By Alan Carasso
Made Me Shiver (Maclean's Music), so impressive in taking her lone racetrack appearance to date, rates a slight favorite in the GIII Schuylerville S., the co-featured event on opening day of the 2016 meeting at Saratoga.
Conditioned by Steve Asmussen, who has sent out three winners of the race since 2008, the Hill 'n' Dale homebred was no better than a 15-2 chance in a June 17 Churchill maiden dominated in the markets by 2-5 La Coronel (Colonel John). While that one finished a never-nearer fourth, Made Me Shiver just about beat the gates and soon had daylight on her rivals. Coasting along from there, she took an awkward step near the eighth pole and raced on her incorrect lead from there, but still reported home a 5 3/4-length winner.
If horses like convincing Keeneland debut winner Lightning Dove (Uncle Mo) and Inspired Flight (Orientate), dead game in taking her Laurel bow July 1, race handy enough to Made Me Shiver do some work early on, the Schuylerville could well set up for Platinum Spark (Hansen). Well bet at 9-2 in her June 12 unveiling for a barn that does far better with its grass runners, the gray filly prompted the pace and finished as if more distance could be right up her alley, scoring by a widening 1 1/2 lengths. Platinum Spark's morning trials since suggest there could be even better to follow.
Olive Branch (Super Saver) took her spot in a $100,000 maiden allowance at Belmont May 18, and made the most of the opportunity to post a perfect-trip, two-length success. The 3-1 second choice on Travis Stone's morning line could fall into the box seat once again if Made Me Shiver does not manage to shake free early.
Harland's Thunder (Harlan's Holiday), one of two in the field from the final crop of her late sire, belied debut odds of 10-1 to graduate at first asking at Churchill May 5, defeating future Debutante S. winner Pretty City Dancer (Tapit) into third. She was a no-show sixth behind Bode's Dream (Bodemeister) in the June 9 Astoria S. at Belmont, but could bounce back here at a price.
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