insights

6th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 3:19 p.m. ET SASSMASTER (Curlin) was purchased by Alistair Roden on behalf of his client Mark Breen for a sales-topping $550,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October Sale and the early April foal has drawn widest in a field of eight for this first visit to the races. Bred by Stonestreet, the bay is kin to a pair of winners, including 2019 GII Prioress Stakes and GIII Victory Ride Stakes heroine Royal Charlotte (Cairo Prince), who is in turn the dam of the 3-year-old...

2nd-ELP, 100K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6 1/2f, 1:19 p.m. BELLS OF MARANELLO (Nyquist), a daughter of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can (Proud Citizen), was a $750,000 KEESEP grad back in 2023 for Cindy Heider. The mare, who RNA'd for $4.9m at FTKNOV in 2014 following her racing career, produced SW/GSP Believe In Royalty (Tapit) for her first foal and, more recently, MGSW Conclude (Collected). Steve Asmussen trains for Heider Family Stables with son Keith Asmussen aboard for the debut. Breaking mid-gate, Angelic Sense (Street Sense) is the full-sister...

6th-SAR, $90k, Msw, (R), 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 3:53 p.m. ET Though written as an auction maiden, this contest is also open to horses foaled in New York and IRON ORCHARD (Authentic) looks to capitalize on the opportunity on the first day of the July Fourth Racing Festival in Saratoga. The Apr. 22 foal is a daughter of the late dual stakes-placed Onebrethatatime (Brethren), who was purchased by Pine Ridge Stables in foal to Audible for $150,000 at Keeneland November in 2020. The dam, a half-sister to GIII Arlington-Washington Lassie...

4th-CD, $120,000, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, 2:23 p.m. Flying Dutchmen's WHERE LUCK LIVES (Nyquist) gets a start for trainer Brian Lynch. A $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling purchase, the dark bay is out of SW and GISP Holiday Soiree (Harlan's Holiday). The mare, who sold for $300,000 at Keeneland November in 2023, is already responsible for Grade I scorer Vahva (Gun Runner), who most recently won the GII Chicago Stakes at this venue last weekend in addition to GSP Signal From Noise (Arrogate). TJCIS PPs

With possible afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast for Saratoga's Thursday card, Godolphin's Spirit of Hope (Street Sense) looks to draw in off the Main Track Only list in the 1 1/16-mile test. Out of Grade I winner Dance Card (Tapit), the Bill Mott trainee is also a half to MGSW Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro). The sophomore filly has been working steadily over the Oklahoma track in preparation for this career unveiling, including a most recent four-furlong move in :51 2/5 May 26. Also making her career bow, Summer Wind's Cleopatra's Key...

2nd-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 5f, post time: 1:14 p.m. ET Winchell Thoroughbreds' SPICE RUNNER (Gun Runner) drew outside in a field of eight and is the 5-2 morning line second favorite to try to snap an unusually cool beginning to the local meeting for the Steve Asmussen barn. A March foal, the homebred is the latest to make the races out of Simple Surprise (Cowboy Cal), who won her maiden at first asking over a sloppy Churchill main track for coming up on 10 years ago for these same connections....

1st-BAQ, $85k, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10 p.m. ET FULLY BOOKED (Maclean's Music) debuts for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables, who gave $460,000 for the March foal at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale. Stonestreet acquired dam Si Si Tequila (Yes It's True) for $155,000 at Fasig-Tipton July in 2017 and campaigned her to a runner-up effort in the Glorious Song Stakes during her juvenile season. A half-sister to GII Best Pal Stakes winner and GI Del Mar Futurity third Run Away (Run Away and Hide), Si Si Tequila is also responsible...

7th-AQU, Alw (N1X)/OC ($100k), $82k, 3yo, 1m, 4:22 p.m. ET The official feature of Sunday's program at the Big A is the Memories of Silver Stakes one race hence, but this one-mile contest is liable to produce multiple runners for age-restricted stakes over the coming weeks and months. CORNUCOPIAN (Into Mischief) blew the doors off a field of Oaklawn maidens on debut Feb. 23, earning no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' status, but found himself in a suicidal pace battle in the Mar. 29 GI Arkansas Derby and the $1.1-million KEESEP yearling...

10th-GP, $57K, Alw/Opt. Clm., 3yo/up, 7f, 5:54 p.m. ET Last seen finishing a midpack fifth behind Dornoch (Good Magic) in last year's GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, Centennial Farms' ANTIQUARIAN (Preservationist) resumes over a sprint trip Saturday at Gulfstream. The $250,000 KEESEP yearling, a maiden winner at second asking at the Fair Grounds, was an even sixth in the GII Louisiana Derby before striking in the GIII Peter Pan Stakes at Aqueduct. Edgard Zayas has the call for this seasonal jumping-off point. TJCIS PPs 4th-AQU, $80K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1m, 2:46...

3rd-GP, 94K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 1:18 p.m. POP ART (Medaglia d'Oro) sold to Glen Hill Farm for $750,000 as a Keeneland September yearling last year. She is the first foal out of GSW Painting (Distorted Humor) while second dam Handpainted is a full-sister to Canadian champion older mare Serenading. This is also the family of GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Brilliant Speed (Dynaformer) and MSW/GI Arkansas runner up Conquest Mo Money (Uncle Mo). TJCIS PPS 6th-GP, 94K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 2:49 p.m. A $700,000 OBS April buy for 30...

2nd-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/8m, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET CHOWSER (Constitution), a $200,000 purchase out of the 2023 Keeneland September Sale, carries the silks of Richard Santulli's Colts Neck Stables in this trip to the races. A late April foal, the chestnut is a full-brother to 2021 GIII Oklahoma Derby winner and GI Santa Anita Handicap runner-up Warrant and a half to GII Barbara Fritchie Stakes heroine Ms Locust Point (Dialed In), each of whom won their maiden at second asking over six furlongs. The colt's dam Whisper...

2nd-SA, $60K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 2:30 p.m. ET SAN SABA (Justify) topped last year's Fasig-Tipton October Sale on a bid of $725,000 and has drawn the outside in this field of seven. John Velazquez has the call aboard the May 8 foal, whose dam Arienza (Giant's Causeway) finished second in the 2011 GII Fantasy Stakes. The latter is a daughter of 2002 Horse of the Year and treble champion older female Azeri (Jade Hunter), the dam of the talented MGSW/GISP Wine Princess (Ghostzapper) and granddam of GSW Smokin'...