Better Talk Now draws field of 10
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Today’s featured $100,000 Better Talk Now Stakes, written for 3-yearolds going one mile on turf, honors the horse of the same name who earned over $4.3 million in 51 starts between 2001 and 2009. Better Talk Now won nine graded races, including five Grade 1s at distances between 1¼ and 1½ miles. The son of Talkin Man did not win his first stakes until the age of four.
Morning-line favoritism in the Better Talk Now goes to Strike Power (7-2), who will be making his first start on turf. Kentucky Derby hopes rose for the son of Speightstown after he ran second in the Fountain of Youth. Subsequent dirt starts in the Florida Derby and Woody Stephens Stakes didn’t quite work out. Most recently, Strike Power finished fourth in the Amsterdam Stakes here on July 28.
Ceevee (6-1) makes his first start since Feb. 10. The son of Tiznow has won a pair of 1 1/16mile races on turf – a maiden special weight and opening-level allowance – at Gulfstream Park.
Rose’s Vision and Have At It are both pegged at 9-2. Rose’s Vision was runner-up in the Plate Trial on the Woodbine polytrack but finished a well-beaten 14th in the Queen’s Plate itself. The Artie Schiller colt has been off the board just once in seven turf starts. Have At It, a son of Kitten’s Joy, has won two of six starts, all on turf.
Combatant (8-1) is another entrant whose career has been reoriented after racing primarily on dirt. The son of Scat Daddy finished second in the Southwest Stakes, third in the Rebel and a decent fourth in the Arkansas Derby. After finishing 18th at 70-1 in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Matt Winn, Combatant made his first start on turf since his career debut here at Saratoga in the Hall of Fame Stakes, finishing fifth.
Corot (8-1) is making his initial turf start.
The rest of the Better Talk Now field consists of Corot (8-1), Irish Territory (10-1) and Westerland (12-1). Roaming Union (4-1) is entered for the main track only.