Heavy rainfall totaling four to five inches forced the cancellation of Wednesday’s scheduled races at Saratoga Race Course, prompting adjustments to the racing calendar for the remainder of the week. With track conditions wet, officials announced that if Thursday’s card proceeds, all events will be contested on the dirt surface. Additionally, the Glens Falls Stakes, originally set as the eighth race on Thursday’s program, has been postponed to Sunday.
Thursday’s opener, a one-mile maiden special weight event for fillies and mares aged three and up, features You GOTTA GUN RUNNER, who showed promise in her previous start despite a wide trip, finishing third. Jockey José Ortiz will be aboard with blinkers added to the filly’s equipment. She is favored over debut entrants Unlock The Value, trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stables and ridden by Joel Rosario, and Suited Connectors, a Tonalist filly entered by Shug McGaughey, stretching out an additional furlong after a fifth-place finish at 37-1 odds.
The undercard includes a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race for two-year-olds, worth $115,000. Fire Marshal, with a single race experience finishing fifth, enters as a contender under Irad Ortiz Jr. Owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Steve Asmussen, the colt faces a field of freshmen including AutoSpell, trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable, and Gaynor, Top Thriller, and Honest Won, all making their respective debuts.
In a seven-furlong claiming race with a $55,000 tag for horses three and older, Chad Brown sends out Playing Tricks, stepping down in class after a mid-pack finish. Bedard will shorten up in distance for trainer Brad Cox, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. Maker’s Barb switches from turf to dirt following a narrow victory on the main track under jockey Joel Rosario. Shattuck, a consistent performer with three consecutive third-place finishes, is also entered.
The 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight race for three-year-olds and up features Preside, who recently closed strongly on a sloppy Churchill Downs track to finish second. Trained by Asmussen and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Preside seeks to capitalize on increased distance. Collado Hueco and Hadrians Wall, both coming off promising performances and showing affinity for longer routes, complete the key runners. Presidential Power looks to improve upon a recent strong second-place finish at this distance.
A claiming race at 1 1/16 miles for horses four years and older includes The Reynolds Channel, stepping down in class and switching back to dirt after several attempts on turf. Late Call, who won twice on dirt but has struggled recently, carries Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Mackenzie Kantarmaci. Fortune Seller, with more success on dirt than turf, rounds out notable competitors.
At six furlongs for older horses, Kid Billy moves back to dirt for trainer Rudy Rodriguez after a near-miss in his last dirt outing. Jockey Javier Castellano rides the recently wire-to-wire winner. Run Classic, seeking to end an extended winless streak, drops in claiming price for trainer Joe Sharp with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. Princip and Pair of Socks, both with recent winning form at similar distances, are also entered.
The day’s seventh race is a six-and-a-half-furlong allowance event for fillies and mares three and older. Princess Ny, trained by Linda Rice, has finished second in each of her last three starts and returns at a preferred distance. Adrian, also in Rice’s stable, and Miss Ellary, a consistent runner with multiple runner-up finishes, are likely to challenge.
The postponed Glens Falls Stakes, a Grade II turf race at 1 1/2 miles for fillies and mares four and up carrying a $250,000 purse, is slated for Sunday’s card.
