Saratoga Horses To Watch

By Greg Melikov

Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper/racing writer Greg Melikov won eight races and finished second three times since Aug. 13.


SARATOGA

Imperial Reign: Raced fifth in second tier more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a quarter-mile, boxed at three-eighths of a mile into stretch, looked for room, split rivals in fourth at three-sixteenths pole and gained second by 1 ¼ lengths at 5 ½ furlongs on Aug. 10. (Broke on top, dueled between rivals to upper stretch and drew clear by 1 ¾ lengths under steady urging at 6 ½ furlongs on a good surface Sept. 2.)

Keen Lassie: Raced sixth more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung out five wide at the quarter pole, finished strongly to make up more than 2 ¼ lengths in stretch and lost by two necks at a mile on the turf Aug. 6. (Steadied entering fist turn, race seventh more than 6 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied three wide on final from sixth and won by a half-length at a mile on the turf Sept. 2; returned $12.80 on the front end.)

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Premium Tap, Long Shot, Wins $500,000 Woodward at Saratoga

Long shot Premium Tap pulled a upset victory against a strong field and held off Second of June by one-half length to win Saturday’s running of the 1 1/8-mile Grade I $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

From the outside, Premium Tap pulled away a bit at the 16th pole under jockey Kent Desormeaux for his first graded stakes win - and perhaps the biggest upset in the history of the event.

A 31-1 shot, he clocked 1:50 3/5 and returned $64, $27.60 and 9.40 as he outgunned a field of 10 that included Sun King (third), Flower Alley (seventh) and Funny Cide (eighth).

“All I tried to do was keep him between the fences; he did the rest,” Desormeaux said. “Second of June really took a good run at him and (Premium Tap) was really brave turning him back.”

A 4-year-old son of Pleasant Tap, Premium Tap gave no indication he was capable of this type of showing. He ran fifth in the Grade I Whitney and was 4-3-1 in 12 career starts.

Under Garrett Gomez, Second of June set the early pace with Premium Tap on his heels. He was caught on the stretch, where it was a two-horse race.

Sun King, the 2-1 choice with Julien Leparoux in the saddle, made a late charge but was 3/4-length behind Second of June.

Flower Alley was favored in the Whitney and finished seventh. With John Velazquez in the irons, he again performed below expectations and never made his mark on the race.

“I don’t know what happened,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He never fired at all. He went into the first turn and got fanned out a bit, but the fractions were pretty moderate and he didn’t keep up.”

Third favorite Suave finished last.

2006 Saratoga Race Meet, Saratoga Odds, Saratoga Picks, Saratoga Tips, Saratoga Results, Travers Stakes 2006