Fourstardave enjoys Grade 1 talent
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The reputation of the Fourstardave Handicap was helped when two-time horse of the year Wise Dan won consecutive runnings in 2012 and 2013. Last year, its first as a Grade 1, the now one-mile race was won by Tourist, who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile and be named a finalist for champion turf male.
This year’s Fourstardave doesn’t include any likely horses of the year or Eclipse finalists, but it does offer an interesting and evenly matched field that is having a strong 2017.
Time Test, the 8/5 morning-line favorite, failed to win in his two outings this year. But he was a close second in both, including the Grade 1 Manhattan, and in to- day’s Fourstardave — his third start since com- ing over from England — he could prove to be a tough out. The 5-year-old Dubawi horse won four group races in his native land, finishing ahead of the likes of Mondialiste and Decorated Knight.
Disco Partner (2-1) is the hot horse, having won his last three and four of the last five. The fiveyear-old New York-bred is stepping way up in class in this spot, but is in the best form of his career.
Sassy Little Lila (6-1) — the only filly in the race, who is trying males for the first time — exits a closed second in the Just a Game Stakes (G1). The four-yearold daughter of Artie Schiller has yet to win a stakes, but as the apparent lone speed in the race, she has to be afforded respect.
World Approval (9/2) is shortening up from a steady diet of longer races, most of them between 10 and 12 furlongs. The Live Oak homebred is a Grade 1 winner (2016 United Nations) and hardly ever runs a bad one. The fiveyear-old gelding figures to stalk Sassy Little Lila, and could get first jump on the filly if and when she runs out of steam.
American Patriot (61) is a Grade 1 winner at the distance (this year’s Makers 46 Mile). A trip to Royal Ascot didn’t work out, but the four-year-old War Front colt is a threat on his best day — particularly when he has a lively pace to close into.
Ballagh Rocks is given the least chance to win at 10-1. The son of Stormy Atlantic comes in off a win at the distance in the Poker Stakes (G3). Ballagh Rocks is 2-1-0 in four tries at a mile, and was beaten just a half-length behind American Patriot in the Makers Mark.
Missing from this year’s Fourstardave field is Grand Arch, who has figured in the last three runnings. The now eight-yearold gelding was beaten a neck in the 2014 edition, then came back to win in 2015 by the same margin. Last year he finished third. Grand Arch has raced only once in 2017.
Pletcher goes for 5th Adirondack
Not much to go by, as far as race record is concerned, when the eight starters in Saturday’s $200,000 Adirondack Stakes have combined to make just 13 starts. But then this is hardly unusual for a two-year-old stakes in August. The field includes one minor stakes winner and one horse coming out of the Grade 3 Schuylerville on opening day.
There’s always the trainer angle. Todd Pletcher has won four of the last eleven editions of the 116-year-old race, most recently with Nonna Mela. This year Pletcher sends out Pure Silver, the morning-line choice at 2-1, and Stainless (8-1).
Pure Silver won her debut at Belmont on June 22, and followed that effort with another gateto-wire score in the ungraded Lynbrook Stakes at the same track. John Velazquez stays with the mount. Stainless won at first asking at Gulfstream back in May, then passed tired horses in the stretch while finishing a wellbeaten third in the Schuylerville.
Second choice on the morning line is Sly Roxy at 5-2. The Mark Casse trainee won her debut here by 5½ lengths 16 days ago in an off-the-turf event. Newly minted Hall of Famer Javier Castellano is back aboard..
Maryland shipper Limited View (4-1) will likely argue the early pace, having gone gate to wire in winning her debut at Laurel in mid-June. The daughter of Freedom Child, who stands for a $3,000 fee, cost $5,200 as a yearling.
The rest of the Adirondack field includes Southampton Way (5-1), Wall of Compassion (12-1), Proportionality (15-1) and Di Maria (20-1).