A.P. Indian at the Fore in Forego

Green Lantern Stables' A.P. Indian (Indian Charlie) vaulted to the head of the East Coast sprint division with a four-race winning streak dating back to mid-May, and the homebred has the opportunity to reaffirm his spot at the top, facing 11 rivals in Saturday's GI Priority One Jets Forego S. at Saratoga.

After making just five starts in his first three years at the track, A.P. Indian has thrived since arriving to the Arnaud Delacour barn ahead of the 2015 season, in which he won three times from six starts–including a pair of stakes. The bay kicked off 2016 with a repeat win via disqualification in Monmouth Park's Decathlon S. May 14, and followed suit with a score in the Donald LeVine Memorial S. at Parx June 18. He subsequently took his game to the next level in New York by capturing the GIII Belmont Sprint Championship S. over seven furlongs July 9 prior to a breakthrough at the Grade I level in the six-panel Alfred Vanderbilt H. at the Spa July 30. Typically known for his speed, the 6-year-old has recently demonstrated an ability to rate–a quality that could be put to good use from post 11 Saturday.

“Definitely, there's a trip factor involved when you run in a full field so it's going to be up to [jockey Joe] Bravo to decide,” Delacour told the NYRA notes team. “I'm not going to be able to help him much from where I'm going to be. The thing is he seems to be pretty versatile. He can sit off the pace, and he can make the pace if we have to.”

Godolphin Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Marking (Bernardini) has come a long way since scratching at the gate in his would-be debut just over a year ago, and the colt should be able to keep a close eye on A.P. Indian from the outermost stall in this return to Grade I company. Fourth in the G2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan Mar. 26, the bay returned to the States to run fourth behind stablemate Frosted (Tapit) in the GI Met Mile June 11. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee was last seen losing a narrow decision to A.P. Indian after making a wide run to duel with that one in deep stretch in the Belmont Sprint Championship.

In a race where only three of the 12 entrants own a win over the Saratoga main track, veteran Stallwalkin' Dude (City Place) could make some noise if a fast pace materializes up front. Campaigning for Head of Plains Partners and trainer David Jacobson, the bay enters off a win in the local Tale of the Cat S. over six furlongs Aug. 12. Stablemate Chief Lion (Wildcat Heir) completed the exacta behind him that day and will be asked to carry his speed another furlong.

The Forego also features a pair of out-of-town invaders seeking their first win at the highest level. Anthony A. Lenci's Catalina Red (Munnings) has the benefit of previous experience over the local strip, having finished third in the Vanderbilt last month. The Jorge Navarro trainee is a perfect three-for-three at Saturday's seven-furlong distance, including a triumph in the GII Churchill Downs S. May 7. Trainer Ben Colebrook ships Limousine Liberal (Successful Appeal) in to Saratoga from his Keeneland base. The 4-year-old put forth a career-best effort when second behind eventual champion sprinter Runhappy (Super Saver) in the trip-and-track GI King's Bishop S. one year ago to date, and was last seen crossing the wire second in the GII Smile Sprint S. at Gulfstream July 2.

Alto Racing's Anchor Down (Tapit) seeks to bounce back from a dull sixth-place finish while mired on the inside in the Vanderbilt, and should find the seven-furlong distance of the Forego more to his liking. The gray was previously a distant runner-up behind Frosted in the Met Mile.