SARATOGA SPRINGS – Thunder rumbled before second race, lightning arrived soon after, then rain began to fall before third, but the storm passed and the rest of day was cool and dry. Fifth, 11th races came off turf; main track, fast for first two races, was “good” thereafter.
Both $100,000 stakes for NY-breds, the Yaddo for fillies and the West Point, stayed on turf, rated yielding-to-soft. In the Yaddo at mile on inner course, Factual Contender ran off with Eibar Coa to open 10-length lead down backside. Around far turn, John Hertler’s 4-1 Latitude Forty, winner of last year’s Yaddo at 23-1, quickly closed gap under Javier Castellano, took lead top of stretch, just held off late run of 2-1 You Go West Girl. Rewrite, 3-2 favorite, moved in tandem with Latitude Forty, could not sustain her rally.
In West Point, at mile-and-eighth over Mellon course, Mission Approved set pace pressed by Gimme Credit, with 5-2 Banrock stalking outside under Kent Desormeaux. Around far turn, Banrock, much-improved this year for Tom Bush, made his move, took command top of stretch to gallop home two lengths clear. Classic Pack, winner of last year’s West Point at 13-1 but winless in three starts this year, was 13-1 again, closed for second. Al Basha, 2-1, was never a threat.
SECOND RACE: Speed has been holding up well. In field of maiden 2-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs, Kiaran McLaughlin first-time starter Charitable Man, 200G son of Travers winner Lemon Drop Kid, shot to front under Alan Garcia, set pace pressed to his inside by even-money favorite Precursor, opened up around turn, drew clear. Precursor, 500G A.P. Indy colt, was stretching out under Edgar Prado after rallying for second at 5 1/2 furlongs downstate. He steadied soon after break, steadied again along rail heading into turn, made a run turning for home but shortened stride down stretch.
FIFTH RACE: Offhand Remark, 8-5 favorite coming off front-running maiden romp on Belmont turf, cruised to front over the muddy main, set pace in hand under John Velazquez, opened up when asked for run top of stretch. But in deep stretch 12-1 Luck came charging up rail under Sebastian Morales, split horses to run down Offhand Remark in final strides.
TENTH RACE: Discreet Treasure, 3-year-old half-brother to Discreet Cat, was 6-5 stretching out to mile-and-eighth after breaking maiden first out by 12 lengths going seven furlongs in mud at Belmont. Racing along rail, he pressed pace set by Squeeze Now, with Premium Gold and Screen to Screen lapped outside those two. Turning for home, Discreet Treasure put them away, but he was no match for John Ward’s 5-year-old Dr. Pleasure, once highly regarded son of champion mare Beautiful Pleasure. With Cornelio Velasquez up for his first start since finishing far back in the March 15 Skip Away at Gulfstream, Dr. Pleasure, third to Bernardini in 2006 Travers, blew past Discreet Treasure mid-stretch, ran off TV screen at 3-1. Incredibly, it was his first win in 14 starts since he romped by seven lengths in his 2-year-old debut at the Old Spa in Sept. 2005!
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 6-8-2-6-1-1
13 winners (6 of 6) each paid $6,173
399 consolation (5 of 6) paid $66.50
No carryover