Bern Identity meets Pletcher trio in Hopeful

Bern Identity will try to become the first to turn the Sanford/Hopeful double since Afleet Alex in 2004 (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) Grade 2 Sanford Stakes winner Bern Identity aims to follow up in Saratoga’s most prestigious test for juveniles, the $300,000 Hopeful Stakes, on Monday’s closing-day card. Demoted nevertheless to Grade 2 status for its 108th renewal, the seven-furlong affair also features three unbeaten colts from the Todd Pletcher barn — Shanghai Bobby, Lawn Man and Overanalyze — as well as debut rompers Fortify and Majestic Hussar. Bern Identity was runner-up on his debut in the Belmont Park slop, but has gone on to win his next two. A 13 3/4-length winner in wire-to-wire fashion, the Kelly Breen trainee showed that he could rate off the pace before delivering a late kick in the July 22 Sanford at the Spa. His BRIS Speed rating fell from a 103 in his maiden to a 90 in the Sanford, where the whole field was slowing down after an early pace meltdown. The Hopeful will pose a sterner examination for Bern Identity, who has continued to train sharply in the interim. Ramon Dominguez picks up the mount on the Bernstein colt, drawn in post 2.

Bern Identity will be coupled in the wagering with his stablemate Vegas No
Show, another George and Lori Hall colorbearer. Sired by Hard Spun, and a
half-brother to 2009 Grade 1 Whitney Handicap hero Bullsbay, Vegas No Show comes
off a one-mile Delaware Park maiden win in his second attempt.

Bern Identity’s former rider, Rosie Napravnik, maintains her partnership with
the Pletcher-trained Shanghai Bobby. The son of Harlan’s Holiday got off to an
early start this season, rallying to a four-length score at Aqueduct in April.
He then led throughout to add the June 27 Track Barron Stakes at Belmont to his
resume, garnering a 103 Speed rating.

Plans called for Shanghai Bobby to line up in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on
August 12, but the promising colt had to be scratched because of a fever. The
Starlight Racing colt regrouped to make the Hopeful and will break from the
outside in post 9.

Shanghai Bobby forms half of a coupled entry along with stablemate Lawn Man,
who likewise sports the Starlight silks. The Flatter colt was overlooked at 10-1
in his July 28 debut at the Spa, but left bettors kicking themselves after he
wired the field by 4 1/2 lengths. Javier Castellano stays aboard.

Pletcher has a third top contender in Repole Stable’s Overanalyze. A Dixie
Union half-brother to 2006 Grade 1 Matron Stakes victress Meadow Breeze, the
$380,000 Keeneland September yearling ran his rivals ragged in an August 9
maiden at Saratoga and registered a 101 Speed figure. John Velazquez will once
again team up with the speedy colt.

Pletcher would have had a fourth threat in Palace Malice, but the promising
son of Curlin has been sidelined by a bucked shin. The trainer commented on his
remaining triumvirate.

“Maybe some horses will show a little more in the morning than others,”
Pletcher said, “but occasionally the dynamics of the race will unfold and
perhaps the one you think has a little better chance doesn’t perform as well as
another one. In this situation, you take them all over there and hope it works
out for well for all of them and that one of them can get lucky and win it.”

Note that both Overanalyze and Lawn Man are cross-entered to Sunday’s Grade 3
Sapling at Monmouth.

Fortify graduated from Darley to Godolphin after his romp (NYRA/Adam Coglianese) The well-bred Fortify bounded 5 1/2 lengths clear in an August 4 Spa maiden for Kiaran McLaughlin. That impressive debut victory earned him a promotion to Godolphin, and a spot on the New York Watch roster. Fortify is bred on the successful Distorted Humor/A.P. Indy cross, and his dam, Kotuku, is closely related to Grade 1 winner Little Belle. “He’s been our best, for sure,” McLaughlin said. “Experience and success give a horse like Bern Identity a big edge, but any of these could be anything. You never know. We could just be plain old better. “That’s exactly why the Hopeful is properly named,” he added. “You’re hoping you go forward from here to bigger and better things. We’re looking forward to seeing him step up to the next group.” Majestic Hussar, from the first crop of 2007 Hopeful winner Majestic Warrior, bids to complete a father-son double last accomplished by Afleet Alex (2004) and Dublin (2009). The Eddie Kenneally colt rolled by 6 1/4 lengths at first asking in the Saratoga slop on August 11, and clearly won’t mind some rain.

Steve Asmussen sends out Show Some Magic, who was arguably unlucky to take
four starts to break his maiden. The son of Any Given Saturday finished second
to Circle Unbroken, subsequently the Grade 3 Bashford Manor winner, and Spurious
Precision, who came back to land the Saratoga Special. Show Some Magic showed
heart to survive intense pace pressure in his overdue maiden win here August 16,
and figures to feel more heat from his rail draw.

Rounding out the nine-horse field is Royal Art, a $410,000 Keeneland
September purchase who checked in third to Overanalyze in his only start for D.
Wayne Lukas.

Hit It Rich warrants respect in the Glens Falls (Adam Coglianese Photography) As has become customary, the Spa’s Labor Day finale also includes the Grade 3, $150,000 Glens Falls for distaffers over 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf. Hit It Rich has done her best work at 1 1/2 miles, taking the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap and Grade 3 Orchid, but was a strong-closing second in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay at this trip. The Shug McGaughey mare was a one-paced third in the Grade 2 New York at 1 1/4 miles last time out on June 30, and should do better with an extra furlong in the Glens Falls. Her leading opponent is Kissable, who exploded to a four-length victory in the 1 1/2-mile Waya Stakes here August 6. She will be joined by fellow Roger Attfield trainee Thislilsoulofmine, who rallied from far back to take a Woodbine allowance in her latest. Bizzy Caroline and Bubbly Jane were third and fourth, respectively, to Kissable in the Waya. Bizzy Caroline, a multiple Grade 3 winner, tired after setting the pace in her first try at a marathon distance, and Bubbly Jane, a Brazilian Group 1 veteran, did well to close after breaking very slowly.

Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Imperial Pippin has had mixed results in allowance
company so far in the United States, but has been running over inadequate trips.
The stretch-out promises to spark improvement from the daughter of Empire Maker,
who was thriced stakes-placed at 1 1/4 miles or beyond in England.

The main-track-only entrants are Heatherten heroine Cash for Clunkers, who
nearly upset It’s Tricky in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps two back, and Acting Happy,
who has fallen off her past Grade 2-winning form.

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