Ring Weekend, Takeover Target Head Baruch

A field of 10 talented runners, each looking to establish themselves in the older male turf division heading into the fall, will line up for the final stakes of the 2016 Saratoga Race Course meet in the $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Sept. 5 Closing Day program.

The 57th running of the Bernard Baruch for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon turf course is the second of two stakes on the Labor Day holiday card, following the 112th renewal of the $350,000 Hopeful (gr. I) for 2-year-olds.

Trainer Graham Motion entered St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds' Ring Weekend in the Baruch. A 5-year-old son of Tapit  , Ring Weekend began his 2016 campaign finishing second by a nose to rival Takeover Target in the Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) May 21 at Pimlico Race Course. In his subsequent start, he was sixth after being pinched back at the break in the Aug. 20 Fourstardave (gr. IT) at Saratoga. Motion is impressed with the way his runner is coming into the race.

"He's been doing really well since he got up here this summer," said Motion. "You can see his development. Last time he kind of got shuffled back at the start and ended up further back than I would have liked. However, with this his third start of the year, he seems to be coming into form and if he can run back to his Dixie race he should be very competitive."

With Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard, Ring Weekend will leave from post 2 under co-high weight of 118 pounds. 

Takeover Target, who followed the Dixie with a fourth-place effort June 18 in the Poker Stakes (gr. IIIT), will look to get back to the winner's circle for trainer Chad Brown and owners William Lawrence and Klaravich Stables. The 4-year-old Harlan's Holiday colt is 1-for-2 over the Saratoga turf, winning the Hall of Fame (gr. IIT) and finishing sixth in the Saranac (gr. IIIT) last summer.

Also tacking 118 pounds, Takeover Target will ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 5.

One of interest is Jay Gatsby, a 4-year-old gray or roan ridgling by Giant's Causeway. Entered by trainer Jimmy Jerkens for Allen Stable Inc., in his most recent race Aug. 20 at Saratoga, he raced four-wide most of the way to just miss at the wire in the Lure Stakes, beaten a nose by Shining Copper at the Baruch distance.

"That was a hard loss in the Lure," said Jerkens. "He actually was ahead of that horse (Shining Copper) late in the lane and just lost the bob. It was good to see the horse (Offering Plan) that was behind them come back run a good third in the West Point the other day (Aug. 28). I think he's a legitimate contender and has to improve, but it looks like he's been getting there and moving forward little by little."

Reunited with jockey Javier Castellano, aboard for his last win on June 3 at Belmont in an optional claiming allowance, the runner will leave post 8.

Hall of fame trainer Bill Mott saddles three strong contenders in Take the Stand, Dubai Sky, and War Dancer; Merriebelle Stable and trainer Elizabeth Voss will be represented by 6-year-old multiple graded stakes winner Reporting Star; and the field is rounded out by Natches, Solemn Tribute, and Farhaan.