Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

The 77^th running Grade 3 Sapling at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. on Saturday is interesting because at first look it appears there are four horses dropping into this race after running in the Grade 2 Sanford on July 25 at Saratoga Race Course.

Those four horses are: Maybesomaybenot (first in the Sanford), Nacho Saint (second), Another Silver Oak (third) and Chipshot (fifth). Chipshot had some trouble in the Sanford and adds blinkers for the Sapling, but he also was entered in the  Hopeful, along with Nacho Saint on Monday at Saratoga. The chances of them running in the Sapling are slim. Printing Press also is double-entered in the Hopeful.

Another invader is Madman Diaries who comes in from Woodbine in Canada where he was second in the Colin after having to check late. He previously won the Victoria by nine-and-a-quarter lengths.

Vengeful Wildcat is the defender of the local turf with two lifetime wins from that many starts, including the Tyro on July 25 at Monmouth.

Ben Perkins Jr., who trains the 2-year-old son of Vindication – Wild Snitch, by Forest Wildcat, says the dark bay colt is maturing rapidly and training forwardly since his last start five weeks ago.

“He’s done well since the Tyro,” Perkins said. “He had a couple of breezes in company the last two weeks, and he’s looking good.

“He worked in company with Wildcat Brief last week, (Aug. 29), and they went head-and-head the whole way. A good work for both of them because they’re both running this weekend.”

The three other local horses are Printing Press, a maiden special weight winner, J J’s Lucky Train, a maiden winner, and Brother in Arms who still is a maiden but ran second to Vengeful Wildcat in the Tyro.

There should not be a lack of speed in the Sapling with half of the field heading to the front. Maybesomayenot looks to be the quickest and should be followed by Brother in Arms,  Madman Diaries and Vengeful Wildcat.

Nacho Saint is the dangerous one to close off the pace if the frontrunners burn their candles at both ends.

The field for the Sapling from the rail out: Madman Diaries (6-1), J Sanchez; Nacho Saint (7-2), J Bravo; Another Silver Oak (6-1), F Jara; Vengeful Wildcat (9-2), C Marquez; Printing Press (15-1), C Lopez; J J’s Lucky Train (20-1), J Rose; Brother in Arms (10-1), C DeCarlo; Chipshot (4-1), S Bridgmohan; and Maybesomaybenot (3-1), E Trujillo.

I won’t waste my time with the three double-entered horses and I think Maybesomaybenot towers over this group.

The horses I like in here are: Maybesomaybenot (9),  Vengeful Wildcat (4) and Brothers in Arms (7).