By Brian DiDonato
'TDN Rising Star' Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy) leads a well-matched group in Saturday's GIII Pilgrim S. at Belmont. The Amerman Racing homebred put in a mild bid for sixth first up at Saratoga July 23, but showed improved speed for trainer Brian Lynch to lead from the outset and run up the score to 10 1/4 lengths Aug. 20. Leading conditioner Chad Brown won this race in both 2012 and 2013, and has two solid shots to add another trophy to his already very full mantle. Oiseau de Guerre (War Front), a half to this year's Brown-trained standout sophomore and 'Rising Star' My Man Sam (Trappe Shot), was given one of the more scrutinized rides of the Saratoga meet. Backed down to a tick under even-money in his first and only start Aug. 28, the bay was hung three deep just off the pace before uncorking an extremely visually impressive turn burst to open up. He dropped anchor in the late stages after that premature move, however, and settled for second, beaten 3/4 of a length. According to Trakus data, the favorite covered 46 ft. (almost 5 1/2 lengths) more than the winner. Brown's other runner, Sir Douglas (More Than Ready), makes his turf debut and first start since being privately purchased by Jim Covello, Tom Coleman and Doheny Racing Stable from Xpress Thoroughbreds and veteran conditioner Jinks Fires. The $175,000 OBS March grad, whose dam was a stakes winner on dirt and multiple stakes-placed on turf in New York-bred company, dueled and drew off to a 4 1/2-length success going five panels at Ellis July 10.
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