Competitive Edge, I Spent It highlight Hopeful

Competitive Edge ripped through an opening quarter-mile in :21 4/5 before impressively drawing away from rivals in his career debut (NYRA/Coglianese/Joe Labizzetta)

A pair of unbeaten colts from the first crop of Kentucky Derby winner Super
Saver, Competitive Edge and I Spent It, are the top draws in the Grade 1,
$350,000
Hopeful, Monday’s closing-day feature at
Saratoga.

Competitive Edge was hammered down to odds-on favoritism in a deep maiden
special weight event on July 26 and responded with a spectacular 10-length
victory on the front end. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt earned a respectable 94
BRIS Speed rating while completely under wraps late and the $750,000
two-year-old in training purchase was flattered by third-place finisher Bayerd,
who came back to romp by a 11 1/2-length margin in a maiden special weight on
the Travers undercard.

“From the beginning, he’s been not only talented and fast,
but he takes everything in stride,” Pletcher said of Competitive Edge. “He’s very laid back.
We’ve been very pleased with everything he’s done since his maiden win, and
we’re pleased with the post position (No. 7).”

John Velazquez sticks with the speedy Competitive Edge, who is well-drawn on the far
outside in the seven-horse field.

I Spent It exits a commendable score in the Saratoga Special and has rallied from just off the pace to win both starts (NYRA/Coglianese/Chelsea Durand)

“We entered because we thought we’d keep our options open,” Dutrow explained. “Our horse is doing fantastic and there’s nothing stopping us from
running, but the owner (Alex and JoAnn Lieblong) and I will make a decision on whether we do run him.”

Requisite led wire to wire when opening his career on August 9 at Saratoga,
recording a 3 1/2-length victory for George Weaver, and the son of red-hot
freshman stallion Warrior’s Reward figures to break running from his inside post
with a returning Joe Rocco Jr.

Dekabrist opened his career with two straight wins at Gulfstream Park,
including a 1 1/2-length tally in the June 14 Kodiak Island, but he’ll be
looking to rebound from a disappointing fifth as the favorite in the July 12
Birdonthewire. Edgar Prado picks up the mount for Gennadi Dorochenko.

A trio of maidens — Signature Cat, Sharm and Maratik — round out the field.

The Grade 3, $300,000
Saranac,
a 1 1/8-mile turf affair of three-year-olds, will be offered later on the
Holiday card. Top contenders include Grade 2 winner Ring Weekend, who exits a
runner-up finish to Tourist in the July 18 Sir Cat over the inner turf; and
Belmont Park stakes winner Cabo Cat, a rallying fourth in the Sir Cat.