From the Spa: August 28 Midlantic-breds in Saratoga stakes

I Spent It wins the 2014 Saratoga Special. Photo by NYRA/Adam Coglianese.

by Joseph Aiello

“From the Spa” returns to keep you up-to-date on horses bred in the mid-Atlantic racing in Saratoga stakes   

August 28th is the final Wednesday of the 2019 Saratoga meet, and brings the featured Grade III With Anticipation Stakes in the ninth race. The With Anticipation is run at a mile and one sixteenth on the turf for two year olds, some of whom may go on to run in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf in the Fall. Last year’s Travers winner Catholic Boy won this race in 2017, showing how it can be a stepping stone to great things. Our Mid-Atlantic entry Field Pass will look to make this race a similar jumpstart to a long and successful career, but will need to continue to show improvement following a narrow win in a maiden race earlier this meet.

Field Pass is a grey two year old colt by Lemon Drop Kid – Only Me, by Runaway Groom. He was bred in Maryland by Mark Brown Grier and is owned by Three Diamonds Farm. With career earnings of $60,260, Field Pass has already surpassed his yearling price tag of $37,000, and looks to continue winning with jockey Luis Saez returning to the irons from his first win a month ago. While that win was at the same distance as the With Anticipation, the pace was much slower than it will be here, meaning another stalking trip will be much harder to maintain in the stretch. Even so, trainer Michael Maker should still feel confident about his chances here as this colt has shown great fight in both his tries. Field Pass has respectable morning line odds of 9/2 and breaks from the outside eight post.