Saratoga Saturday: Grade 1 Woodward Stakes

By Rick Francis —-

Gun Runner; Coady Photo

Race 11), 1&1/8th Mile G1 Woodward S. Presented by NYRA Bets PRESENTED BY NYRA BETS Purse $750,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD.

Post Time: ( 6:46)/ 5:46/ 4:46/ 3:46
ADVANCED FORECAST: Rain Likely, High 73 Low 51

Neolithic (1), Pletcher/Ortiz, J; multi-millionaire just keeps getting checks, just not top prize checks. Posts three wins with two coming against allowance company such as his last here; bottom line is any of these can freak and blow up the field, but for this guy, keep in exotics.

Gun Runner (2), Asmussen/Geroux; Candy Ride colt gets better with each start; has won 3-of-4 along with a second to former world’s #1 Arrogate in the Dubai Cup; formidable favorite, but this place is known as the “Graveyard of Favorites”.

Rally Cry (3), Pletcher/Velazquez; a lot of excitement and upside with this Uncle Mo colt, and with his dominating win last out in the Alydar Stakes just adds to that excitement and upside. Sandwiching Gun Runner with Pletcher duo has some interesting prospects, but with Hall of Fame rider Johnny V in the irons, the only plan is to win.

War Story (4), Navarro/Ortiz, I; winner of the Grade 2 Brooklyn two back was soundly defeated by Gun Runner in the Whitney, hard to see what changes today.

Discreet Lover (5), St.Lewis/Franco; ditto for this Repent colt, as he finished farther behind Gun Runner in Whitney.

Selections : 2, 3, 1, 4