In less than a decade of existence, the $150,000 With Anticipation S. (G2) at
Saratoga has elevated rapidly in stature after yielding such notable
participants as Paddy O’Prado, Nownownow (Whywhywhy) and Soldat (War Front). The
1 1/16-mile Mellon turf test for juveniles will be renewed Thursday and is one
of the more significant domestic stepping-stones to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Turf (G2), which will be run two months from this coming weekend.
As one might expect, the With Anticipation field is short on experience and
long on potential. Virtually every colt that won a turf maiden earlier in the
Saratoga meeting, and a few that have not, are in the field. Among the most
notable are the Todd Pletcher-trained CAPTAIN WEBB (English Channel), a dominant
2 1/2-length debut scorer on July 30 over Daddy Nose Best (Scat Daddy), a
subsequent graduate on the Travers Day undercard. Another son of grass champion
English Channel, OPTIMIZER, just got up to win his debut by a neck as a 27-1
longshot on the Whitney undercard for D. Wayne Lukas.
Sold for a mere $13,000 to Team Valor at Keeneland last September, STATE OF
PLAY (War Front) produced immediate dividends when taking his 5 1/2-furlong
grass debut by 2 1/2 lengths on July 27. The Graham Motion charge should find
the stretchout agreeable as his sire was represented by the 2010 With
Anticipation winner Soldat. Other winners in the field include SPLENDIFEROUS
(Pleasantly Perfect), whose $75,000 maiden-claiming triumph compares favorably
with those that debuted in special weight company, and the New York-bred company
victors FOX RULES (Roman Ruler) and SPORTSWRITER (Maybry’s Boy).
Among the three maidens in the field are DULLAHAN (Even the Score), a
half-brother to Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird. Dullahan finished far
back in two initial dirt efforts, but looked stronger when second by a
half-length in his turf debut on August 13. The gelding TWO MONTHS RENT (Purim),
third by a half-length to Optimizer last time, could be in line for a minor
share, while KNOCK ROCK (Corinthian) has form to find after finishing more than
seven lengths in back of Splendiferous most recently.
Entered in the event of a washout is Chad Brown’s August 13 debut winner CLIP
THE COUPONS (Congrats).
A field of six older horses will dash seven furlongs Thursday in the $75,000
Island Whirl S., restricted to nonwinners of a graded stakes in 2010-11. DARK
THUNDER (Trippi), trained by Pletcher, swept through three allowance conditions
this summer and figures to vie for favoritism. RULE BY NIGHT (Malibu Moon)
threw in a dud in the Teddy Drone S. at Monmouth last time, but was has back
form that would make him competitive.
Among the graded stakes veterans in the field are the Grade 2-placed
CONGRESSIONAL PAGE (Orientate), seventh in the James Marvin S. on opening day
following a one-year layoff. Godolphin’s BANK MERGER (Consolidator), hero of the
Gallant Bob S. and runner-up in the King’s Bishop S. (G1) last season, has been
an enigma this year. A six-length allowance scorer at Belmont in early July,
he’s otherwise been soundly beaten in three other starts this term.
The stakes action on Thursday begins with the $75,000 Anne M. Clare S., a
six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juvenile fillies. The Pletcher-trained
VICTORY ISLAND (Friendly Island), a four-length debut winner on August 7,
figures to be an overwhelming favorite against five rivals.