Touchy Looks To Go One Better In Saratoga Special

Three Chimneys Farm's Touchy (Nyquist) would go heavily favored in any maiden race at the Spa, but connections continue to campaign the homebred colt boldly as he remains in stakes company for his second career appearance in Saturday's GII Saratoga Special Stakes.

The bay colt was bet down to 85 cents on the dollar for his debut in the June 6 Tremont Stakes on the first day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at this venue, and he made the majority of the running before giving way late to be second behind the upset-minded Studlydoright (Nyquist). The latter franked the form with a runner-up effort in the GIII Sanford Stakes July 13 and it will be no surprise if Touchy sees off his rivals in this spot. Blinkers come off the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

Keep It Easy (Hard Spun) took some nibbles, but was no better than a fading seventh when drawn the fence on Churchill unveiling June 6, but he showed much sharper gate speed from an outside alley June 27 and wired his field by four lengths, good for a competitive 79 Beyer. He has the nine hole on Saturday.

“I think this is a good spot. He is a good horse,” said trainer Dale Romans of the $435,000 Keeneland September acquisition, who races for St Elias, West Point and C J Thoroughbreds. “Physically, he is a big, strong, pretty horse. He was a pretty horse at the yearling sale when we bought him. He just continues to get better. He is a good workhorse and a good horse all around.”

Godolphin's First Resort (Uncle Mo), a son of GI La Brea Stakes heroine Fair Maiden (Street Boss), caught a muddy Ellis main track for his July 5 bow and argued the pace before drawing clear to score by daylight. The in-form Flavien Prat takes over at the controls.

When Kevin Rice sends one over it is often foolish to be too dismissive of his chances. Good Directions (Liam's Map) was visually impressive in graduating by 3 1/4 lengths over the Presque Isle Tapeta July 8 and was back on two week's rest, blowing the break before finishing off well for second in Ellis allowance company. In a race with a ton of early speed, he can take ground off them late.

Baffert 'Rising Star' Duo Battle In Sorrento

Trainer Bob Baffert is the winningest trainer in the history of the GIII Sorrento Stakes, with seven victories to his credit, but Pretty N Cool (Scat Daddy) gave him the most recent of his successes back in 2015. That somewhat surprising dry streak looks all but certain to end when the conditioner saddles the top two choices–each a 'TDN Rising Star'–in Saturday's six-furlong contest.

Nooni (Win Win Win) was pounded into 1-5 favoritism for her June 13 unveiling at Santa Anita, having fetched a sales-topping $1.8 million from Donato Lanni on behalf of owner Amr Zedan at this year's OBS March Sale. And it turned out to be the easiest 20% return on investment you could imagine, as she galloped to a 9 1/2-length victory while never out of second gear.

Juan Hernandez opts for Nooni over Casalu (Caracaro) to her outside in gate two. A May foal, the bay filly cost the Three Amigos–Watson, Weitman and Pegram–a hefty $775,000 at OBS April and she validated her purchase price with a 5 1/2-length 'Rising Star'-worthy debut success here July 21, earning a 73 Beyer Speed Figure that is just five points inferior to her stable companion.

While the two Bafferts should dominate the market, each of the other three entrants has numbers that could figure with a bit of improvement. Night Beacon (Spun to Run) earned a 76 Beyer when running out a 2 3/4-length winner beneath Emily Ellingwood at Santa Anita May 10, while Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) looks to build on a three-length score in the June 30 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs (76 Beyer). White Sands (Into Mischief) is cross-entered for Sunday's GIII Best Pal Stakes, but already has a win to her credit against the boys, a 13 3/4-length demolition job in the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes July 6.

Cogburn Has Field Over a Barrel In Troy

As of this writing, it waits to be seen whether Saturday's GII Troy Stakes remains on the Mellon Turf Course, and if so, they'll all be running for second if the Cogburn (Not This Time) of late shows up.

The 5-year-old gained his first graded win in a soft-turf renewal of this race 12 months ago and exits that record-setting effort in the GI Jaipur Stakes June 8, where he ran the 5 1/2 furlongs in :59.80. Even if the race is transferred to the main track, they'll still have him to beat, as he amassed a record of 3-2-0 from eight dirt starts prior to his metamorphosis.

In the day's other graded events, treble Grade I winner Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) will be a handful in the GII Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar, and with Horse of the Year Moira (Ghostzapper) headed for Sunday's GII Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial and MGSW/MGISP Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) cross-entered for the same event, the GII Canadian Stakes could offer a mare like Forever After All (Connect) a golden opportunity at a first career victory at the graded level to go with a Grade I placing behind Anisette in the Gamely Stakes this past May.