Bottas Makes Season Debut in Pennine Ridge Stakes

The Miguel Clement-trained Bottas  will look to return to the form he showed as a juvenile when he takes on nine rivals in the $300,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) June 4 at Saratoga Race Course.

The Vekoma   colt showed a lot of promise early in his career, breaking his maiden on debut at Saratoga by 2 1/4 lengths and following with a win in the Pilgrim Stakes (G2T). He was last seen finishing a troubled ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). 

"I'm very excited for this race. He's a very good horse," Clement said. "Hopefully, I didn't get it wrong, that I didn't leave him short. It's that simple. He's doing very well."

Of those looking to upset Bottas is Gary Barber's Blackmail , who won the Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack April 25. The gelding by Not This Time   put in a game stretch run to win by a neck over the favorite Instability .

"It was a great ride by Javier (Castellano); he sat on him and made the late run," said trainer Mark Casse. "He's by one of the hottest sires in the world, and I find they tend to get better with age as well." 

Casse also enters graded stakes-placed Blinging it Back , who finished fifth in the American Turf Stakes (G1T).

Impressive maiden winners Glavine  and West End Kid  also are among the top threats in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Talk to Me Jimmy  is entered for the main track only.