Long Weekend (Majesticperfection), an impressive five-length debut winner going five furlongs at Churchill Downs June 23, takes on seven rivals in Saturday's GII Saratoga Special S. The field that day included subsequent jaw-dropping 'TDN Rising Star' Dennis' Moment (Tiznow), who clipped heels early and lost his rider.
“It's not so much the [6 1/2 furlongs] distance, it's more [facing] a higher-caliber field,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “We think he's a good horse, but for that to be true, he has to show it on Saturday. That's the concerns of ours–how he handles the high-level competition, as well as the extra distance.”
Green Light Go (Hard Spun), the 2-1 morning-line favorite, earned a field-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure when dueling clear to graduate by 3 1/4 lengths at first asking going 5 1/2 furlongs at Belmont July 4. Runner-up in that one Another Miracle (American Pharoah) returned to earn his diploma in a Saratoga off-the-turfer July 24.
The rail-drawn Noose (More Than Ready) is another to flash potential on debut, drawing off to graduate by five good-looking lengths beneath the Twin Spires June 28.
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