Todd Pletcher sent out a pair of winners over the course of these two days, with both Violence and Kimono turning in impressive performances that could very well lead to appearances in stakes races next month. But the most impressive winner was probably Sonofasamurai, who looks like a legitimate contender for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I) in November.
August 18th
Race 2: Maiden Special Weight
8.5 furlongs on turf for 2yos
Lemon Drop Dream was an odds-on favorite for trainer Steve Asmussen, but after tracking a moderate pace, he failed to accelerate in the homestretch and wound up finishing a close third. In the meantime, Sonofasamurai raced in fourth, split horses in the homestretch, and burst clear under jockey David Cohen to win the race by a decisive three lengths. Kenny McPeek trains the son of First Samurai, who stopped the clock in 1:44.60. Elmutahid set a slow pace of :24.50, :50.55, and 1:15.48 while leading Lemon Drop Dream by a length, steadied a bit when Sonofasamurai split horses, dropped back to fourth passing the eighth pole, then re-rallied to secure second in a four-horse photo.
Race 4: Maiden Special Weight
7 furlongs for 2yos
Trainer Todd Pletcher had the favorite in Violence, who was sent off at 0.80-1 and ran to his odds. With John Velazquez aboard, the son of Medaglia d'Oro tracked the pace in third before finishing up with a determined run to just get the victory over Titletown Five in 1:22.91 seconds. The latter colt set a good pace of :22.54, :45.14, and 1:09.67 before being surpassed late by the favorite. First-time starter Orb reared at the start and trailed the field by fourteen lengths early on, but put in an exceptional late run under Joel Rosario to finish third, beaten just 1 1/4 lengths. He looks like a good one to me.
August 19th
Race 1: Maiden Special Weight
7 furlongs for 2yo fillies
Kimono and Kansas raced as a coupled entry and were sent off at 1-5. Both were coming off of runner-up efforts on the opening day of this Saratoga meet, and in the end, they ran 1-2. But someone had to emerge as the winner, and the victorious filly was Kimono. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the daughter of Bernardini didn't get off to the best of starts, but quickly recovered to take command of the lead while setting fractions of :22.86 and :46.41. From there, she drew off easily under a hand ride from jockey Javier Castellano to win the race by two lengths in 1:24.07. Kansas, from the barn of Wesley Ward, spent much of the race in fourth place before rallying well in the homestretch to finish second. Liberty Girl also put in a good run, closing from fifth to miss second by just a neck.
Race 5: Maiden Special Weight
8.5 furlongs on turf for 2yo fillies
Citizen Emma was the favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher, thanks to her runner-up effort in a similar race here at Saratoga on July 23rd. But after setting a moderately testing pace of :23.58, :48.09, and 1:11.80, she was unable to accelerate sufficiently in the homestretch and wound up finishing sixth. In the meantime, the D. Wayne Lukas-trainee Broken Spell settled into fourth, slowly advanced throughout the race, and out-finished Always Kitten to win the race in 1:42.28 seconds. The latter filly spent most of the race in fifth before rallying to secure second, although never a serious threat to Broken Spell. J'esprit did not get off to a good start, but nevertheless put in a good run to finish third.
-Keelerman
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