STAKES ANALYSIS Curlin looks to be up for grabs

By Jeff Scott SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » When the Curlin Stakes was first run in 2009, it didn’t seem like the $100,000 race would have much of an impact on the Travers. After all, the recognized Travers prep, the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) — with its then $500,000 purse — was scheduled for the following day. Both races were written for three-yearolds going 1 1/8 miles.

The Curlin, however, was restricted to sophomores who had not won a graded race over a mile that year, and in time a few late-developing horses coming out of the race ended up running back in the Travers. In fact, the last five winners of the Curlin have also run in the Travers, most famously V. E. Day, who in 2014 won the Midsummer Derby at 19-1. And last year’s onetwo finishers, Connect and Gift Box, ran a respectable fifth and fourth behind Arrogate in the Travers.

The field for this year’s Curlin, which will be run as the featured ninth race on today’s card, includes the usual mix of horses who appear to be on the way up, and those who showed promise at two but have yet to find their stride at three.

Outplay, the morningline favorite at 5-2, is an example of the former group. After taking four starts to break his maiden, the son of Bernardini defeated winners in his first try before fading in the stretch versus highly regarded West Coast in the Easy Goer Stakes on June 10. John Velazquez is back aboard the Repole Stable colt for trainer Todd Pletcher.

You’re to Blame, runnerup in the Easy Goer, ran decently in a pair of Grade 3s in the spring. He is one of three expected starters with experience at 1 1/8 miles, having run fifth in the Remsen Stakes (G2) as a two-year-old. The son of Distorted Humor is pegged at 3-1 on the morning line.

Small Bear (5-1) is another horse who may be on the improve. The Macho Uno colt exits a strong off-the-pace score in a 1-1/8-mile optional claimer last month at Belmont, which he won going away by 6 ¾ lengths.

Hemsworth (12-1) showed talent at two, romping in the Nashua Stakes (G2) by 9½ lengths. He was eased in his first start at three, however, and then weakened in a one-mile optional claimer back in April. A return to two-year-old form would make this Godolphin son of Bernardini a major player in this group.

The rest of the field consists of Everybodyluvsrudy (6-1), Perfect Partner (6-1) and Thirst for Victory (9-2), stablemate of Outplay.

Bowling Green looks wide open

Last year’s Bowling Green Handicap (G2) drew only three other horses to take on the formidable Flintshire. The British-bred son of Dansili won the race at 1-9, then followed that up by taking the Sword Dancer (G1) on his way to being voted 2016 Champion Turf Male.

This year’s $250,000 Bowling Green, which will be run as Saturday’s ninth race, attracted a more evenly matched field, including 2017 Grade 1 winners Ascend (Manhattan Stakes) and Bigger Picture (United Nations).

Ascend, the morningline choice at 8-5, won the Manhattan at 25-1, edging away from 6-5 favorite Time Test in the late going. The Manhattan was the first graded win for the gelded son of Candy Ride, who is riding a four-race winning streak.

Bigger Picture (7-2), a multiple Grade 3 winner, won his first Grade 1 in taking the United Nations, which, like the Bowling Green, is contested at 1 3/8 miles. Sadler’s Joy, second choice in the wagering at 3-1, has run four solid races in 2017, winning the Pan American (G2) and finishing third in the Man o’ War and Manhattan, both Grade 1s.

Unbeaten Coal Front tops Amsterdam

The last two editions of this 6½-furlong sprint have been won by three-year-olds who went on to stellar careers. Holy Boss, the 2015 Amsterdam winner, has run big in several major races, including a second in the A. G. Vanderbilt and a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Mind Your Biscuits, winner of last year’s Malibu Stakes (G1) and third in the BC Sprint, was voted the 2016 New York-bred Horse of the Year. Last March he added the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen to his resume.

The 7-5 morning-line favorite in this year’s $200,000 Amsterdam is Coal Front, an unbeaten son of firstcrop sire (and 2011 Travers winner) Stay Thirsty. Coal Front broke his maiden at first asking and then defeated winners in his initial attempt, making him 2-for2. The allowance win was at the Amsterdam’s 6½-furlong distance.

Toga Challenger (7-2) is also on a two-race winning streak, and is 3-2-0 from five starts over all. Mo Cash (5-2) is the only stakes winner in the six-horse field, having scored in a pair of Florida-bred stakes earlier this year.

The Amsterdam is the fifth race on Saturday’s card.

Last year’s Bowling Green Handicap (G2) drew only three other horses to take on the formidable Flintshire.