As we did in 2013, The Racing Biz will track the efforts of horses bred in the mid-Atlantic region in stakes at Saratoga this summer. And with the ever-expanding Spa meet now opening in mid-July, that means that opening day, with two stakes, is tomorrow, July 18.
First up is the Grade 3 Schuylerville for two-year-old fillies. That race has drawn a sparse field of just five (with a 3-5 favorite in Fashion Alert), none from the mid-Atlantic. There is, however, some mid-Atlantic representation, in Mast Cove, a daughter of Cowboy Cal trained at Laurel Park by Jerry Robb. Mast Cove, who in June broke her maiden in $30,000 claiming company at Delaware Park, has posted three consecutive bullet works since then. She’s 20-1.
Later on the card is the ungraded Sir Cat, a one-mile turf event for three year-olds that have never won a graded stake on the grass. That’s drawn a field of eight, plus a main-track-only runner in Pablo del Monte, who ran sixth in this year’s Preakness. One Midlantic-bred is slated to start in the Sir Cat, that being Storming Inti, a Pennsylvania-bred son of Stormy Atlantic bred by Brushwood Stable. A two-time stake winner, Storming Inti has finished second, third, and fourth in three graded tries. Storming Inti is currently the top-ranked three year-old on the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll. He is 9-5 and the second choice.
