With Anticipation Could Boost Top Freshman Sires
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Our Country, a son of Constitution, breaks his maiden at Saratoga Race Course
American Pharoah and Constitution currently lead the freshman sire standing as the top two, respectively, and both young stallions have a chance to sire their third stakes winner this year in the Aug. 28, $150,000 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course.
Eight 2-year-olds are entered for the 1 1/16-mile event on the inner turf.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle Michael Tabor's Eagerly, by American Pharoah and out of Virginia Oaks (G3) winner Excited, who is also the dam of black-type winner and multiple graded stakes-placed Thrilled. Eagerly is the lone maiden in the field and was third over this course and distance on debut July 27. After being bumped early, he rallied from 10th and was beaten by only three-quarters of a length.
American Pharoah has been represented by French group 3 winner Maven, Skidmore Stakes winner Another Miracle, and Keeneland Phoenix (G1) runner-up Monarch of Egypt.
Constitution's two stakes winners have been on the dirt so far, with By Your Side winning the Sanford (G3) and Amalfi Sunrise the Sorrento (G2). R. A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables' Our Country could be the stallion's first turf stakes winner Wednesday after the colt won over this course and distance by 5 3/4 lengths Aug. 3 second time out. Trained by George Weaver, Our Country is a half brother to Bye Bye Hong Kong, a stakes winner and group 3 runner-up in England.
Walking L Thoroughbreds' Fighting Seabee, by Summer Front , also represents a runner by a freshman stallion. Kenny McPeek sent Fighitng Seabee out to a winning debut July 6 at Ellis Park, where the colt came from fourth and scored by two lengths going a mile.
Patricia Generazio's homebred Fly Fly Away found better going when his race remained on the turf second time out. The First Samurai colt is a half brother to multiple graded stakes winner Disco Partner. The 2-year-old got up to win by a nose Aug. 9, sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at the Spa.
Spellman and Madaket Stable's Andesite, by The Factor , is also a half brother to a proven performer, though to one on dirt. Andesite's older half sister, Ahh Chocolate, was a multiple graded stakes winner around two turns. He won first out July 10 at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino, scoring by 2 1/2 lengths at 7 1/2 furlongs on the lawn.
The most expensive runner sold at public auction in the field is August Dawn Farm's Tuggle, a $160,000 purchase from James M. Herbener Jr.'s consignment to The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale, a year ago. The Point of Entry colt won first out June 21 when his five-furlong race was moved from Belmont Park's turf to the main, sloppy track. He then ran third in the Aug. 10 Saratoga Special (G2) after dueling on the lead.
James Covello's Jack the Ripper, who broke his maiden second time out July 14 in France, makes his U.S. debut, and Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass enters off a victory over this course and distance July 13, winning by three-quarters of a length in his second outing.
Saratoga Race Course, Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Race 9Entries: With Anticipation S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Tuggle (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
120
Jeremiah C. Englehart
5/2
2
2Our Country (KY)
Manuel Franco
122
George Weaver
7/2
3
3Fly Fly Away (NY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
122
Christophe Clement
8/1
4
4Fighting Seabee (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
122
Kenneth G. McPeek
10/1
5
5Eagerly (KY)
John R. Velazquez
118
Todd A. Pletcher
7/2
6
6Jack the Ripper (FR)
Joel Rosario
122
Michael Stidham
15/1
7
7Andesite (KY)
Javier Castellano
122
Brad H. Cox
8/1
8
8Field Pass (MD)
Luis Saez
122
Michael J. Maker
9/2
