By Christie DeBernardis
Recent Grade I winners Ascend (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Bigger Picture (Badge of Silver) square off in Saturday's GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga. Closing out last term with an allowance win at Keeneland in October, the gelding kicked off this term with a victory in Laurel's Henry Clark S. over yielding turf Apr. 22 and blew up the tote with a 27-1 upset when navigating 10 furlongs for the first time in Belmont's GI Woodford Reserve Mahattan S. June 10.
“I don't think he's a horse that needs to have that [experience] of running 1 3/8 miles; that's also something I want to see is how he handles it, because that will help us make decisions for the rest of the year with him,” Motion said. “Plus, the fact that we're already there and Jose is able to ride him, there's a lot of upside.”
Claimed from Michael Dubb, Bethlehem stables and Rudy Rodriguez for $32,000 at the end of 2015, Bigger Picture is yet another Mike Maker claimer to graded winner success story. Victorious in the GIII John B. Connally in January, the chestnut checked in fourth in Gulfstream's GII Mac Diarmida S. Mar. 4 and was third over a yielding course at Keeneland in the GII Dixiana Elkhorn S. Apr. 22. The gelding unleashed a furious late turn of foot to get up just in time to deny the Motion-trained Canthelpbelieving (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) by a head in Monmouth's GI United Nations S. at this race's 1 3/8-mile distance July 1.
Woodslane Farm's Sadler's Joy (Kitten's Joy) deserves a look as horse who has been steadily improving this term. Winner of the GII Pan American going 12 furlongs at Gulfstream Apr. 1, the chestnut checked in third in both the GI Man o' War S. May 13 and the Manhattan last time out.
“He's been very consistent and we were a little unlucky his last couple of races, but he runs hard every time he goes out there and it's what we like to see,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “Hopefully he gets a better trip going a little longer than the Manhattan; that should definitely suit him as well, so we're looking forward to stretching him out a little more.”
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