Bar of Gold making return to Saratoga
Bar of Gold returns to Saratoga for Wednesday’s highly competitive $200,000 Honorable Miss Stakes at 6 furlongs on the main track.
Second last year to Cavorting in the Test and Prioress at this track, she is coming to the race in good order and is nicely drawn outside in a field of seven.
“I’m sure my horse is going to run her race,” said trainer John Kimmel at his main track barn. “She’s in a good position on the outside and should be able to see how things develop to her inside. I think she’s got enough speed to place herself behind the pacesetters, and not get hung up on the outside. Hopefully, she’ll have enough left to finish strong.”
One of those pacesetters is likely to be Paulassilverlining, the probable favorite that drew the inside post.
She defeated Bar of Gold in the Distaff at Aqueduct on April 17.
“Obviously, Paulassilverlining has beaten us, but she has gotten some better trips than I have,” Kimmel continued. “She was able to get through on the inside in the Distaff and we had to go around her. And it was kind of the same scenario for us in the Bed O’Roses.”
Bar of Gold exits a third in the Bed O’Roses at Belmont on June 25, and is ridden in the Honorable Miss at 117 pounds for owners Chester and Mary Broman.
Paulassilverlining is streaking, with two consecutive solid wins in the Grade 3 Distaff and Grade 3 Vagrancy.
She is likely to come out running from her inside post.
The speedy Disco Chick is to her outside in post two, and makes her Saratoga debut in the Honorable Miss.
She won three consecutive sprint stakes earlier this season in Parx Racing and Pimlico, and most recently was a close second in the Dashing Beauty at Delaware Park.
Disco Chick drops eight pounds off that effort.
Although she was sixth in the aforementioned Distaff, La Madrina rebounded with a sharp victory at Pimlico on May 13 when blinkers were added by trainer Shug McGaughey.
If she improves upon that race she may well get a share here, as she is one of the stretch threats in a field that appears to have plenty of speed.
Haveyougoneaway has a similar style, and she is razor sharp right now for trainer Tom Morley.
Second to Bar of Gold in the Critical Eye Stakes on May 30, she comes off a win in the Dancin Renee at Belmont on July 3, getting this distance in 1:09.
Diva Express signaled her readiness for the Honorable Miss with a half-mile work in 47 1/5 on the main track on July 22, the best of 47 works at the distance.
She won the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs two races back on May 28.
Sarah Sis completes the field and she is also a graded winner.