One day down, and we’re on to the first Saturday — and first Grade 1 — of the Saratoga meet.
The first stake, of two, is the Grade 3 Sanford for two-year-olds. That’s drawn a single mid-Atlantic-bred, Bessie’s Boy. Bessie’s Boy is a son of Smoke Glacken out of the winning Meadowlake mare Rey Lake. Trained by Wesley Ward, he was bred in Pennsylvania by Charles Zacney and owned by Ice Wine Stable. He’s won both of his career starts, a narrow maiden victory at Pimlico in April followed by a decisive score in the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park. He’s 5-1 and the third choice in the Sanford.
The Grade 1 Diana does not include any horses bred in the region but does have a couple who have enjoyed success in Maryland: this year’s Grade 3 Gallorette winner Somali Lemonade and last year’s Lady Baltimore winner Strathnaver. Both are double-digit odds.
