Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: Stall Off To Strong Start At Saratoga

Showcase (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Buy Sell Hold, by Violence) fired back-to-back bullets at Todd Pletcher's Saratoga base, including a four-furlong move in :48 3/5 (1/64) out of the gate over the Oklahoma training track June 21, and delivered as advertised as the 3-5 favorite to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors on debut at the Big A Saturday...

Showcase (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Buy Sell Hold, by Violence) fired back-to-back bullets at Todd Pletcher's Saratoga base, including a four-furlong move in :48 3/5 (1/64) out of the gate over the Oklahoma training track June 21, and delivered as advertised as the 3-5 favorite to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors on debut at the Big A Saturday. Drawn widest of all in post five, Showcase traveled nicely beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. in an outside second, hit the front while racing in between rivals approaching the quarter pole and took off impressively when asked the question at the top of the stretch to win going away by 7 1/2 lengths. The pacesetter Protected (Maximum Security) held second by a whisker over $500,000 OBS April breezer Tiz Freedom (Tiz the Law). Showcase, a half-brother to Bourbon Bash (City of Light), MSP, $511,294, becomes the 19th 'Rising Star' for leading sire Uncle Mo. The winner's dam Buy Sell Hold, a full-sister to GISW and young sire Volatile, was a 2-year-old debut winner for J. Kirk and Judy Robison and Steve Asmussen at Keeneland and followed up with a victory in the Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs. Buy Sell Hold is also responsible for the unraced 3-year-old filly Sweet Pea (Union Rags) and a yearling colt by Gun Runner. She was bred to Life Is Good for 2024. Showcase's third dam Lady Tak won the GI Test S. and GI Ballerina H., both at Saratoga.