After a thrilling Travers weekend which saw Fierceness hold off a determined Torpedo Anna, we enter the final full week of this year’s Saratoga meet with the last chance for our Midlantic breds to capture another stakes win. Opening up this Wednesday at the Spa is a steeplechase contest in the Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes run at two and three-eighth miles over the turf course. With a field of eight hurdlers, this race figures to be very contested, as these races can often be unpredictable due to the distance and nature of steeplechases. Still, at 6/1 on the morning line, Maryland bred gelding Lightning Rod has as good a chance as any to win here in his first stakes try.

Bred by Clarke Ohrstrom, who is also the sole owner, Lightning Rod finally makes his stakes debut after a long layoff from early May. While he wasn’t sharp in that one, this six year old by Bellamy Road – Katara, by Pulpit broke his hurdling maiden two back at Camden going two and one eighth miles. Originally beginning his career on flat tracks, Lightning Rod was moved into the barn of current trainer Laird R. George from Jane Cibelli two summers ago, after struggling to pick up wins in lower level claimers. Already winning once in four starts for George, it is easy to see how that move has paid off, now with a chance to prove himself amongst stronger competition. Returning jockey Gerard Galligan will likely have Lightning Rod closer to the lead than usual, after changing his late finishing running style to a more aggressive strategy this March. He will break from post three with the likely leader and early favorite Hold Hard breaking early to his outside from the seven hole.

Although this field appears more daunting than his typical competition, a strong finish wouldn’t be surprising for Lightning Rod who has improved since switching to hurdles. With a pair of Midlantic bred stakes winners already this meet, a win here would mark the growth of these runners who have continued to show that they belong amongst the best in the country at this prestigious summer meet.

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