Laurie Ross
Iron Maiden Thoroughbreds

The With Anticipation Stakes was named in honor of the beautiful gray gelding who was a force to be reckoned with over the turf. The sturdy warrior included back-to-back wins in the Man O’War and Sword Dancer Invitational and as a seven year old, finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. It is fitting that during the five years the race bearing his name has produced some very good runners. Last year, Paddy O’Prado, recent winner of the Secretariat Stakes (G1) finished third to Interacif, who continued on to win the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G-2) as a three year old. This year, a strong group of colts look for their first graded stakes victory.
 
Typhoon Slew (Stormy Atlantic – Hepatica, by Slewpy) blew away his rivals at Ellis Park in a one mile turf contest by over ten lengths. He has experience breaking from the one post and should be forwardly placed. Typhoon Slew is a half brother to Lexington Stakes (G2) winner Slew’s Tizzy and his full brother, stakes winning Slew’s Tiznow.  Three of five of the dam’s stakes winning siblings were winners over the turf. Typhoon Slew worked a strong five furlongs and the Michael Maker/ Julien Leparpoux combo is winning at 26 percent.
 
Powhatan County (Fusaichi Pegasus – Franscat, by Stormin Fever) broke his maiden over this course and distance then finished fourth (placed third due to disqualification) after checking hard in the Continental Mile at Monmouth. Powhatan County’s dam failed to win in eleven tries over the turf, but did have two stakes winning half siblings over the surface. The Weaver/Castellano combo team for 28 percent wins.
 
Another son of Stormy Atlantic, Grigio (Stormy Atlantic – Underworld, by Unbridled’s Song) was on the wrong end of a nose bob to Air Support last time out over this course and distance. His dam is a half sister to a stakes winner and stakes placed runner. Grigo shows no recorded works since his last  race on Aug. 13, which is a concern. The Baker barn has a 14 percent stakes win rate.
 
One of the best bred colts in the race, Air Support (Smart Strike – Gaze, by Danzig) held on for the win from a late-charging Grigo in his last start. He’s a half brother to turf stakes placed runners Perusal and Imaging. He hails from the strong distaff line of Shenanigans, who is Air Support’s fourth dam. His third dam Laughter is a half sister to the Champion Ruffian. Air Support’s dam is a half sister to Travers victor Coronados Quest, Maryland Million Sprint Handicap winner Military Look and Fort Marcy (G-3) winner Warning Look. His trainer Shug McGaughey is winning stakes races at a 15 percent rate.
 
After poor performances in his last two graded stakes attempts, Lou Brissie (Limehouse – Fearless Wildcat, by Forest Wildcat) switches to turf. Lou Brissie’s dam is a half sister to two stakes winners, one of which was successful over the lawn. Lou Brissie’s sire and damsire have a couple of winners over turf, but this colt’s pedigree has more sprint/dirt influences than turf. The Neil Howard barn has a 13 percent win rate with horses switching to turf.
 
Manchurian High (The Daddy – Corredor’s Wind, by El Corredor) wheels back in only two weeks after finishing third in the Sanford Stakes (G-2) in his debut. He was left at the gate but got into gear in the stretch. Manchurian High may have affinity for the turf as His second dam Ka Le was a stakes winning turf mare. The Will Phipps barn sends out second time starters to win at an excellent 36 percent clip.
 
Silver Medallion (Badge of Silver – Another Vegetarian, by Stalwart) held on to win by a nose over this course and distance in his debut. The second place finisher, Form, came back to win nicely and is on our Horses To Watch list. Silver Medallion is a half brother to Sweet Talker, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) over the lawn. His sire Badge of Silver is represented by his first crop this year and has three winners over the turf. His dam Another Vegetarian is a half sister to a stakes winner. The Chad Brown stable is on fire at Saratoga, winning 23 percent with turf runners and he has an astounding 42 percent success rate with two year olds.
 
Kid Curry (Posse – Cash Flow, by Gilded Time) won in his third start, an off the turf seven furlong event. His dam is a half sister to a stakes placed runner. Kid Curry’s second dam was stakes placed as a two year old and placed once in three attempts over the lawn. Kid Curry receives some turf influences through his sire’s damsire Rahy and third sire Roberto, but his distaff family is better suited to dirt.
 
Soldat (War Front – Le Relais, by Coronados Quest) ran into two good colts in Bail Out The Cat and Wine Police in both of his dirt attempts, which is a good indication of his talent because he has strong turf breeding, which isn’t readily apparent. Although first crop sire War Front was a dirt sprinter, he is a son of the international sire Danzig and has already produced a winner over turf. Soldat’s second damsire Apalachee was a Champion two year old in England and Ireland. Soldat posted an eye-catching work over the turf and the McLaughlin barn scores with 25 percent of their horses trying two turns for the first time.
 
Speaking of sensational, Sensational Slam (Grand Slam – Roman Romance, by San Romano) is undefeated in two starts, both stakes wins at Woodbine. Sensational Slam has a fantastic pedigree. His dam is a multiple stakes winning sprinter and he can trace his distaff family directly back to Best In Show, through her daughter Sex Appeal. Sex Appeal is a half sister to Blush With Pride, the grand dam of Rags to Riches. Sensational Slam has Rasmussen Factor inbreeding (inbred to a superior mare within five generations) to two excellent dams. As mentioned, he traces back to Sex Appeal. The second inbreeding is to Tamerett. Sensational Slam has the breeding to do well over every surface.
 
How the track is playing: This week, 40 percent of the winners were on the rail. Pace pressers and mid-pack runners have won all of the races. For the overall meet, 33 percent of the winners were late-running stalkers while 56 percent won on the lead or pressing the pace.
 
Selections
 
The linked names will open a new window to pedigrees, race videos and other useful features.

There are several nice colts in here that all have a legitimate chance to win. Typhoon Slew decimated a field of maidens in his first try over the lawn. Granted, he beat lesser colts, but we watched Kathmanbleu finish second in the P.G.Johnson Stakes with almost identical form. Powhatan County shipped to Monmouth and found trouble in the Continental Mile. He fits with these, but he may regress off of the hard race. Air Support has a fantastic pedigree, but he pressed a very quick pace and was green as the grass he was weaving over in his debut. He barely held on for the win and may regress slightly this time out. Grigo came from the clouds with a burst of speed to almost nip Air Support at the wire. He could be a real threat in here, but doesn’t show any recorded works for a month. That plus his trainer’s low win percentage has me concerned, but Grigo’s last race was very good. And we may regret not picking him. Silver Medallion has a good pedigree and his trainer Chad Brown is the next coming of Linda Rice. Soldat is one that should not be overlooked. He owns the best turf breeze overall and may be overlooked. Sensational Slam is another with a fabulous pedigree, but he’s trying a new surface, new track, new distance and with that outside post, will likely be wide around both turns. Manchurian High wheels right back from a third place finish in the Sanford. He has a pedigree that should be effective over every surface and deserves another shot. Lou Brissie and Kid Curry have pedigrees better suited to dirt.

Picks: Silver Medallion; Typhoon Slew; Sensational Slam; Manchurian High; Soldat – longshot