Juveniles Contend for Sanford Superiority

By Will Robbins

The $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. III) kicks off the annual battle for 2-year-old superiority July 23 at Saratoga Race Course. Young talent abounds in the compact field of 5. This capable quintet of juveniles graduated the maiden ranks with flying colors, and each looks to add to their promising repertoires with a graded stakes win at the Spa. 

Rick Violette's protégé Random Walk dominated his debut at Belmont Park by 5 3/4 lengths for owner Ralph Evans. The son of Super Saver   breezed 4 furlongs in :47.61 July 16 at Belmont in preparation for this start; Jose Ortiz retains the mount from the 2 hole. 

Owner Joseph Sutton and trainer Eddie Kenneally will send out Bitumen, a Mineshaft   colt who debuted at Churchill Downs June 3, turning in a 6 3/4 length romp. 

"He ran a huge race," said Kenneally. "He had trained really well before that and acted like a nice horse. We liked him quite a bit that day and he ran a real professional race for a first timer."

Hall of Fame inductee Steve Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Zartera rounds out the pair of Churchill shippers. Asmussen finished 2nd in the Sanford with Enumerate in 2009 and Southern Blessing in 2013.

Mathis Stable's Bronson will represent leading trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the 2015 Sanford with Uncle Vinny—his record sixth victory. The gray son of Medaglia d'Oro won in impressive fashion first out at Monmouth Park June 18, rallying from off the pace to a 1 3/4 length score. 

"It was a good debut," said Pletcher. "He's been a pleasant surprise to us because we felt, as a colt, it might take him a little more time to come around. He also has a lot of turn in his pedigree, so his dirt form has kind of been a bonus."

This year's winner will join the likes of Secretariat, Affirmed, City Zip  , More Than Ready  , and Scat Daddy   as winning graduates of the 102-year-old Sanford.