Competitive Edge Strong Choice in Hopeful
In 2010, Super Saver gave trainer Todd Pletcher his first Kentucky Derby victory. On Monday, a son of the freshman sire is favored to give Pletcher his third victory in the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful, the closing day feature at Saratoga Race Course.
Unlike Super Saver, who was 8-1 when he won the "Run for the Roses," Competitive Edge was tabbed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite over six other juveniles entered for the Hopeful, which will be run for the 110th time. The seven-furlong Hopeful was carded as the fourth race and will be joined on the 10-race card by the Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac for 3-year-olds on the turf.
Pletcher, who won the Hopeful in 2006 with Circular Quay and in 2012 with eventual juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby, was impressed with Competitive Edge even before his 10 ¼-length unveiling on July 26, which earned hima Beyer Speed Figure of 90.
"From the beginning, he's been not only talented and fast, but he takes everything in stride," said Pletcher of Competitive Edge, for whom Nancy Favreau and Kath Psoinos paid $750,000 in March. "He's very laid back. We've been very pleased with everything he's done since his maiden win, and we're pleased with the post position [No. 7]."
Hall of Famer John Velazquez will be back aboard Competitive Edge.
Second choice on the morning line at 2-1 is another son of Super Saver, I Spent It, an eye-catching winner of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on August 10. Trained by Tony Dutrow for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, I Spent It dove through a narrow opening on the rail and went on to post a decisive 2 ¾-length victory over Mr. Z, his second win in as many starts.
"We entered because we thought we'd keep our options open," said Dutrow. "Our horse is doing fantastic and there's nothing stopping us from running, but the owner and I will make a decision on whether we do run him."
Javier Castellano is aboard I Spent It, who drew post position 5.
Also expected to attract support is the speedy Requite, who broke his maiden in front-running fashion on August 9. Trained by George Weaver for Bermuda Limestone Thoroughbreds, Requite zipped through a half-mile in 45.86 seconds and covered the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.44.
Joe Rocco, Jr. will ride Requite, 4-1 on the morning line, from post position 3.
Rounding out the field is Signature Cat, second in his debut to the well-regarded Blofeld on August 14; the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Sharm, third and fourth in two previous starts at the Spa this year, and the 20-1 entry of Maratik amd Dekabrist.
Source: NYRA