Saratoga Day 8: Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap

By Rick Francis —-

Race 8), 6 Furlongs. Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. VANDERBILT H.. Grade I. Purse
$350,000 A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD Post Time: ( 5:02)/ 4:02/ 3:02/ 2:02

Spartiatis (1), won and placed here a year ago, but after taking two straight over the inner track at Aqueduct, 7-year-old has had no impact in his last two starts; pass.

Awesome Banner (2), colt appears to be rounding into a positive form, showing two back and placing last out in G3 Smile Sprint; exotics player.

El Deal (3), Munnings 5-year-old enters on a 2-race win streak, however those victories came against considerably lesser; exotics bottoms possible.

A.P. Indian (4), returning champ has placed in his two 2017 starts, both game efforts; he’ll stalk the pace and close to win going away.

Bird Song (5), cuts back following a “no-show” try in the Grade Foster; trainer Wilkes with the route-to-sprint angle is 21 percent, and his last work suggests he’ll be the one the ‘Indian sits just off of.

Ready for Rye (6), comes in off a muddy Belmont win, a surface he’s won 3-of-4 on; it won’t be an off-going today, and having been handled by the ‘Indian before, looking elsewhere.

Green Gatto (7), since taking 2-of-3 to start the year, including his Grade Carter win at odds of 54-1, he’s finished out of the money in his last three, expect the same here.

Limousine Liberal (8), 5-year-old has won three straight, two in graded company, all at Churchill. He’ll need it hot up front to win this setting up an exciting stretch run.

Selections: 4, 5, 8, 6