Talented juveniles set to compete in G3 Pilgrim

by Najja Thompson

A talented group of juvenile colts will look to each to pick up black type when a field of eight competes in the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim going 1 1/16 miles on the turf Saturday at Belmont Park.

Carded as Race 8, the Pilgrim is one of four graded stakes on the day highlighted by the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic along with the Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame and Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh.

Looking to rebound off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga Race Course is Evaluator, for trainer Michael Dilger and R and H Stable. A New York-bred son of multiple graded stakes winner Overanalyze, Evaluator made his debut against fellow state-breds on August 9 at Saratoga, where he bested a field of 10 to win by four lengths. 

Sent off as the 5-2 post-time favorite in the With Anticipation, he was hesitant at the start and shuffled back early. Putting in three works since that race most recently breezing four furlongs in 48.66 seconds over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track, Dilger said he is expecting a better effort in the Pilgrim.

"He's been doing very good," said Dilger. "We were very happy with his most recent workout coming into the race. We hope to see him break better and he although he didn't have the best of starts in the With Anticipation, he made up a lot of ground toward the end of the race, so I thought it was still educational." 

Retaining the services of Joel Rosario, who has been aboard for his first two career starts, the pair will leave from post 8.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle two runners, with Treadway Racing Stable's Maraud and Seabhac, for Donegal Racing. 

Purchased for $375,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Mid Atlantic 2-year-olds in training sale, Maraud won his debut on September 2 at Saratoga by two lengths. Finishing second in his debut by a half-length, Seabhac returned to run a game fourth in the With Anticipation.

"They've both been training well coming up to this race," said Pletcher. "With Seabhac,the initial plan was to enter in the in the [Grade 3] Dixiana at Keeneland, but that race was oversubscribed so we decided to run here. Maraud enters having won first out at Saratoga and they're both coming into this race off good efforts." 

With Luis Saez aboard, Seabhac will depart from post 4. Maraud will leave from post 6 with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano in the irons. 

Entering for Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown is Voting Control. A son of Kitten's Joy, he impressively won his debut on September 10 at Belmont while earning a field-high 72 Beyer Speed Figure. 

Rounding out the rest of the field: Desert Stone for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and Zayat Stables; Morrison for Newport Stables and Stolen Pistol for owner Brad Grady both trained by Joe Sharp.