Friday’s Saratoga card features the Tale of the Cat — for three-year-olds and up that haven’t won a graded race this year going six furlongs — and a terrific renewal of the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, for fillies and mares three and up going 1 1/8 miles. Midlantic-breds figure in both.
Pennsylvania-bred Princess of Sylmar will tackle an accomplished field in the Personal Ensign, including the two runners (Belle Gallantey and Close Hatches) who have beaten her this year. Trained by Todd Pletcher for owner-breeder Ed Stanco and his King of Prussia Stables, the Princess is second among older horses in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred/The Racing Biz Top Midlantic-bred Poll. She has won nine of 14 career starts with earnings north of $2 million. She’s by Majestic Warrior out of the unraced Pulpit mare Tarfaya.
A fellow Keystone Stater, Traffic Light, will try his luck in the Tale of the Cat. The five-year-old son of Peace Rules-Lears and Limos, by Hennessy has won eight of 19 career starts and earned $453,220. He’s trained by Alfredo Velazquez for owners John Trippi and William Thayer and was bred by Dixiana Farms LLC. He’s won two stakes in his career and most recently was third in the Donald Levine Memorial at Parx Racing.
