Handicapping: Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap features World’s top two Sprinters

By Rick Francis —-

Week three of the Saratoga meet has always been about the Grade 2 Jim Dandy showcasing some of the best 3-year-olds in racing, however “some” is optimum word as a few as four sophomores will load into the starting gate and as such we’ll look to one racing’s true speed contest’s the Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap. This 6 furlong sprint features the world’s top two sprinters in Juddmomt Farms Elite Power and Winchell Thoroughbreds home-grown Gunite, this promises to be the race of the day. Let’s take a look at the field.

SARATOGA

Race 8) 6 Furlongs. Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. Grade I. Purse $350,000 A HANDICAP FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Post Time: ( 4:26)/ 3:26/ 2:26/ 1:26

1) Gun It (Rice/Ortiz, J.); 7-year-old exits his only win from his last 14 starts, and though he’s been in the money with eight of those attempts, none have come against a filed of this caliber.

2) Synthesis (Jacobson/Franco); this 7-year-old gelding finished up a distant second last out in the G2 Nerud, prior to that he was well beaten by Elite Power in the True North; pass.

3) Awesome Aaron )Green/Davis); colt out of Practical Joke is competitive at a much lower level, however he’ll come running out the gate to set up the real speed in here.

4) Elite Power (Mott/Ortiz, I, Jr.); reigning BC Sprint champ enters having won seven straight and is a true “speedster”. Curlin 5-year-old will look to set just off the front runners and come with his devasting late kick; eight-in-a-row strong possibilty.

5) Gunite (Asmussen/Gaffalione); Gun Runner colt was beaten by ‘Power two back in the Dubai Golden Saheen but as with many Gun Runner offspring they get faster and stonger the longer they’re allowed to race. His win last out at Churchill was very quick; contest sets up to be a great stretch drive.

6) Dean Delivers (Yates/Jaramillo); rolls in on a 2-race win streak, both at Gulfstream and last taking the G2 Smile Sprint; capable underneathe.

7) Little Vic (Avila/Olivero); Practical Joke colt relishes the 6-furlong distance and was a game winner in the Aqueduct mud to take the Grade 3 Tom Fool, though track conditions may or may not be similar to those of the Tom Fool, competition will not be.

SELECTIONS: 4-5