AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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BALLSTON SPA H. (G2), 9TH-SAR, $200,000, 3YO/UP, F/M, 1 1/16MT, 4:05 P.M. EDT, 8-29 |
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| 1 |
RUTHERIENNE, 5, m, by PulpitRuthian, by Rahy O-Virginia Kraft Payson LLC; B-Payson Stud Inc (Ky) |
| 2 |
MY PRINCESS JESS, 4, f, by Stormy AtlanticJewell of Jewels, by Pleasant Colony O-Lael Stable; B-Adena Springs (Fl) |
| 3 |
CLOSEOUT, 4, f, by RepricedDeep Discount, by Relaunch O-Glen Hill Farm; B-Glen Hill Farm (Fl) |
| 4 |
DYNA’S LASSIE, 5, m, by DynaformerTortuga Lady, by Thunder Gulch O-Eldon Farm; B-Greenwich Cattle Co (Ky) |
| 5 |
TEAMGEIST (ARG), 6, m, by MutakddimBavarian, by Southern Halo O-El Catorce Stable; B-La Quebrada (Arg) |
| 6 |
CAPTAIN’S LOVER (SAF), 5, m, by Captain AlSunshine Lover, by Badger Land O-Team Valor International; B-W J Engelbrecht (SAf) |
| 7 |
COCOA BEACH (CHI), 5, m, by Doneraile CourtVisionera, by Edgy Diplomat O-Godolphin Stable; B-Haras La Obra (Chi) |
| 8 |
SALVE GERMANIA (IRE), 4, f, by Peintre CelebreSalve Regina, by Monsun O-Hellwig Manfred; B-Gestut Hony Hof (Ire) |
A gifted octet of turf distaffers will go 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on
Saturday in the $200,000 Ballston Spa H. (G2). Group 1 standout CAPTAIN’S LOVER
(SAf) (Captain Al) rolled home an easy winner in the off-the-turf Matchmaker S.
at Monmouth Park last out, proving that the dual-surface threat is all class.
The 11-time winning dark bay put in a pair of decent showings in her first two
starts in the United States prior to the Matchmaker, and the thinking here is that the
five-year-old has acclimated and is ready to fire a huge bullet in here. John
Velazquez will ride our top pick for Todd Pletcher.
We’ve been infatuated with COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court) for some time
but have been a bit worried about the mare’s first two starts in 2009. A
stellar performer last campaign in winning the Beldame S. (G1) and Matriarch S.
(G1) while second in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1), the millionaire has
looked more workmanlike than brilliant in two tries this season. The hope is
that the recent De La Rose S. queen is ready for a seasonal best for a trainer
who is 8-5-2-0 at the meeting.
The classy RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) comes off a fine closing third in the Diana
S. (G1) over this oval and has won or placed in all four tries over this lawn.
The Christophe Clement-trained mare has won half of her lifetime starts,
including a stellar 9-7-1-1 mark at this distance, and she’s well drawn on the
inside, which should allow her to save ground until uncorking her potent late
run. The five-year-old can run on virtually any kind of ground and must be used
in all wagers beneath Alan Garcia.
Diana fifth MY PRINCESS JESS (Stormy Atlantic) seems to be just a cut below
the best in here but could surely spring an upset for Barclay Tagg with a little luck. The Grade 2 heroine
signaled her class by competing in four Grade 1 affairs and was never
beaten by more than three lengths. The four-year-old
won over a soft Saratoga turf last season, so if the rains fall, this one
shouldn’t mind a bit.
Dual Grade 3 victress CLOSEOUT (Repriced) romped in the Locust Grove H. (G3)
most recently and enters this difficult assignment in great form for sharp
horseman Tom Proctor. Closeout hasn’t done much wrong in her career and has yet
to be worse than second on any surface with some give to it. We’ll include the
filly in the vertical exotics at a square price.
DYNA’S LASSIE (Dynaformer) has risen to new heights this campaign for Doug Fout, registering consecutive 100 BRIS Speed numbers
in her last two outings. The
consistent bay lacks the credentials of most in this field and will surely be a
longshot to win this race, but she’s razor-sharp right now and could peak in
her third start of 2009. Carlos Marquez Jr. has the call.
Multiple Group 2 import TEAMGEIST (Arg) (Mutakddim) had a useful prep for
this when closing belatedly in the De La Rose S. for Ken McPeek, but we’ll have
to see more before siding with her in this field. We don’t know much about SALVE GERMANIA (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), but the
European invader will have to be very, very good to top this field in her first
start on U.S. soil. We’ll let her beat us unless she’s incredibly live on the
board.