalk, and jockey Julien Leparoux won’t be
in a rush if another rival wants the early lead. Dean’s Kitten is a legitimate
win contender.

STRIKE THE TIGER (Tiger Ridge) drew post 10 for his two-turn debut and could
prove vulnerable at short odds. We love the talent he’s displayed so far,
winning the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot and the Chenery S. at Colonial
Downs in his last two starts, and the unbeaten youngster hails from the Wesley
Ward stable, which excels with two-year-olds. The California-bred gelding is
coupled with MISSISSIPPI HIPPIE (Dance Master) and since John Velazquez is named
on both, one of the entrants will have to scratch. We’ll include Strike the
Tiger on the bottom of some exotics, but we don’t like him for the top spot from the
far outside.

Mississippi Hippie broke his maiden sprinting on the turf at Belmont two
starts back and finished second when stretching out to a mile last time for the
Continental Mile S. at Monmouth Park. The chestnut will likely come out firing
on the lead if his connections opt to start him here, and it will be no surprise
to see him hold for at least another minor award in his second stakes attempt.

JUNG MAN SCOTT (Freud) figures to receive plenty of tote action off his
romping 8 1/4-length maiden special weight score at the Spa, but that victory
came over New York-bred rivals in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint. This is a totally
different situation, and the Richard Dutrow pupil won’t offer any value under
Ramon Dominguez. We’ll take a stand against. RED RALLY (Reformer Rally) exits an
allowance/optional claiming win on the Spa’s sloppy main track, and the Merrill Scherer
gelding showed good form in his two previous turf starts. We’re not convinced
about his ability at two turns, but the stalker can’t be completely dismissed
from exotics consideration.

GOLLY DAY (Lion Heart) broke his maiden going away over the course last time,
but the New York-bred colt could find this class hike too difficult. INTERACTIF
(Broken Vow) is eligible to show speed in his turf debut for Pletcher, but we
can’t recommend his chances in this spot. TWO NOTCH ROAD (Partner’s Hero) sprung
the upset at 107-1 odds in the Continental Mile, but we’ll just watch to see how
the Glenn Thompson trainee handles his New York debut.

QUICK MONEY (City Zip) is a first-time starter from Linda Rice who will draw
in from the also-eligibles list when one of the entrymates scratch. We’ll give him a race. Main-track only runners AIKENITE (Yes It’s True) and TURF MELODY (Maria’s
Mon) will likely stay in the barn.