Ring Weekend / NYRA Photo

Deep field set for G2 Bernard Baruch

by Najja Thompson

A field of 10 talented runners, each looking to establish themselves in the older male turf division heading into the fall, will line up for the final stakes of the Saratoga Race Course meet in the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap on Monday's Closing Day program.

The 57^th running of the Bernard Baruch for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon turf course is the second of two stakes on the Labor Day holiday card, following the 112th renewal of the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful for 2-year-olds.

Trainer Graham Motion entered St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds' Ring Weekend in the Baruch. A 5-year-old son of Tapit, Ring Weekend began his 2016 campaign finishing second by a nose to fellow Baruch opponent Takeover Target in the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes on May 21 at Pimlico Race Course. In his subsequent start, he was sixth after being pinched back at the break in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on August 20 at Saratoga. Following that effort, Motion was impressed with the way his trainee was coming into the race.

"He's been doing really well since he got up here this summer," said Motion. "You can see his development. Last time [Fourstardave] he kind of got shuffled back at the start and ended up further back than I would have liked. However, with this his third start of the year, he seems to be coming into form and if he can run back to his Dixie race he should be very competitive."

With Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard, Ring Weekend will leave from post position 2 at co-high weight of 118 pounds. 

Takeover Target, who followed the Dixie with a fourth-place effort on June 18 in the Grade 3 Poker Stakes, will look to get back to the winner's circle for trainer Chad Brown and owners William Lawrence and Klaravich Stables. The 4-year-old Harlan's Holiday colt is 1-for-2 over the Saratoga turf, winning the Grade 2 Hall of Fame and finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Saranac last summer.

Also tacking 118 pounds, Takeover Target will ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 5.

A 4-year-old gray or roan ridgling by Giant's Causeway, Jay Gatsby will enter for trainer Jimmy Jerkens and Allen Stable Inc. In his most recent race on August 20 at Saratoga, he raced four-wide most of the way to just miss at the wire in the Lure Stakes, beaten a nose by Shining Copper at the Baruch distance.

"That was a hard loss in the Lure," said Jerkens. "He actually was ahead of that horse [Shining Copper] late in the lane and just lost the bob. It was good to see the horse [Offering Plan] that was behind them come back run a good third in the West Point the other day [August 28]. I think he's a legitimate contender and has to improve, but it looks like he's been getting there and moving forward little by little."

Reuniting with jockey Javier Castellano, aboard for his last win on June 3 at Belmont in an optional claiming allowance, the pair will leave from post 8.

Hall of fame trainer Bill Mott will saddle three strong contenders in Take the Stand, Dubai Sky, and War Dancer. 

An Argentine-bred, 5-year-old Take the Stand began his year at Tampa Bay Downs where he finished second by a neck in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes followed by a win in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds before heading to Arlington Park, where he faltered after setting the pace in the Grade 1 Arlington Million. Drawing the rail, Take the Stand will leave with Hall of Famer Edgar Prado in the irons.

Dubai Sky, briefly on the Kentucky Derby Trail after winning the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park last March, went unraced before returning to the turf in his lone start of 2016 on July 1 to win an optional claimer at Churchill Downs. Set to leave from post 4, Dubai Sky will be ridden by Jose Lezcano.

War Dancer, a 6-year-old son of War Front who ran third in the Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth Park and Grade 3 Dominion Day Stakes at Woodbine in back-to-back starts, will look to return to the winner's circle for Diamond M Stable. He will carry jockey Manny Franco and 115 pounds from outside post 10.

Merriebelle Stable and trainer Elizabeth Voss will be represented by 6-year-old multiple graded stakes winner Reporting Star. The gelded son of Circular Quay will return with the addition of blinkers following a sixth-place finish last out in the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes June 5 at Monmouth.

"Last time he ran [at Mommouth] I took the blinkers off hoping to relax him, but he kind of ran his race in the paddock," said Voss. "He can be a little difficult with some prerace antics but, hopefully, as long as he stays relaxed he should run a good race."

Drawing post 9, Reporting Star will be ridden by Florent Geroux.

Rounding out the field are Natchez for Calumet farm and Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Solemn Tribute for trainer Brian Lynch and Lael Stables and Farhaan for owner Matthew Schera and trainer Carlos Martin