The 2017 running of the GIII With Anticipation S. was won by a horse named Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), who has since gone on to become that rare runner with Grade I victories on turf (Belmont Derby) and dirt (GI Travers S.). Whether any member of the field signed on for the Wednesday feature rises to those heights remains to be seen, but there appears no standout in what feels a wide-open renewal.
It has been a fantastic meeting for New York-breds in graded stakes at the Spa and Empire-breds have also left their mark in the With Anticipation. Startup Nation (Temple City) proved too tough in 2014 and Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown) will be well backed to follow suit. The bay colt, a distant seventh in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden that was rained onto a sloppy main track July 23, took full advantage of his chance in a rare nine-furlong test last time and careered away from the opposition to graduate by an impressive eight lengths. Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes over in the saddle from brother Jose.
The latter sticks here with Amerman Racing homebred Joyful Heart (Kitten's Joy), who finished a debut second to Swamp Rat (Hat Track {Jpn}) in a six-furlong tilt downstate June 17 before leading throughout to annex a similar heat by 2 1/4 front-running lengths July 8. The course has been carrying speed of late and the gray should be on or near the lead here. Swamp Rat has one run since his maiden-breaker, a runner-up effort in the Skidmore S. over 5 1/2 panels Aug. 17.
In the 13 previous runnings of the With Anticipation, no fewer than six winners were making their first trips to the winner's circle. Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the race five times, including the maiden winner Azar (Scat Daddy) in 2015, and sends out a pair of runners here. Opry (Declaration of War) ran on gamely through the final furlong to finish third, beaten a half-length, in a seven-furlong race originally scheduled for the grass Aug. 11. Out of a half-sister to Grade III-winning turfer White Cat (Mountain Cat), Opry's sire accounted for 2017 With Anticipation second Irish Territory (Ire).
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