Ward high on rookie Red Ghost's start at Saratoga Sunday

Trainer Wesley Ward had high praise for Douglas Scharbauer's Red Ghost, who makes her career debut in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight over the Mellon turf at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday.

A Kentucky homebred, the chestnut daughter of veteran sire Ghostzapper is out of the Elusive Quality broodmare Better Than Most, whose graded stakes winning dam Alybelle is a full sister to 1987 Kentucky Derby winner and 1988 Horse of the Year Alysheba.

"She's always shown a lot of talent from her initial works," Ward said. "She may be just a little bit short, but with the race being on the grass it should be a nice easy race for her. She ranks right up there with the top 2-year-olds that I have this year. Fitness-wise she may be just a little short. Regardless, she's going to get a good experience over a nice course."

Red Ghost recently worked a half-mile over the Oklahoma training turf in 49.53 seconds.

Trainer Chad Brown will send out Peter Brant and e Five Thoroughbred Racing's So Enchanting for her career debut.

The daughter of More Than Ready has breezed consistently for Brown at Saratoga since late June and recent went a sharp half-mile in 47.93 over the Saratoga main track.

So Enchanting was purchased for $275,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Brookdale Sales, and is out of the three-time stakes placed Bernstein mare Dido, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Noble Bird.

"She's been up there with Chad since June and has been training well," said Bob Edwards of e Five Thoroughbred Racing.

E Five Thoroughbred Racing owns six-time Grade 1 winning mare Rushing Fall, who also is by More Than Ready.

"He's been a good sire to me the past few years," Edwards said. "My first graded stakes winner was with a filly named Zindaya who also was by More Than Ready."