World Approval, Night Prowler Seeking 'Fame'

Grade III winners World Approval and Night Prowler look to take the next step up in their careers Friday, Aug. 7 in the $200,000 National Museum Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga Race Course. 

 

The two are among an overflow field of 15 entered—including one also-eligible entrant and two for the main track only—for the 1 1/16-mile turf test for 3-year-olds. The race is carded as the ninth on the 10-race program. Post time is set for approximately 5:29 p.m. EDT. 

 

Live Oak Plantation's World Approval cuts back a bit in distance after winning the 1 1/8-mile American Derby (gr. IIIT) July 11 at Arlington International Racecourse. The gray or roan gelding pressed pacesetter Nun the Less before collaring that rival to lead with an eighth of a mile to run and then fended off menacing Crittenden for a neck victory. 

 

The American Derby triumph marked his second stakes win of the year following a tally in the restricted Sophomore Turf Stakes going 1 1/16 miles in March at Tampa Bay Downs in his  stakes debut. He subsequently closed to finish third in the 1 1/16-mile American Turf Stakes (gr. IIT) May 2 at Churchill Downs after racing near the back of the field early. 

 

Paul Pompa Jr.'s Night Prowler, to carry co-top weight of 123 pounds as will World Approval, was second last time out in the Penn Mile (gr. IIIT) May 30 at Parx Racing after leading and then yielding late. In his start prior to that, he won the 1 1/16-mile Transylvania Stakes (gr. IIIT) in April at Keeneland and 7 1/2-furlong Dania Beach Stakes in January at Tampa, (both gr. IIIT).

 

Klaravich Stable and William Lawrence's recent Belmont Derby Invitational (gr. IT) third Startup Nation (117) cuts back from 1 1/4 miles. Last year, he won the With Anticipation (gr. IIT) at Saratoga following his debut win there. He is trained by Chad Brown, who also trains Night Prowler as well as three more entrants in Belmont Derby fifth-place finisher Takeover Target (117), Croninthebarbarian (117), and French import Winter Springs(119), who makes his U.S. debut.

 

Trainer Bill Mott is represented by two runners: Amerman Racing's stakes winner A Lot (119) and Juddmonte Farms stakes-placed Courtier (117).

 

A Lot led briefly in the American Turf before winner Divisidero blew past but held for second, denying World Approval. He most recently finished second in the 1 1/8-mile Manila Stakes July 12 at Belmont Park after winning the seven-furlong Paradise Creek Stakes from Croninthebarbarian May 23 at the Elmont, N.Y. track.

 

Courtier is coming off a six-month layoff following a second-place finish in the Kitten's Joy Stakes going one mile Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park in his stakes debut.

 

The field also includes Robert Spiegel's Woodhaven Stakes winner Vision Perfect (121).