Pedigree Stars: Check out these Skidmore Stakes 2-year-olds
Saratoga's feature event on Friday is the sixth edition of the $120,000 Skidmore Stakes.
Carded as the ninth race, the contest attracted a full field of 10 2-year-olds dashing 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf course. No rain is in for forecast, but if the race moves to the main track, the distance will stay the same, and three main-track-only candidates – Backnthewoods, Averly Jane and Golden Bell – will draw in.
Last year's Skidmore hero Golden Pal, conditioned by Wesley Ward, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) in his next start. 2019 Skidmore winner Another Miracle placed third in the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Wesley Ward will try to pull off back-to-back wins in the Skidmore with Kaufymaker and Overbore.
After capturing her debut at Keeneland, #3 Kaufymaker will
try following in Golden Pal's hoofprints. Before his Skidmore victory, Golden
Pal placed second in last year's Coventry Stakes (G2) at Ascot. Kaufymaker made
the early pace in the Coventry but was crowded and squeezed back in the late
stages, finishing eighth of 17. Jimmy Creed's daughter had a pre-race four-furlong
work in 48.11 over Saratoga's turf training track, the second-best of the day. Contender.
#9 Overbore was on
the losing end of a photo finish in his second start and first over the lawn. Then,
he switched to dirt to graduate in the Tremont Stakes over a muddy track. Now
he's back on the lawn. Speightstown's son has improving speed figures, and he
is the class of the field. Overbore posted a pre-race five-furlong work in
1:00.40 over the Keeneland Dirt, the second-best of the day. Contender.
#8 Pure Panic
chased the early pace in his Ellis Park debut, then wore down the pacesetter Big
Boss Ben in the stretch to win by a 1 1/4 lengths. Big Boss Ben returned to win next out. Pure
Panic owns the field's highest late-pace speed figure of 84. Tyler Gaffalione takes
over the reins, and he has a 17 percent win rate in turf sprints this meet. Mike Maker hits with 15 percent second-time-out juvenile
turf sprinters. Contender.
After winning his second start over a muddy Monmouth track, #6
Bonus
Appreciation switches to the lawn, where his female family has had
success. His second dam Sol Mi Fa is a stakes-winning turf miler, and
third dam Sil Sila captured the prestigious Prix de Diane (G1). The Steve Asmussen trainee was green
in his second start in the stretch, turning his head, wandering around the
course and switching leads a couple of times. Unfortunately, none of his
rivals hit the board in their next start.
Asmussen has 17 percent winners with 2-year-olds switching from dirt to turf,
and Ricardo Santana Jr. has two winners from 18
turf sprints this meet, finishing in the money six times. Bonus Appreciation
might become a decent turf horse, but he needs to mature. Toss.
#1 Barone Cesco
held off a late charge by Emma's Waltz to graduate at first asking by a short
neck at the Spa 14 days ago, but he was tiring on the lead. The son
of Klimt will have to step up his game in the Skidmore. Antonio Sano has two
winners from 36 2-year-old starters making their second career start on the lawn.
Toss.
#10 Baytown Warrior
has won one of seven lifetime starts. He made a steady, one-paced run in the
Tyro Stakes and was awarded third place on a DQ. His speed figures are low, and
he appears up against it. Toss.
#5 Catch the Smoke
won a $50,000 maiden claimer at Monmouth, then stepped up in the Tyro Stakes,
his first try over the lawn. The move didn't go well, and he finished fifth
(moved to fourth on DQ), beaten 10 lengths by the winner and a half-length by
Baytown Warrior, who was placed third. Toss
Summary
Most of the Skidmore contenders have experience rating. But Kaufymaker is the speed of the race and could steal it. Overbore will track his stablemate, and don't be surprised if there is a Wesley Ward exacta. Mike Maker's Pure Panic might have a say in the finish.