By Alan Carasso
1st-Saratoga, $136K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET
PIRATE (Omaha Beach) has been made the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the Saturday opener from the Spa and is bred to be any kind. The $350,000 Keeneland September acquisition by Starlight Racing and Harrell Ventures is the latest foal from Peter Blum's Treasure (Medaglia d'Oro), herself a debut second going this distance on Saratoga debut for Jimmy Jerkens in August 2014, who has since gone on to become a prized member of the Blum broodmare band. A mid-march foal, Pirate is a half-brother to the Starlight part-owned National Treasure (Quality Road), an impressive first-out winner over a sprint distance at Del Mar last September and better known for his gate-to-wire victory in the GI Preakness S. May 20. Treasure is also the dam of Ultimate (Speightstown), who most recently came from off the speed to take the Iowa Sprint S. at Prairie Meadows July 7. TJCIS PPs
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