Janet Garaguso Photo

Even as a yearling, Whitney (G1) favorite Tom's d'Etat took everything in stride

by NYRA Press Office

• Point of Honor 'deserves a shot' in Personal Ensign (G1); Vekoma to Forego (G1)
• Cross Border enters Bowling Green (G2) off 10 days rest
• Baltas to send out first Saratoga starters
• Mischevious Alex adds speed and Irad Ortiz, Jr. for H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy (G1)
• Stakes winner Its All Relevant pointed to Alydar, turns in sharp Thursday breeze
• Noda off to strong start at the Spa; maiden winner First Line could seek stakes action
• Dayatthespa winner Classic Lady to remain against New York-bred company
• Saratoga Week 4 stakes probables

G M B Racing's Tom's d'Etat, the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney at Saratoga Race Course, has come a long way from his humble beginnings as a laid-back yearling.

Long before the 7-year-old son of Smart Strike was a Grade 1-winning millionaire and among the leaders of the North American handicap division, he was selected by trainer Al Stall, Jr. and Frank Wooten at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for $330,000 and was sent to Wooten's farm in Camden, South Carolina for his first lessons under saddle.

Tom's d'Etat arrives at the Whitney off four straight triumphs, including scores in the Grade 2 Fayette on October 26 at Keeneland, the Grade 1 Clark on November 29 at Churchill Downs, the Oaklawn Mile on April 18, and the Grade 2 Stephen Foster on June 27 at Churchill Downs and has accumulated $1,627,272 in lifetime earnings.

Much has changed the past six years with Tom's d'Etat, but Wooten said his demeanor is a notable exception.

"When we first got him here, he was so laid back," said Wooten. "I galloped him myself and I thought 'Oh my God, we bought a plodding horse.' He was easy to gallop. He was a beautiful mover, but just kind of a lazy big horse, but he progressed from there."

Tom's d'Etat remained with Wooten following the 2014 sale until later that following spring.

When Wooten began breezing Tom's d'Etat at the Camden Training Center, he said the horse took some major steps forward but still did not display an aggressive nature.

"He always had been a good actor and very easy to break, which was nice," Wooten said. "A lot of the good horses are hard to handle, but he had a great mind. Mentally, he was just a nice horse. He took everything in stride and dealt with everything nicely. Some of the other ones, their eyes are popping out of their head and they get aggressive, but he took everything in stride."

Tom's d'Etat's large stature and quiet manner earned him a unique nickname at the barn.

"We called him Bumble, like the abominable snowman [from the animated TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer]," Wooten said. "He was so big and just plodded along as baby, I kept thinking 'Once we light his fire, he'll get tougher' but he never really did. He was just the same. He was a beautiful mover across the ground, but just was not aggressive."

Lightly raced for a horse his age, Tom's d'Etat has a couple of gaps in his form. Following a maiden victory at third asking over the Saratoga main track in August 2016 , he did not race again until the following March, where he defeated winners at Fair Grounds. In July 2017, he registered a 106 Beyer Speed Figure from a nine-length victory in a Saratoga allowance optional claiming event over stakes winners Far From Over and Bodhisattva. He did not return to action until November 2018, but did so in style with a 7 ¼-length romp over an off track at Churchill Downs.

"Al always knew he had the talent," Wooten said. "There were just some small nagging things here and there that got in the way. He was just a big horse with a ton of speed and that didn't go well together, especially with a young horse. We always knew he had the talent."

Wooten is no stranger to developing subsequent top-level performers having worked with Grade 1-winners Action This day, Upstart as well as Happy Ticket, the latter of whom Wooten said was similar in temperament.

"She was actually like the female Tom's d'Etat. She was taking everything in stride," Wooten said of the three-time Louisiana-bred graded stakes winner, who won the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga in 2005.

Wooten credited Stall, Jr.'s patient approach with Tom's d'Etat, which he said allowed the big horse to develop.

"There aren't many trainers that will give a horse the time it needs, but Al will give a horse the time," Wooten said. "The good thing about him is that he will race these horses when they're 5, 6 or even 7, especially when he knows he has something special."

Wooten and Stall, Jr.'s success has gone beyond Tom's D'Etat. On Wednesday afternoon, the conditioner saddled 3-year-old Zero to Sixty to a debut maiden victory at Saratoga. The Colombine Stable-owned American Pharoah filly was shown the ropes by Wooten.

"He took his time with her, too. She didn't run as 2-year-old. I just hope she continues to mature," Wooten said.

Wooten said he is hopeful that Tom's d'Etat can have an equally as successful career as a sire when he takes up residence at WinStar Farm upon retirement.

"Al said that he's still a nice horse to be around and hopefully he'll pass that on," Wooten said.

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Point of Honor 'deserves a shot' in Personal Ensign (G1); Vekoma to Forego (G1)

Proud as he is of the way Point of Honor performed last summer at Saratoga, finishing second in both the Grade 1 Alabama and Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, trainer George Weaver is hoping for a little better this year.

"She ran big here last year, but she got beat," Weaver said. "Hopefully, she doesn't get beat this time."

The task will be a difficult one, as Point of Honorntry will line up against champion Midnight Bisou and four others in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign presented by NYRA Bets. The 1 1/8-mile event for older fillies and mares is the first of five stakes, four graded including three Grade 1s, worth $2 million in purses on a 12-race Whitney Day program.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Stetson Racing's Point of Honor won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan last spring at Pimlico Race Course prior to her Saratoga runs, and did not race back until finishing second as the favorite in a seven-furlong handicap in March at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 4-year-old daughter of Hall of Famer Curlin overcame a slow start to run third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on April 18 at Oaklawn Park, and most recently came up a nose shy of winner She's a Julie in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 13 at Belmont Park. Both races are contested at 1 1/16 miles.

"I think she's a better filly at 4. I think she's filled out and she's a stronger filly. Her races have all been good this year, though we're still waiting to get that first win," Weaver said. "It's a tough assignment on Saturday but she deserves a shot at it as much as anybody in there."

Point of Honor drew far outside in the field of six, while Midnight Bisou will break from post 3 in defense of her 2019 Personal Ensign victory, which came by a nose over Elate with She's a Julie third.

"Midnight Bisou is the champ. If you're trying to pick the horses to run against you wouldn't pick her," Weaver said, "But, we're here and she's doing well and she deserves a shot at it so we'll see what happens."

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, aboard for seven of Point of Honor's nine races including both Saratoga starts and the Black-Eyed Susan, has the return call Saturday.

Weaver also said R.A. Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables' Vekoma, impressive last out winner of the Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile on July 4 at Belmont, is doing well and expected to make his next start in the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego on August 29 at Saratoga.

Vekoma has yet to return to the work tab since the Met Mile, a front-running 1 ¼-length triumph that extended his win streak to three races and came 28 days after a 7 ¼-length romp in the Grade 1 Runhappy Carter Handicap which, like the Forego, is contested at seven furlongs.

"I was on the fence in running back in the Met Mile after four weeks off the big race in the Carter, and following the Met Mile I was not looking to come back in four or five weeks," Weaver said. "We're trying to make it to the Breeders' Cup and the Forego is the most logical next spot.

"So far, everything's looking good and we're looking forward to getting him back to the races," Weaver said. "He's always been a good horse. The sky's the limit for him."

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Cross Border enters Bowling Green (G2) off 10 days rest

Last year, Got Stormy spun back off a week's rest to take the Grade 1 Fourstardave in track record-setting fashion. In Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green, Cross Border will attempt to notch a graded stakes victory in similar fashion for trainer Mike Maker.

Owned by Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm, Cross Border is unbeaten in four starts at the Spa, and arrives at the 1 3/8-mile Bowling Green off a victory in the Lubash on July 22, which he won by 6 ¼ lengths as the heavy favorite.

Maker said the winning effort did not take a lot out of the son of English Channel. 

"It seemed like it was more of a workout. With a shorter field, we figured we would give it a shot," Maker said.

Cross Border's lone effort at the Bowling Green's 11-furlong distance was a winning one, when he scored an allowance victory in November at Aqueduct.

Cross Border has won five starts for Maker, who began training the horse after being purchased from the Fasig-Tipton Horses of Racing Age Sale in July 2018. He made his debut for Maker off more than a year's rest and finished second, beaten a head, at Belmont Park and followed up with three straight victories at Saratoga.

"He had an issue with the ribs and so he got some time off and he just came back a different horse," said Maker.

Stablemate Marzo, who also bears the teal and yellow colors of Three Diamonds Farm, has not raced since finishing seventh to Factor This in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic on March 21 at Fair Grounds. He made his seasonal bow with a third-place finish to fellow Bowling Green aspirant Dot Matrix in the Grade 3 John Connally on January 26 at Sam Houston.

The son of Medaglia d'Oro will seek a second graded stakes triumph having won the Grade 3 Sycamore last October at Keeneland. 

"It was a nice field that day," Maker said of the Muniz Memorial Classic. "He got a vacation with the coronavirus and nowhere to run and he's come back well."

Maker also said last Sunday's Grade 2 Bernard Baruch winner Somelikeithotbrown could be slated for Grade 1 action at Churchill Downs in the September 5 Old Forester Turf Classic.

"He came back well. We're looking at the Old Forester," Maker said.

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Baltas to send out first Saratoga starters

Multiple Grade 1-winning trainer Richard Baltas has saddled nearly 600 winners in his career but has yet to send out a starter at storied Saratoga.

Saturday will end that streak as Motion Emotion takes on Midnight Bisou in the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign presented by NYRA Bets. The veteran conditioner will double his numbers in one week's time when Venetian Harbor ships to the Spa for the Grade 1, $300,000 Longines Test.

Baltas said he hasn't been to Saratoga since the summer of 1985 when Lady's Secret upset Mom's Command in the Test.

"I've raced in New York a lot but for some reason Saratoga has avoided me. The last time I was in Saratoga I was working for Spendthrift Farm at the yearling sale when Lady's Secret won the Test....that's a long time ago," said Baltas. "For some reason, all my good horses have been running at Belmont and I just never made it up there until now. And if all goes well, the other good filly [Venetian Harbor] will be up there next week."

Mark DeDomenico, Abbondanza Racing and Medallion Racing's Motion Emotion, a 4-year-old daughter of Take Charge Indy, captured the Zia Park Oaks in November and was second last out in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis won by Personal Ensign-rival Midnight Bisou.

She worked a sharp five-eighths on July 25 in 1:01.40 on the Churchill Downs main before shipping up to Saratoga. While Baltas will remain in California, it will be his assistant, Aimee Dollase, who will saddle Motion Emotion in the Personal Ensign, a nine-furlong test offering a berth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

"She's been training really well. She had a good breeze at Churchill before she left for Saratoga on Tuesday," said Baltas. "She shipped in fine and galloped Wednesday at Saratoga. My assistant said she's doing well."

Motion Emotion finished second in a pair of Grade 3 events at Oaklawn during her sophomore campaign behind Chocolate Kisses in the Honeybee and Lady Apple in the Fantasy, and endured a troubled trip in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill when elevated to eighth.

With just shy of a half-million dollars in purse earnings, Baltas said he is hopeful of adding Grade 1 black type to the valuable filly's ledger when taking on a compact but talented six-horse Personal Ensign field.

"She's a little ambitiously placed but they were expecting a small field. We ran second to the big mare [Midnight Bisou] last time in the Fleur de Lis - we were soundly beaten - but it was still a good run," said Baltas. "This is a Grade 1 race, it's a chance to get some black type and there's a big purse. The horse is doing very well, so we'll see what happens."

Irad Ortiz, Jr., second in the Saratoga rider standings with 16 wins heading into Thursday's card, will pilot Motion Emotion for the first time as the Kentucky-bred bay tries to make her third attempt at nine furlongs a winning one.

"It all depends on the pace. It's a little far but I don't see any reason why the distance would affect her," said Baltas. "She's able to settle in her races."

Ciaglia Racing, Highland Yard, River Oak Farm and Dominic Savides' Venetian Harbor, a sophomore daughter of Munnings bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables, posted a bullet half-mile breeze in 47.20 on July 25 at San Luis Rey Training Center.

Baltas said the filly will breeze once more before he decides whether or not to ship Venetian Harbor to Saratoga for the Longines Test, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies.

"She is doing well at San Luis Rey where she's done all her good work. She had a nice breeze there the other day, in hand, in 47 and she'll work again on Saturday and we'll make a decision about putting her on a plane," said Baltas.

The speedy bay graduated impressively at second asking by 10 ¾-lengths on December 29 at Santa Anita in a 6 ½-furlong maiden sprint and followed up with a 9 ¼-length score in the one-mile Las Virgenes at Santa Anita in February to kick off her 3-year-old campaign.

Venetian Harbor stretched out to 1 1/16-miles for her last two starts when second behind Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn and second on July 11 in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland won in smart fashion by Speech.

Baltas said a return to sprinting in the Longines Test wouldn't negate a potential return to two-turn races.

"She has a lot of natural speed and she likes to put herself in the race," said Baltas. "She's won going two turns in the Las Virgenes going a mile, but I'm not sure if she wants to go a mile and an eighth or not. She got beat by a pretty good filly the other day and they ran a really good number. She's a hard-knocking filly so we'll see if she can win this race."

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Mischevious Alex adds speed and Irad Ortiz, Jr. for H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy (G1)

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex will look to return to winning form in Saturday's Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.

Trained by John Servis, the Into Mischief bay captured the Parx Juvenile in November to launch a three-race win streak that included scores in the Grade 3 Swale in February at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Gotham in a loaded 11-horse field at the Big A in March.

Last out, off a more than three-month layoff in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Claiborne Farm, Mischevious Alex finished an even fourth behind returning rivals No Parole, Echo Town and Shoplifted.

Servis said he may have overprepared the talented bay for his return to racing action.

"I might have done a little too much with him. I wanted to make sure he was tight enough and I was getting after him pretty good, but maybe he was just a little flat to be honest," said Servis.

Servis said the lack of a target during the suspension of live racing at many tracks during the COVID-19 pandemic became a difficult hurdle for most horsemen.

"You didn't want to be working on them when you didn't know when they were going to start back," said Servis. "They were in the idle position for a long time. I'm sure the horses were getting as bored as we were."

Mischevious Alex worked a bullet five-eighths in 59.57 on July 13 at Parx and followed up on Monday with a three-eighths effort in 36.20, which Servis said will sharpen the colt up for his second start off the layoff.

"He's training very well. The 59 and change was a good indication of his fitness and we came back and gave him a strong two-minute lick and then I just wanted to sharpen him up a little and put some speed back in him, that's what the three-eighths was," said Servis.

A quality field of 11 has been assembled for Saturday's test but Servis said he is confident his horse is up to the task.

"He's going to have to acclimate to the track pretty quick. He'll get there the day before the race," said Servis. "But he's been in big fields before. It's a solid field of horses and we'll see who the best horse is on Saturday."

Irad Ortiz, Jr., who leads all Saratoga riders in purse earnings with $1,019,619, was aboard Mischevious Alex when he bested a field of eight in the Swale and will guide the colt from post 5.

"I think he'll be prominent. The three-furlong work showed that," said Servis. "I'll let Irad ride his race. He's not doing anything wrong right now and I don't want to mess that up."

Servis said the multiple graded-stakes placed Diamond King, who won the Stymie at Aqueduct in March and was fifth last out in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont, is targeting the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic slated for August 28.

The 5-year-old Quality Road bay, who breezed a half-mile in 50.02 at Parx on Wednesday, finished second behind Runnin'toluvya in last year's Charles Town Classic.

"He came out of the True North in good order. We freshened him up for a couple weeks and we're cranking him up again and pointing for the Charles Town Classic," said Servis. "He ran good there last year and likes the track. Timing-wise, I think it hits him right in the head."

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Stakes winner Its All Relevant pointed to Alydar, turns in sharp Thursday breeze

Its All Relevant, co-owned by Michael Imperio, Theresa Cotrone and trainer Rudy Rodriguez, breezed a sharp five furlongs Thursday morning over Saratoga's main track ahead of his next scheduled assignment in the $85,000 Alydar on August 9.

Two-time defending Eclipse Award champion Irad Ortiz, Jr. was up for the work, which went in 1:00.03, second-fastest of 10 horses. Rodriguez said Its All Relevant galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40.

"Irad breezed him and he really was very, very happy the way he breezed," Rodriguez said. "It was a very good work. He's training very, very good."

The 1 1/8-mile Alydar for 4-year-olds and up, restricted to non-winners of a sweepstakes other than state-bred in 2020, marks the third change of plans for Its All Relevant, a 7-year-old Hard Spun gelding that has won his last two starts and 12 of 27 overall.

Rodriguez said the connections initially considered Its All Relevant for Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney, which drew a field of five including fellow front-running types Mr. Buff and Improbable, then gave thought to Sunday's $100,000 Birdstone at 1 ¾ miles.

"We were thinking of running in the Whitney when there was no Mr. Buff and [Improbable] was not coming, but those two horses have speed and my horse wants to be on the lead," Rodriguez said. "We're going to wait for the Alydar. He fits perfect in that race. We'll take a look and see what the race looks like and take it from there."

Its All Relevant won the seven-furlong Dads Caps last March at Aqueduct in his first start after being claimed by Rodriguez for $12,500 four weeks earlier. Trainer Linda Rice claimed him back in his subsequent start for $32,000, but Rodriguez and Imperio pounced again when Its All Relevant returned from a break to win a one-mile claimer just before Christmas, also for $32,000.

In his career, Its All Relevant has earned $417,337 in purses, also finishing second twice and third twice to go along with his dozen wins. As a 3-year-old, he finished third behind Mind Your Biscuits, a multiple Group 1 winner of nearly $4.3 million in purse earnings, in the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga for trainer Dominick Schettino.

"He ran a couple times for Linda and they sent him to the farm. When he came back I told Michael, "We've got to take the horse back,'" Rodriguez said. "He ran a big race for Linda and we took him back. He's a winning machine. He likes to win, Michael likes horses that win and we like horses that win. He's a tough horse to handle, but he always tries every time."

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Noda off to strong start at the Spa; Maiden winner First Line could seek stakes action

When Orlando Noda came to Saratoga as a trainer for the first time last year, he quickly got his first victory with T Loves a Fight [who is entered in Thursday's John Morrissey] in an allowance race. That followed with two more winners and three other in-the-money finishes from nine starters at the meet.

Within the first 10 days of the current Saratoga meet, Noda has already won three races from seven starters, which included maiden winner First Line and going-away allowance winner Danny California. Both horses are owned by him and his brother Jonathan under the nom de course Noda Brothers.

"We wanted to put them where they could win," Noda said. "We all hope for the best. The competition is tough, but you have to place them aggressively. As long as they are training good and eating good, they can run. I would like to accomplish six wins this meet. That's been the goal."

Noda is currently working with 18 horses at Saratoga as he continues to grow his stable. However, he will be the first to admit it's not easy.

"We're growing," he said. "Slowly and surely, I think people are noticing us. People are sending me horses. Everyone thinks that we can claim a horse for $10,000 and become [T Likes to Fight], but it's not that easy. Realistically, it is seven days a week. There is no time off. The horses have to eat and they need beds. We have to do the best possible job and treat every horse as if they are a stakes horse."

One of the horses that Noda is considering for the stakes level is First Line, who earned a 90 Beyer for his breakthrough score Wednesday in a nine-furlong maiden. The First Samurai gelding, bred in Kentucky by Sather Family, is nominated for the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers on August 8.

The 3-year-old gelding fought Hometown through the stretch to win his first start by a neck under leading rider Jose Ortiz. Noda said he plans to make a decision by Tuesday, the day before the Travers entry is drawn.

"He came out of that race in good shape," Noda said. "He fought a mile and an eighth through the wire. As long as he tells me that he's ready to fire, I'm not one to hold back. I'll make a decision the day before entries. I think the horse shows talent. He is game on the track. He has to mature in each race."

Noda said he may also consider the Grade 2, $150,000 Jim Dandy on September 5 - another race for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles - for First Line.

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Dayatthespa winner Classic Lady to remain against New York-bred company

Christophe Clement, leading trainer at the Spa summer meet with 11 wins heading into Thursday's card, was excited to pick up a fourth stakes triumph during the Saratoga meet on Thursday with Classic Lady, who fought gamely to the inside of fellow Michael Dubb color bearer War Canoe in the inaugural running of the Dayatthespa.

Clement said that the dark bay daughter of Jimmy Creed, who made her second start for the trainer, will likely remain against her New York-bred counterpart for the time being and could race in the $150,000 Yaddo on September 4 at Saratoga.

"I think it would be wiser to keep her against state-breds at the moment," Clement said.  "She ran well, it was an exciting and fun race to watch. She ran well both times, came back from the race in good shape."

Owned by Dubb in partnership with Bethlehem Stables, Classic Lady arrived at the Dayatthespa off a narrow defeat behind multiple stakes winner Fifty Five in the Mount Vernon at Belmont Park. She has finished no worse than second in her last seven starts.

Clement said maiden winner Plum Ali, owned by Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables, who graduated on debut over the Mellon turf course on July 23 will target the $100,000 P.G. Johnson on September 3.

"The plan is to train for the P.G. Johnson at the end of the meet," Clement said.

The Saratoga meet has been a good one for not only Clement, but for some of his former trainees in the stallion department, as second-crop sires Tonalist and Summer Front have both sired graded stakes winners this meet.

Tonalist, the 2014 Belmont Stakes winner, sired Grade 3 Peter Pan winner Country Grammer, while Summer Front is the sire of Grade 2 Lake Placid winner Speaktomeofsummer.

"Both Summer Front and Tonalist have done very well and it's very exciting for me because obviously I was involved with both of them," Clement said. "They deserve to do well. They're both very reasonably priced. If you look at their numbers, they're both doing very well."

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Saratoga Week 4 stakes probables

Wednesday, August 5
$85,000 Summer Colony
Probable: Bossy Bride (Rob Atras), Golden Award (Bill Mott), Nonna Madeline (Pletcher)
Possible: Bellera (Todd Pletcher), Hunting Season (Shug McGaughey)

Thursday, August 6
$100,000 NYSSS Cab Calloway
Probable: Fresco (Christophe Clement), Jolting Joe (Mike Maker), Stuy Town Baby (Mark Casse), Turbo Drive (Maker)

Friday, August 7
$150,000 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite (G2)
Probable: Cazadero (Steve Asmussen), Jackie's Warrior (Asmussen), Momos (Clement), Papetu (Antonio Sano), Pickin' Time (Kelly Breen), Roderick (Wesley Ward)

Saturday, August 8
$1 million Runhappy Travers (G1)
Probable: Caracaro (Gustavo Delgado), Country Grammer (Chad Brown), Max Player (Linda Rice), Shivaree (Ralph Nicks), Tiz the Law (Barclay Tagg), Uncle Chuck (Bob Baffert)
Possible: Mystic Guide (Michael Stidham), South Bend (Mott)

$300,000 Longines Test (G1)
Probable: Gamine (Baffert), Perfect Alibi (Casse), Up in Smoke (George Weaver), Venetian Harbor (Richard Baltas)
Possible: Critical Value (Jeremiah Englehart)

$300,000 Ballerina (G1)
Probable: Come Dancing (Carlos Martin), Letruska (Fausto Gutierrez), Serengeti Empress (Tom Amoss), Victim of Love (Todd Beattie)
Possible: Bellera (Pletcher)

$150,000 Waya (G3)
Probable: Beale Street (Michael Matz), Beau Belle (Tom Albertrani), Fools Gold (Chad Brown), Gentle Ruler (Ian Wilkes), Mrs. Sippy (Graham Motion), My Sister Nat (Chad Brown)
Possible: Hungry Kitten (McGaughey), Lemon Zip (Niall Saville), Pallas Athene (John Terranova)

$200,000 Troy (G3)
Probable: Leinster (George Arnold), Pure Sensation (Clement), Shekky Shebaz (Clement)

Sunday, August 9
$85,000 Alydar
Probable: Bodexpress (Delgado), Its All Relevant (Rudy Rodriguez), Spinoff (Pletcher)
Possible: Backsideofthemoon (Robert Klesaris)