SARATOGA SPRINGS – Weather permitting, always a dicey proposition at Saratoga, the focus turns to New York-breds in today’s two $100,000 stakes, both at a mile-and-an-eighth on turf: the West Point over the Mellon course, and the Yaddo for fillies and mares over the inner turf.
The West Point, which drew a field of 10 veterans, is the tougher nut to crack, especially because eight of the entrants have solid records running on the turf here. Banrock, a 5-year-old gelding from the Tom Bush barn, and Al Basha, a 4-year-old colt trained by Angel Penna Jr., should fight it out for favoritism.
In two starts over the inner turf last summer, Banrock won and ran a solid second in an otherwise up-and-down campaign. He appears to be a much-improved horse this year, winning both starts versus state-breds, the Kingston and Thunder Puddles on grass at Belmont. His turn of foot in the July 6 Thunder Puddles last out was impressive, as he circled from 13 lengths back to win going away. Kent Desormeaux rides, fresh off a victory in yesterday’s Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington Park aboard the top turf mare Mauralakana.
Al Basha, ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, recently returned from a nine-month layoff to finish a rallying fourth against open company at Bemont. He is 2-for-2 over the turf at Saratoga, and last year finished in front of Banrock both times they met including the Mohawk Handicap.
Two others to watch are Gimme Credit, also 2-for-2 on turf at the Old Spa and second last out to Banrock; and Mission Approved, who could be hard to catch after setting the early pace versus Red Rocks and Curlin in the Grade 1 Man o’War. Last summer, he won the Saranac over this course, gate to wire, under Eibar Coa, who rides him again in the West Point.
In the Yaddo, the sentimental choice is Rewrite, a 5-year-old mare bred and trained earlier in her career by Hall-of-Famer P.G. Johnson. Now owned by Peegee’s daughters, Rewrite is the logical choice as well. Trained by Christophe Clement, who saddled Mauralakana in the Beverly D., she’s won nine of her 15 starts on turf and is five for her last seven, including a score over this course last summer.