JeremyPlonk

CLOSING WEEK OPENS WITH SHORT, PROMISING CAST

***Each day, I'll take a closer look at the 2YO races at Saratoga, and rank what we've seen so far in the meet in an easy-to-use system. The fluid list will change daily as 2YOs leap frog one another in the court of public opinion. Last year, the debut of Top of the Heap was critical in pin-pointing key races as the meet unfolded, producing several next-out winners who exited efforts in highly ranked races. - Jeremy Plonk, Horseplayer PRO.com and co-author of The Winner's Card, Saratoga edition, along with NYC OTB handicapper Peter Rotondo, Sr.

TODAY'S 2-YEAR-OLDS (Wednesday, Aug. 27):

Race 2 maiden claiming $100,000 level for the boys going 6 on the dirt

Maiden claimers don't get much of our attention, so we'll keep it brief. Saratoga Special runner-up BREAK WATER EDISON sees a horse he trounced, Rick Dutrow's SOLUTIONIST, return wide a post 7 draw in a field of 7. He meets 3 alumni of the meet's only previous $100,000 MCL heat, including Steve Asmussen's narrow runner-up THATS A GOOD THING, who adds blinkers after having a bad case of the drifts.

Race 5 maiden special weight for the boys going 5-1/2 on the dirt.

This might turn out to be one of the most productive 2YO races of a so-far-medicore Spa summer. Bob Baffert debuts fast-working MAYOR MARV, a Distorted Humor colt out of Baffert-Pegram's talented 2YO of summers past, Miss Winshine. His dam was 2nd in the Adirondack and 3rd in the Spinaway, so this one might take to Saratoga like nobody's business. But his challenges will be many, including Darley's $675K Forestry debuter MAJESTIC BLUE. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee is out of an unraced Seeking the Gold mare who hails from the same legendary Canadian female family as Sky Classic, Dance Smartly and Smart Strike. Other first timers include Stan Hough's impressive-working CHARLOTT HUMOR, a $300K Distorted Humor colt out of Whirlwind Charlott, who ran second in Monmouth's Sorority and third in the Colleen as a sharp 2YO sprint filly.

The well-bred CABARET COWBOY lures Johnny V for former Pletcher assistant Seth Benzel. This one has sprinter written all over him by BC Sprint champ Speightstown out of 5F turf Mamzelle Stakes winner Pent Up Kiss. The works are excellent, but a 2-week gap between moves Aug. 1-15 means he missed some training and might be his undoing today. He's a serious second-out play in the MSW ranks if he gets beat for any reason. The cast also includes Allen Jerkens' rapid-working half-brother to Saint Daimon, DAIMON'S GLORY and Nick Zito's turf-bred THE BIG DUNKIN, who shows just one work in a month and he's half-brother to G2-placed MOUSSE AU CHOCOLAT, who raided from France earlier in the meeting to run sixth in the Lake George on grass.

Race 7 maiden special weight for NY-bred fillies going 1-1/16 miles on the turf.

The only full field of the juvenile trio Wednesday, the public will have a bear of a time with this one. But trainer Linda Rice has been Wonder Woman in recent weeks, and the truth lasso surrounds ZIPOLINA, a debuting daughter of Rice's one-time Spa stakes star City Zip. Everything John Terranova has sent out this meet has been live, too, and second-timer PRIVATE SCREENING tries turf for the first time. He had some early lick sprinting on the dirt and with the rail might be the speed here by Mayakovsky. Tom Albertrani debuts GRACE'S VALENTINE, a Rahy filly with a mediocre tab, but that's pretty much par for the barn.

RECENT RECAPS (Friday, Aug. 22-Monday, Aug. 25):

It's been tough keeping up with the blog with summer pulling me in every direction. I get to see everything I need, but finding the time to perform the keystrokes has been harder than expected. My apologies.

Friday, Aug. 22 Race 2: Experienced Ellis Park raider DREAM EMPRESS got the gold as we expected, but runner-up DYNASLEW ran a massive race. The Bill Mott trainee quickened with an amazing :22-4/5 fourth quarter and simply lost the head bob over a fast final sixteenth duel. WEEKEND STRIKE made a strong middle-move and also deserves another look for Todd Pletcher. The Spa lawn has quickened and tightened, in fact got highway fast over the weekend, but still this 1:41.49 peformance for 1-1/16 miles puts DREAM EMPRESS in legitimate, early BC Juvenile Turf discussion.

Saturday, Aug. 23 Race 2: The Travers Day card got off with a bang when Shug McGaughey's GONE ASTRAY smoked home late to best a 6F MSW in 1:10.12. He daylighted a good cast, going away late, in which the early speed held nicely for third and fourth after a sharp :45.02 opening half-mile. SPANIARD took a step backward, as Indian Blessing's little brother could not shrug off 38-1 pace dueler STRONG CLUE and was easily outfinished by that one for the show dough. This half-brother to former champion 3YO filly Smuggler could be any kind, out of a daughter of BC Distaff heroine Inside Information. His time was less than 3 lengths off the impressive Port Bonheur in the G3 Victory Ride Stakes later on the card. This was the weekend's top performance, and one of the very best of the entire meeting.

While SPANIARD disappointed, the Aug. 2 win by PRECIOUS PACKAGE certainly got some validation when 4th-place finisher NOWHERE TO HIDE came back and ran a clear second in this ultra-tough contest. That also bodes very well for Seth Benzel's VISCOUNT, the deep-closing rocket who was third in what looks like it may be a key 8/2/08 Race 2 event. Meanwhile, FLORENTINO deserves another look after a trip as green as the grass for Kiaran McLaughlin.

Sunday, Aug. 24 Race 6: Bob Baffert's rookie HEAVENLY VISION debuted a prompt winner in 1:10.82, drawing away by 4-1/4 lengths after pressing a solid pace. While runner-up PROCLAIM also held decently from a forward position, the pacesetters wound up 9th and 10th, so the top 2 deserve some kudos, while Kiaran McLaughlin's $500K Dixie Union rookie NIKA finished fourth while running best of all late and looks like a player next out. He has tons of route in the pedigree, including a 1-1/4M Del Cap winner and that A.P. Indy blood.

The time was moderate-to-decent, considering 26-1 MSW winner Quiet Mover went 1:10.51 in a 3YO filly heat earlier in the day. By Forestry, HEAVENLY VISION is closely related to G1 Oak Leaf third-place finisher Ms. Louisette, so she may stretch out a bit - but I wouldn't consider her a Frizette/Oak Leaf threat off this race. 

Monday, Aug. 25 Races 2,3,4,5,7: They went all-in with 5 baby races on Monday, but we'll skip Race 5 for maiden claimers on the turf. Taking things sequentially, FIVE STAR CHOWDAIR romped wire-to-wire in Race 2 by more than 7 lengths, avenging a runner-up in her debut to PARADISE PLAYGIRL by nearly the same margin. She completely blitzed these NY-breds and ran faster final splits than anyone in the field, despite a :45.80 opening half-mile. None of the firsters showed up whatsoever, and this is what happens -- domination city. All-sprint, top and bottom, for this Bruce Levine trainee.

Race 3 unleashed yet another promising Kiaran McLaughlin-trained prospect in REGAL RANSOM. This $675K son of Distorted Humor is out of a half-sister to Minister Eric, runner-up in the BC Juvenile and Del Mar Futurity at 2. From the rail, he broke a step slow, rushed quickly to the point and took them wire-to-wire in a fast-paced race that simply slowed down late. It was a carousel ride for the 1-2-3 finishers all the way around the track, despite them coming home in :13.05 the final furlong of the 7F affair. Granted, 7F is a tough assignment for a debuter or any 2YO this time of year. BRAVE VICTORY was clearly 2nd best for Nick Zito, and the Lion Heart colt certainly helped bolster the performance earlier in the meet of COGNITO, whom he chased on July 23. Some big-time winners from earlier in the meeting were not flattered here, though, as pursuers of KENSEI, PRECIOUS PACKAGE and MUNNINGS failed to make a serious dent. Either I'm wrong on the talent of all 3 of those performers, or REGAL RANSOM could be a darned good 2YO to follow. For now, I'm going to lean toward the latter. You simply don't win from the rail or at 7 furlongs in the debut without having something "extra." He moves high on the HEAP, very high, indeed.

Bill Mott got his 3rd win of the meet in Race 7 with the incredibly well-bred PIONEEROF THE NILE, a son of Empire Maker-Star of Goshen. The second-timer validated the form of Aug. 4 dead-heat winners SKIPADATE and NINTH CLIENT, as that race's third-place finisher, LIME RICKEY, returned to run second here as well. A strong opening half-mile in :46-1/5 helped set it up for the closers in this 1-1/16 miles grass heat; the eventual top 3 were 7th, 5th and 9th of 9 in the early stages.

SARATOGA TOP OF THE HEAP (updated through Monday, Aug. 25 racing)

1. RUN AWAY AND HIDE (Werner): Easier-than-it-appeared effort in the G2 Saratoga Special saw him run strong 1:15.67 for 6-1/2 furlongs, including a third quarter in :24.48 despite chasing a blistering :44.80 half-mile. Unbeaten on 3 surfaces now and did this off a layoff to boot.  

2. PRECIOUS PACKAGE (R. Dutrow): Absolutely drilled Indian Blessing's half-brother, SPANIARD, after a heated early duel and drew away in 8/2 MSW going 6-1/2 furlongs in 1:17.26. His 6F split was faster than 2 ALWs on the same card and the Flanders Stakes, and was only about 3 lengths off superstar Indian Blessing's split in the G1 Test that day. Golden Missile colt probably a sprinter, from the same female family as Lunarpal.

3. MUNNINGS (Pletcher): $1.7 million buy ran a solid 7/26 MSW field completely off it's feet in :44.92 and still came home in an incredible :24.92 for a 6F time of 1:09.84. Pletcher's Speightstown colt actually ran faster than same-day G2 Vanderbilt runners (note the track slowed significantly during the day). Bred even better for turf on dam side. 

4. GONE ASTRAY (McGaughey): Half-brother to Smuggler, by Dixie Union out of Inside Information's baby Illicit, this Phipps home-bred has star quality, winning her debut in 1:10.12, less than 3 lengths off the time set by G3 Victory Ride Stakes fillies on Travers Day card. Rolled late with :24.10 final quarter.  

5. BREAK WATER EDISON (Kimmel): G2 Saratoga Special runner-up in fast 1:15.67 was a bit green in the lane, but projects as a strong 2-turn candidate down the road by Lemon Drop Kid. Smashing Belmont debut win validated with serious Saratoga Special performance. 

6. REGAL RANSOM (McLaughlin): Scored difficult debut win from rail and at 7F with wire-to-wire job 8/25, beating horses who had fan against the likes of KENSEI, COGNITO, MUNNINGS and PRECIOUS PACKAGE. Carousel 1-2-3 all the way around and slow final furlong, but that is expected at 7F. $675K Distorted Humor colt is out of Minister Eric's half-sister. 

7. (f) MINE ALL MINE (W. Ward): Crushed a potentially loaded MSW filly cast 7/24, one day after scratching from the Schuylerville for that spot. Ran her 5F split 5 lengths faster than the boys in same-day G2 Sanford and had plenty in reserve to win geared down by 9-3/4. Had tried boys twice at Churchill, including G3 stakes.

8. DESERT PARTY (Harty): Certainly best in 4-horse G2 Sanford on 7/24, having to wait and make a few moves during the 6F stretch-out. Didn't shatter the clock, or beat much, coming home last 1/4 in :25.57 and last furlong in :13.13. Professional, but not brilliant, in this performance.

9. CRIBOTE (Violette): New York-bred freaked by 13-1/2 in fast sprint 7/27, getting 5-1/2F in 1:03.32 on a drying out track. Capable against open company in his debut at Belmont, so Read the Footnotes colt not restricted only to NYBs.

10. TAR BEACH (McPeek): Scored impressively while having to wait for room in a 7-furlong assignment 8/15. Time of 1:24.34 just .30 slower than sharp NYB allowance runner Oniyome on the same card. From female family of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, this Sky Mesa colt has the look of a 2-turn juvenile threat. 

11. KENSEI (Asmussen): Professional winner in sharp 1:10.78 for tough 6F debut distance on 8/6, fresh off a zippy 1:00 5F gate drill that was so un-Asmussen-esque that you had to take notice. From female family of Wait A White, Mr. Greeley colt could be a 2-surface threat.

12. CHARITABLE MAN (McLaughlin): Blistered solid 6-1/2F MSW bunch in tough debut distance, running only about 4 lengths slower than razor-sharp NYB ALW runner Hawkwood did in the previous race (actually coming home a tick faster the last sixteenth). By Lemon Drop Kid, should love more distance.

13. CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Wilkes): Over a drying-out track, rallied from 6 back to win 8/13 MSW by 7-1/2 lengths in razor-sharp 1:03.56. Outran expectations for patient trainer, tipping his potential brilliance, and is by route specialist Candy Ride, so should be a serious factor going longer. 

14. JUST A COINCIDENCE (Zito): Second-best to freakishly good MUNNINGS in his debut 7/26, pressing that one through half in :44.92 and holding clearly for second the entire way. $200K Forestry colt has big future given rugged test of 6F debut with those fractions.

15. (f) MANI BHAVAN (S. Klesaris): Romped to wire-to-wire G2 Adirondack win 8/13 in a slowish time (1:18) and needing nearly 7 seconds the last sixteenth, but looked visually much more impressive as jockey Garcia was looking around for competition with a quarter-mile to go. Bred purely to sprint, from female family of Speightstown, and proved she could go fast when zipping :57-3/5 in debut win at slowish Delaware Park. 

16. REYNALDOTHEWIZARD (Harty): Surprising G2 Saratoga Special favorite lunged at start and lost all chance, but did really for well-beaten third in a race where the top 2 did not come back. Fast half :44.80 makes you think some of the chasers were fading horses, though, so we'll have to see another start to get great feel here. 

17. TRINITY MAGIC (Asmussen): Very strong NY-bred sprint debut win in 1:03.98, running :11.78 and :6.28 splits after pressing a very legit :45.92 opening half-mile. Time matched up well with impressive older ALW runners Rollers and Fancy Diamond on the same card.

18. (f) JARDIN (Asmussen): Dominated Schuylerville from outside post 7/23, but struggled home last 1/4 in :25.82 and last furlong in :13.28. Clearly best despite taking heat.

19. BRAVE VICTORY (Zito): Second to Cognito in 7/23 MSW dash, but overcame start and traffic and appeared best with promising future by Lion Heart.

20. COGNITO (Asmussen): Wired promising MSW cast 7/23 from rail draw, having benefit of a prior start. Half-bro to Cool Coal Man held on in solid time that would have been 2nd in older NYB stakes on same card.

SARATOGA TOP OF THE HEAP 8/21

ALL QUIET - ON THE TRACK AND AT THE WINDOWS

***Each day, I'll take a closer look at the 2YO races at Saratoga, and rank what we've seen so far in the meet in an easy-to-use system. The fluid list will change daily as 2YOs leap frog one another in the court of public opinion. Last year, the debut of Top of the Heap was critical in pin-pointing key races as the meet unfolded, producing several next-out winners who exited efforts in highly ranked races. - Jeremy Plonk, Horseplayer PRO.com and co-author of The Winner's Card, Saratoga edition, along with NYC OTB handicapper Peter Rotondo, Sr.

TODAY'S 2-YEAR-OLDS (Friday, Aug. 22):

Race 2 maiden special weight for the fillies going 1-1/16 miles on turf

The only juvy race in two days of racing this week so far, so let's get into it. Nine fillies are in the main body of the race, leaving 3 also-eligibles and a main-track only entrant. The public should find this one a tough heat to hammer an individual, but Todd Pletcher sends out a coupled entry that has regal pedigrees and should be popular as a two-fer.

Of the four experienced fillies, the most intriguing to me is DREAM EMPRESS, who raids from Ellis Park for Ken McPeek. There are only 2 conditions that even interest me when projecting Ellis runners at other circuits: 2-year-olds and turf races. Both are vastly disrespected when changing venues, as Ellis 2YO program and grass heats perennially produce price plays elsewhere. Why? Many 2YOs simply aren't ready for Churchill's spring/early summer stand and, unless you're Todd Pletcher or Steve Asmussen, you don't get a massive allotment of stalls at Saratoga to bring along hopefuls. Therefore, many potential players fall to the fringes at Ellis. As for the turf, Ellis' short-cropped turf course is more golf course than lush, and a vast difference from the sand-based Kee and CD courses in Kentucky. It plays to speed, and closing turf horses often can't keep up here. When they return to a more closer-friendly turf course, their form jumps back up.

Enough of the regional handicapping lessons ...

Of the rookies, DYNASLEW once again tries to get into a race, having a handful of attempts washed off the turf already this meeting for Bill Mott. She's entered just about every dance, and has that sweet Dynaformer-Slews Final Answer pedigree and should run all day. And then there's the Pletcher pair. PLATINUM GIRL debuts for Todd Pletcher and she's a half-sister to the millionaire Iselin Handicap winner West Virginia, also trained by the T.A.P. barn.  Pletcher sends out a coupled entry that also includes WEEKEND STRIKE, a Smart Strike filly out of Summer Squall's unraced full sister Weekend Storm, which also makes the dam a half-sister to A.P. Indy from that royal family.

I'm aching to see Irish-bred AMERICAS DREAMING make her US debut for Jimmy Toner after a nose loss at Naas this spring and being purchased by Team Valor. But, she's on the AE list and has been entered at least 3 times this meeting without getting a turf race to go. Cross your fingers she gets in sometime as this could be a very intriguing BC Juvenile Fillies Turf player.

YESTERDAY'S RECAP (Thursday, Aug. 21):

No 2-year-olds in action on Thursday. Hence, no changes to the HEAP for now.

SARATOGA TOP OF THE HEAP (updated through Thursday, Aug. 21 racing)

1. RUN AWAY AND HIDE (Werner): Easier-than-it-appeared effort in the G2 Saratoga Special saw him run strong 1:15.67 for 6-1/2 furlongs, including a third quarter in :24.48 despite chasing a blistering :44.80 half-mile. Unbeaten on 3 surfaces now and did this off a layoff to boot. 

2. PRECIOUS PACKAGE (R. Dutrow): Absolutely drilled Indian Blessing's half-brother, SPANIARD, after a heated early duel and drew away in 8/2 MSW going 6-1/2 furlongs in 1:17.26. His 6F split was faster than 2 ALWs on the same card and the Flanders Stakes, and was only about 3 lengths off superstar Indian Blessing's split in the G1 Test that day. Golden Missile colt probably a sprinter, from the same female family as Lunarpal.

3. MUNNINGS (Pletcher): $1.7 million buy ran a solid 7/26 MSW field completely off it's feet in :44.92 and still came home in an incredible :24.92 for a 6F time of 1:09.84. Pletcher's Speightstown colt actually ran faster than same-day G2 Vanderbilt runners (note the track slowed significantly during the day). Bred even better for turf on dam side. 

4. BREAK WATER EDISON (Kimmel): G2 Saratoga Special runner-up in fast 1:15.67 was a bit green in the lane, but projects as a strong 2-turn candidate down the road by Lemon Drop Kid. Smashing Belmont debut win validated with serious Saratoga Special performance. 

5. (f) MINE ALL MINE (W. Ward): Crushed a potentially loaded MSW filly cast 7/24, one day after scratching from the Schuylerville for that spot. Ran her 5F split 5 lengths faster than the boys in same-day G2 Sanford and had plenty in reserve to win geared down by 9-3/4. Had tried boys twice at Churchill, including G3 stakes.

6. DESERT PARTY (Harty): Certainly best in 4-horse G2 Sanford on 7/24, having to wait and make a few moves during the 6F stretch-out. Didn't shatter the clock, or beat much, coming home last 1/4 in :25.57 and last furlong in :13.13. Professional, but not brilliant, in this performance.

7. CRIBOTE (Violette): New York-bred freaked by 13-1/2 in fast sprint 7/27, getting 5-1/2F in 1:03.32 on a drying out track. Capable against open company in his debut at Belmont, so Read the Footnotes colt not restricted only to NYBs.

8. TAR BEACH (McPeek): Scored impressively while having to wait for room in a 7-furlong assignment 8/15. Time of 1:24.34 just .30 slower than sharp NYB allowance runner Oniyome on the same card. From female family of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, this Sky Mesa colt has the look of a 2-turn juvenile threat. 

9. KENSEI (Asmussen): Professional winner in sharp 1:10.78 for tough 6F debut distance on 8/6, fresh off a zippy 1:00 5F gate drill that was so un-Asmussen-esque that you had to take notice. From female family of Wait A White, Mr. Greeley colt could be a 2-surface threat.

10. CHARITABLE MAN (McLaughlin): Blistered solid 6-1/2F MSW bunch in tough debut distance, running only about 4 lengths slower than razor-sharp NYB ALW runner Hawkwood did in the previous race (actually coming home a tick faster the last sixteenth). By Lemon Drop Kid, should love more distance.

11. CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Wilkes): Over a drying-out track, rallied from 6 back to win 8/13 MSW by 7-1/2 lengths in razor-sharp 1:03.56. Outran expectations for patient trainer, tipping his potential brilliance, and is by route specialist Candy Ride, so should be a serious factor going longer. 

12. JUST A COINCIDENCE (Zito): Second-best to freakishly good MUNNINGS in his debut 7/26, pressing that one through half in :44.92 and holding clearly for second the entire way. $200K Forestry colt has big future given rugged test of 6F debut with those fractions.

13. (f) MANI BHAVAN (S. Klesaris): Romped to wire-to-wire G2 Adirondack win 8/13 in a slowish time (1:18) and needing nearly 7 seconds the last sixteenth, but looked visually much more impressive as jockey Garcia was looking around for competition with a quarter-mile to go. Bred purely to sprint, from female family of Speightstown, and proved she could go fast when zipping :57-3/5 in debut win at slowish Delaware Park. 

14. REYNALDOTHEWIZARD (Harty): Surprising G2 Saratoga Special favorite lunged at start and lost all chance, but did really for well-beaten third in a race where the top 2 did not come back. Fast half :44.80 makes you think some of the chasers were fading horses, though, so we'll have to see another start to get great feel here. 

15. TRINITY MAGIC (Asmussen): Very strong NY-bred sprint debut win in 1:03.98, running :11.78 and :6.28 splits after pressing a very legit :45.92 opening half-mile. Time matched up well with impressive older ALW runners Rollers and Fancy Diamond on the same card.

16. (f) JARDIN (Asmussen): Dominated Schuylerville from outside post 7/23, but struggled home last 1/4 in :25.82 and last furlong in :13.28. Clearly best despite taking heat.

17. BRAVE VICTORY (Zito): Second to Cognito in 7/23 MSW dash, but overcame start and traffic and appeared best with promising future by Lion Heart.

18. COGNITO (Asmussen): Wired promising MSW cast 7/23 from rail draw, having benefit of a prior start. Half-bro to Cool Coal Man held on in solid time that would have been 2nd in older NYB stakes on same card.

19. (f) ARGYLE PINK (Kenneally): Half-sister to Smoke Glacken debuted a smart winner from the 2-path, dueling good-looking Asmussen firster SELECTIVE and inching clear late in 1:04 flat. They went :11.98 from half-mile to five-eights in nice display of accelleration.   

20. (f) CONSEQUENCE (McGaughey): El Prado-Educated Risk product had early and late trouble before exploding clear by 3 to win quick-enough 5.5F turf sprint debut (1:03.94 with give in the course). Worth aiming to new BC Juvenile Fillies Turf down the road.

ALL QUIET - ON THE TRACK AND AT THE WINDOWS

***Each day, I'll take a closer look at the 2YO races at Saratoga, and rank what we've seen so far in the meet in an easy-to-use system. The fluid list will change daily as 2YOs leap frog one another in the court of public opinion. Last year, the debut of Top of the Heap was critical in pin-pointing key races as the meet unfolded, producing several next-out winners who exited efforts in highly ranked races. - Jeremy Plonk, Horseplayer PRO.com and co-author of The Winner's Card, Saratoga edition, along with NYC OTB handicapper Peter Rotondo, Sr.

TODAY'S 2-YEAR-OLDS (Thursday, Aug. 21):

Nada. Zilch. Nuthin'.

No juvy heats slated for Thursday, which is good news considering my wagering on Wednesday. What's that, you ask?

WEDNESDAY'S RECAP (Aug. 20):

Some of my better-looking readers probably can't relate, but Wednesday's deflating non-effort by SEAL TEAM felt like high school all over again. I had my eye on the most attractive prospect in the field, only to be turned a snobby nose and left empty.

In racing terms, this was a horse that I was licking my chops to get after. Everything fell into place for a square price, just as my handicapping mind and eye saw it. But, alas, the son of Trippi was not up to the test, pressing the pace and fading to sixth of eight in this 1-1/16 miles turf maiden special weight. As Billy Joel sang, "And so it goes. And soon you will, too, I suppose."

Instead, it was late-running RELATIVELY READY who impressed and sent his backers to the pay line. Despite a dawdling pace (:49.39, 1:14.09), the More Than Ready colt rolled last-to-first in both his 2-turn and turf debut. This was a far cry from his dead-last by 22 lengths debut in the slop at Belmont. Somehow, he was very live on the toteboard at just 5-1 (off a 9-1 debut) even though turf-reputed trainer David Donk was just 1-for-40 prior when moving to the green for the first time. Over a course labeled "good," but obviously still with a lot of give in it, he went the last sixteenth in just about :6 flat, very solid, especially given a nightmarish trip for the first 6 or 7 panels. I would think he's a legitimate Pilgrim Stakes contender off this effort. He ran within 5 lengths or so of a very strong open $35K claimer for older horse on the same card.

Second and third-place finishers UMBRA and PYNAFORMER should be solid playbacks. The latter hails from 0-26 debut trainer Pat Kelly, who's second-timers have been running strongly in recent months. Todd Pletcher trainers UMBRA, a Dixie Union debuter who won't be a maiden very long.

Perhaps the most exciting prospect on Wednesday's card, however, was Race 5 filly turf sprint MSW winner CONSEQUENCE. The El Prado-Educated Risk product overcame traffic early and late to roll by a loose leader and win this 5-1/2 furlong dash in a solid 1:03.94 given the "give" in the course. Shug McGaughey has been heating up with his maidens and this could be a promising contender in the new Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf division. You don't see many turf sprints won by 3 lengths, and she earned it.

Bet back with both hands runner-up SUCH FLASH, second-best after speeding clear early. The Ronny Werner trainee had just 2 published workouts in the nearly 2 months off between her 3rd-place finish at Churchill Downs and Wednesday's comeback effort. She's now placed on Poly, dirt and turf and is merely a good work away from graduating in a dash next out. Third-place finisher CLOSING SPEED is crying out for more real estate. She circled and flew late and out of a Kingmambo mare will seriously appreciate a stretch-out, no matter the Cherokee Run up top on the pedigree. She'll make the bottom end of the HEAP for now.

SARATOGA TOP OF THE HEAP (updated through Thursday, Aug. 14racing)

1. RUN AWAY AND HIDE (Werner): Easier-than-it-appeared effort in the G2 Saratoga Special saw him run strong 1:15.67 for 6-1/2 furlongs, including a third quarter in :24.48 despite chasing a blistering :44.80 half-mile. Unbeaten on 3 surfaces now and did this off a layoff to boot. 

2. PRECIOUS PACKAGE (R. Dutrow): Absolutely drilled Indian Blessing's half-brother, SPANIARD, after a heated early duel and drew away in 8/2 MSW going 6-1/2 furlongs in 1:17.26. His 6F split was faster than 2 ALWs on the same card and the Flanders Stakes, and was only about 3 lengths off superstar Indian Blessing's split in the G1 Test that day. Golden Missile colt probably a sprinter, from the same female family as Lunarpal.

3. MUNNINGS (Pletcher): $1.7 million buy ran a solid 7/26 MSW field completely off it's feet in :44.92 and still came home in an incredible :24.92 for a 6F time of 1:09.84. Pletcher's Speightstown colt actually ran faster than same-day G2 Vanderbilt runners (note the track slowed significantly during the day). Bred even better for turf on dam side. 

4. BREAK WATER EDISON (Kimmel): G2 Saratoga Special runner-up in fast 1:15.67 was a bit green in the lane, but projects as a strong 2-turn candidate down the road by Lemon Drop Kid. Smashing Belmont debut win validated with serious Saratoga Special performance. 

5. (f) MINE ALL MINE (W. Ward): Crushed a potentially loaded MSW filly cast 7/24, one day after scratching from the Schuylerville for that spot. Ran her 5F split 5 lengths faster than the boys in same-day G2 Sanford and had plenty in reserve to win geared down by 9-3/4. Had tried boys twice at Churchill, including G3 stakes.

6. DESERT PARTY (Harty): Certainly best in 4-horse G2 Sanford on 7/24, having to wait and make a few moves during the 6F stretch-out. Didn't shatter the clock, or beat much, coming home last 1/4 in :25.57 and last furlong in :13.13. Professional, but not brilliant, in this performance.

7. CRIBOTE (Violette): New York-bred freaked by 13-1/2 in fast sprint 7/27, getting 5-1/2F in 1:03.32 on a drying out track. Capable against open company in his debut at Belmont, so Read the Footnotes colt not restricted only to NYBs.

8. TAR BEACH (McPeek): Scored impressively while having to wait for room in a 7-furlong assignment 8/15. Time of 1:24.34 just .30 slower than sharp NYB allowance runner Oniyome on the same card. From female family of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, this Sky Mesa colt has the look of a 2-turn juvenile threat. 

9. KENSEI (Asmussen): Professional winner in sharp 1:10.78 for tough 6F debut distance on 8/6, fresh off a zippy 1:00 5F gate drill that was so un-Asmussen-esque that you had to take notice. From female family of Wait A White, Mr. Greeley colt could be a 2-surface threat.

10. CHARITABLE MAN (McLaughlin): Blistered solid 6-1/2F MSW bunch in tough debut distance, running only about 4 lengths slower than razor-sharp NYB ALW runner Hawkwood did in the previous race (actually coming home a tick faster the last sixteenth). By Lemon Drop Kid, should love more distance.

11. CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Wilkes): Over a drying-out track, rallied from 6 back to win 8/13 MSW by 7-1/2 lengths in razor-sharp 1:03.56. Outran expectations for patient trainer, tipping his potential brilliance, and is by route specialist Candy Ride, so should be a serious factor going longer. 

12. JUST A COINCIDENCE (Zito): Second-best to freakishly good MUNNINGS in his debut 7/26, pressing that one through half in :44.92 and holding clearly for second the entire way. $200K Forestry colt has big future given rugged test of 6F debut with those fractions.

13. (f) MANI BHAVAN (S. Klesaris): Romped to wire-to-wire G2 Adirondack win 8/13 in a slowish time (1:18) and needing nearly 7 seconds the last sixteenth, but looked visually much more impressive as jockey Garcia was looking around for competition with a quarter-mile to go. Bred purely to sprint, from female family of Speightstown, and proved she could go fast when zipping :57-3/5 in debut win at slowish Delaware Park. 

14. REYNALDOTHEWIZARD (Harty): Surprising G2 Saratoga Special favorite lunged at start and lost all chance, but did really for well-beaten third in a race where the top 2 did not come back. Fast half :44.80 makes you think some of the chasers were fading horses, though, so we'll have to see another start to get great feel here. 

15. TRINITY MAGIC (Asmussen): Very strong NY-bred sprint debut win in 1:03.98, running :11.78 and :6.28 splits after pressing a very legit :45.92 opening half-mile. Time matched up well with impressive older ALW runners Rollers and Fancy Diamond on the same card.

16. (f) JARDIN (Asmussen): Dominated Schuylerville from outside post 7/23, but struggled home last 1/4 in :25.82 and last furlong in :13.28. Clearly best despite taking heat.

17. BRAVE VICTORY (Zito): Second to Cognito in 7/23 MSW dash, but overcame start and traffic and appeared best with promising future by Lion Heart.

18. COGNITO (Asmussen): Wired promising MSW cast 7/23 from rail draw, having benefit of a prior start. Half-bro to Cool Coal Man held on in solid time that would have been 2nd in older NYB stakes on same card.

19. (f) ARGYLE PINK (Kenneally): Half-sister to Smoke Glacken debuted a smart winner from the 2-path, dueling good-looking Asmussen firster SELECTIVE and inching clear late in 1:04 flat. They went :11.98 from half-mile to five-eights in nice display of accelleration.   

20. (f) CONSEQUENCE (McGaughey): El Prado-Educated Risk product had early and late trouble before exploding clear by 3 to win quick-enough 5.5F turf sprint debut (1:03.94 with give in the course). Worth aiming to new BC Juvenile Fillies Turf down the road.

CATCHING UP IS HARD TO DO

***Each day, I'll take a closer look at the 2YO races at Saratoga, and rank what we've seen so far in the meet in an easy-to-use system. The fluid list will change daily as 2YOs leap frog one another in the court of public opinion. Last year, the debut of Top of the Heap was critical in pin-pointing key races as the meet unfolded, producing several next-out winners who exited efforts in highly ranked races. - Jeremy Plonk, Horseplayer PRO.com and co-author of The Winner's Card, Saratoga edition, along with NYC OTB handicapper Peter Rotondo, Sr.

TODAY'S 2-YEAR-OLDS (Wednesday, Aug. 20):

Race 2 maiden special weight for the boys going 1-1/16 miles on the turf

Our first SERIOUS play-back of the meeting comes in Race 2 with SEAL TEAM. If you recall in his 7/25 debut, we commented how sparse his worktab appeared and that trainer Al Stall might have a good one for next time if he showed anything at all. SEAL TEAM debuted 4th behind JOIN IN THE DANCE and STOMP. The former came back to run fourth in the G2 Saratoga Special and STOMP returned to run second in a MSW here Sunday. We pick up Edgar Prado, get Lasix and draw the hedge for the 2-turn stretchout, while adding strong drills since. It's GO TIME.

This isn't the strongest field on paper, given that the 4 experienced runners all have failed to light the board and the 6 rookies will be asked to run 1-1/16 miles on the lawn that still has give in it and is taxing. The rookies are led by MEMORIZED, a half-brother to Sir Barton Stakes winner Best Minister. The Barclay Tagg trainee could be a deserving debut favorite as this colt's dam is half-sister to G1 star turf mare Memories of Silver. Another rookie who could draw play is the solid-working Dixie Union baby UMBRA for Todd Pletcher, from the same female family as the good 2YO stakes filly Avie's Shadow. Debuter DISTANT STRIKE is a rich $310K Smart Strike colt for ex-Pletcher asst Seth Benzel. His grand dam is none other than $1.4M earner and G1 Spinster heroine Wilderness Song.

Race 5 maiden special weight for the fillies going 5-1/2 on the turf

This turf race has a lot to look forward to, appearing much stronger than Race 2 in potential. The experienced corps is led by SUCH FLASH, nibbling on the dirt and Poly in KY/IL for Ronny Werner. She's half-sis to G2 San Vicente-placed Law Breaker from this spring. FAST TIGRESS makes her second start for John Kimmel and is half-sister to JK's promising 2YO of last year, Anakim. She ran an even fifth in her debut, a race in which Bob Baffert's MISS BODINE finished second and returned to win. The rookies hold lots of intrigue, topped by El Prado-Educated Risk baby CONSEQUENCE, wearing the famed black and cherry colors of the Phipps family. Shug pulled off a sharp 2YO winner over the weekend, so the seal is broken. WARM SPRINGS GIRL could be any kind for George Weaver, who was on fire the final 10 days of the Belmont meet and is 13-17 in the money at this Spa stand. Edgar Prado opts here over the Kimmel second-timer, a big sign, and WARM SPRINGS GIRL has a great worktab and pedigree. Her blue hen mare Marianna's Girl has produced major stakes winners Marastani, Christine's Outlaw and Crimson Classic. On the AE list looking in is firster THERE ARE RAINBOWS, a Pletcher rep by Dixieland Band and whose grand dam is Safely Kept.

Enjoy!

RECENT DAYS' RECAPS (Aug. 15-18):

Take II on this. I typed about an hour's worth earlier tonight, only to find the system shut down on my computer and none of it saved. And they call me a professional writer on my tax returns? Anyway, here's the Cliff's Notes version, because, just keepin' it real, I'm steaming mad.

From Friday-Monday, I had a ton of notes scrawled on my PPs, just not the time to get them gussied up here. Truth be told, there were scant few big performances during the four-day run in which I was too tired from Michael Phelps obliterating my sleeping schedule to maintain my work schedule.

Friday produced razor-sharp NY-bred sprinter TRINITY MAGIC, whose 1:03.98 for 5-1/2 panels helped stunt a cold spell for the Steve Asmussen barn and rate only behind CRIBNOTE in terms of impressive NYBs at the meet. The son of IL Derby/Derby Trial winner Performing Magic chased sharp fractions, yet still ran a smokin' :11.78 from the half-mile to the 5F call, and then came home in a very nice final sixteenth of :06.28. His final time was only a few lengths off impressive ALW winners Rollers and Fancy Diamond on the same card. Mark down FIDDLERS AFLEET and VINNIE VAN GO as next-out major leaguers in the NY-bred ranks.

Also on Friday, Ken McPeek unleashed a serious 2-turn player with TAR BEACH. Race 9 was suppposed to be 1-1/16 miles on turf, but was washed away and shortened to 7F on dirt. TAR BEACH, a Sky Mesa colt from the female family of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, has 2YO route stakes winner written all over him. He punched by nicely in the lane after showing the patience of a parent with a 2YO toddler when begging from room (Believe me, I'm going through that now in real-life!). His 1:24.34 tmie was quicker than a same-day starter handicap and just .30 slower than red-hot NYB allowance runner Oniyome on the same card. Runner-up TAKE THE POINTS should graduate soon for Pletcher and watch out for a price play with Dale Romans' PRECIOUS BEANS. He bobbled, rushed up and faded in a performance that calls for a turn-back to 6F and a clean trip at a price.

Saturday's horse to watch will be GIROLAMO, an A.P. Indy debut winner in Race 5 for Darley and Kiaran McLaughlin. Though he was not sprinter-brilliant, this is a distance player who out-classed his rivals in this 7F test, which is a nearly impossible assignment at first asking. That said, the :13.08 final eighth probably is better than it appears. Longshot BIG McCOOL outran his odds and deserves another look after that stumble, hyper-rush, fade effort -- and yet held for third for Dallas Stewart.

Shug McGaughey won Sunday's second race at 7F with PERSISTENTLY, a Smoke Glacken filly out of the same female family as champion 2YO Rhythm, Remsen winner Bluegrass Cat and G2 winner Daydreaming. The field lumbered home in :13.38 the final furlong, but she made up 5 lengths in that time and won going away, putting her in the mid-:12s - a very respectable finish. Speed held to run 2-3-4, so she might be better than it appears on the clock.

SARATOGA TOP OF THE HEAP (updated through Thursday, Aug. 14racing)

1. RUN AWAY AND HIDE (Werner): Easier-than-it-appeared effort in the G2 Saratoga Special saw him run strong 1:15.67 for 6-1/2 furlongs, including a third quarter in :24.48 despite chasing a blistering :44.80 half-mile. Unbeaten on 3 surfaces now and did this off a layoff to boot. 

2. PRECIOUS PACKAGE (R. Dutrow): Absolutely drilled Indian Blessing's half-brother, SPANIARD, after a heated early duel and drew away in 8/2 MSW going 6-1/2 furlongs in 1:17.26. His 6F split was faster than 2 ALWs on the same card and the Flanders Stakes, and was only about 3 lengths off superstar Indian Blessing's split in the G1 Test that day. Golden Missile colt probably a sprinter, from the same female family as Lunarpal.

3. MUNNINGS (Pletcher): $1.7 million buy ran a solid 7/26 MSW field completely off it's feet in :44.92 and still came home in an incredible :24.92 for a 6F time of 1:09.84. Pletcher's Speightstown colt actually ran faster than same-day G2 Vanderbilt runners (note the track slowed significantly during the day). Bred even better for turf on dam side. 

4. BREAK WATER EDISON (Kimmel): G2 Saratoga Special runner-up in fast 1:15.67 was a bit green in the lane, but projects as a strong 2-turn candidate down the road by Lemon Drop Kid. Smashing Belmont debut win validated with serious Saratoga Special performance. 

5. (f) MINE ALL MINE (W. Ward): Crushed a potentially loaded MSW filly cast 7/24, one day after scratching from the Schuylerville for that spot. Ran her 5F split 5 lengths faster than the boys in same-day G2 Sanford and had plenty in reserve to win geared down by 9-3/4. Had tried boys twice at Churchill, including G3 stakes.

6. DESERT PARTY (Harty): Certainly best in 4-horse G2 Sanford on 7/24, having to wait and make a few moves during the 6F stretch-out. Didn't shatter the clock, or beat much, coming home last 1/4 in :25.57 and last furlong in :13.13. Professional, but not brilliant, in this performance.

7. CRIBOTE (Violette): New York-bred freaked by 13-1/2 in fast sprint 7/27, getting 5-1/2F in 1:03.32 on a drying out track. Capable against open company in his debut at Belmont, so Read the Footnotes colt not restricted only to NYBs.

8. TAR BEACH (McPeek): Scored impressively while having to wait for room in a 7-furlong assignment 8/15. Time of 1:24.34 just .30 slower than sharp NYB allowance runner Oniyome on the same card. From female family of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, this Sky Mesa colt has the look of a 2-turn juvenile threat. 

9. KENSEI (Asmussen): Professional winner in sharp 1:10.78 for tough 6F debut distance on 8/6, fresh off a zippy 1:00 5F gate drill that was so un-Asmussen-esque that you had to take notice. From female family of Wait A White, Mr. Greeley colt could be a 2-surface threat.

10. CHARITABLE MAN (McLaughlin): Blistered solid 6-1/2F MSW bunch in tough debut distance, running only about 4 lengths slower than razor-sharp NYB ALW runner Hawkwood did in the previous race (actually coming home a tick faster the last sixteenth). By Lemon Drop Kid, should love more distance.

11. CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Wilkes): Over a drying-out track, rallied from 6 back to win 8/13 MSW by 7-1/2 lengths in razor-sharp 1:03.56. Outran expectations for patient trainer, tipping his potential brilliance, and is by route specialist Candy Ride, so should be a serious factor going longer. 

12. JUST A COINCIDENCE (Zito): Second-best to freakishly good MUNNINGS in his debut 7/26, pressing that one through half in :44.92 and holding clearly for second the entire way. $200K Forestry colt has big future given rugged test of 6F debut with those fractions.

13. (f) MANI BHAVAN (S. Klesaris): Romped to wire-to-wire G2 Adirondack win 8/13 in a slowish time (1:18) and needing nearly 7 seconds the last sixteenth, but looked visually much more impressive as jockey Garcia was looking around for competition with a quarter-mile to go. Bred purely to sprint, from female family of Speightstown, and proved she could go fast when zipping :57-3/5 in debut win at slowish Delaware Park. 

14. REYNALDOTHEWIZARD (Harty): Surprising G2 Saratoga Special favorite lunged at start and lost all chance, but did really for well-beaten third in a race where the top 2 did not come back. Fast half :44.80 makes you think some of the chasers were fading horses, though, so we'll have to see another start to get great feel here. 

15. TRINITY MAGIC (Asmussen): Very strong NY-bred sprint debut win in 1:03.98, running :11.78 and :6.28 splits after pressing a very legit :45.92 opening half-mile. Time matched up well with impressive older ALW runners Rollers and Fancy Diamond on the same card.

16. (f) JARDIN (Asmussen): Dominated Schuylerville from outside post 7/23, but struggled home last 1/4 in :25.82 and last furlong in :13.28. Clearly best despite taking heat.

17. BRAVE VICTORY (Zito): Second to Cognito in 7/23 MSW dash, but overcame start and traffic and appeared best with promising future by Lion Heart.

18. COGNITO (Asmussen): Wired promising MSW cast 7/23 from rail draw, having benefit of a prior start. Half-bro to Cool Coal Man held on in solid time that would have been 2nd in older NYB stakes on same card.

19. (f) ARGYLE PINK (Kenneally): Half-sister to Smoke Glacken debuted a smart winner from the 2-path, dueling good-looking Asmussen firster SELECTIVE and inching clear late in 1:04 flat. They went :11.98 from half-mile to five-eights in nice display of accelleration.   

20. JOIN IN THE DANCE (Pletcher): Wired an off-the-turf MSW 7/25 from the fence and zipped the opening 1/4 in :21.96, the fastest first quarter of the day, including a pair of sharp older ALW races. Sky Mesa colt likely to keep on dirt now.

CALM AFTER THE STAKES STORM

***Each day, I'll take a closer look at the 2YO races at Saratoga, and rank what we've seen so far in the meet in an easy-to-use system. The fluid list will change daily as 2YOs leap frog one another in the court of public opinion. Last year, the debut of Top of the Heap was critical in pin-pointing key races as the meet unfolded, producing several next-out winners who exited efforts in highly ranked races. - Jeremy Plonk, Horseplayer PRO.com and co-author of The Winner's Card, Saratoga edition, along with NYC OTB handicapper Peter Rotondo, Sr.

TODAY'S 2-YEAR-OLDS (Friday, Aug. 15):

Race 6 maiden special weight for NY-bred boys going 5-1/2 furlongs on dirt

A pretty soft group of state-breds in this one, and we'll see just how good that CRIBNOTE race appears to be from July 27. Already, distant runner-up REMARKABLE STORM has come back to win at a big price, and now we get PEGASUS TOMMY D, a wide-trip fifth in that race and only 4 lengths behind REMARKABLE STORM for the place money. HE's had 2 drills since that race 19 days ago, meaning Leo O'Brien means business. VINNIE VAN GO ran a troubled second in his debut July 23 at the Spa and rematches with third-place FIDDLERS AFLEET, who's yet to carry her speed, but has a strong drill 8/10 for patient Tom Bush. Of the newbies, there's TRINITY MAGIC, a $50K 2YO buy out of $5K stallion Performing Magic. The Steve Asmussen barn sends this one out with a faster-than-you-expect drill July 30 for this outfit.

Race 9 maiden special weight for the boys going 1-1/16 miles on the turf

We get our first line on the talent of Todd Pletcher's smashing July 26 winner MUNNINGS when fourth-place finisher POINTING HOME returns in the Friday finale. The Scooter Dickey trainee stretches out and tries the turf (weather-permitting) after finishing 14 lengths in arrears of our No. 2 rated performer of the meeting. He has turf genes with the Palace Music on the dam side. Of the other experienced entrants, there's PRECIOUS BEANS, a Medaglia d'Oro colt out of the tough Calder-based mare Precious Feather (G3 placed, earned $250K with 4 stakes wins). This Dale Romans trainee has had trouble closing the deal, and his third to PROUD JEFE at Churchill took a bit of a reputational hit yesterday when that rival came back to run a no-excuse fifth in the Saratoga Special. As for other Kentucky raiders, Ken McPeek's rail-drawn TAR BEACH ran like a horse who will enjoy 2 turns in his sprint debut at CD, and out of a Broad Brush mare, he's built for turf.

As for the rookies, I can't wait to see what's inside EVOLUTIONIST, a son of Dream Supreme, one of my favorite main-track sprint fillies of recent years. That makes him a half-brother to last year's G1 Hopeful winner Majestic Warrior, who would up at No. 1 in our TOP OF THE HEAP for 2007. However, Majestic Warrior, like Dream Supreme, was much better around one turn sprinting. EVOLUTIONIST, by El Prado, is being asked to do way more than I think he's capable of here, but who am I to argue with Mott and Steinbrenner? I'll bet against him, but watch with incredible interest. Todd Pletcher also debuts HYPE, who has great 2YO mojo by More Than Ready out of Western Woman, winner of the Cinderella at Hollywood at 2. This appears to be an awfully tough draw and assignment, however, for her pedigree, just like EVOLUTIONIST.

If this race comes off the turf - and why wouldn't it this meet? - beware STORMALORY and TOBY THE COAL MAN. The former is a Mott-trained Storm Cat colt out of Miss Halory, who is a daughter of the great blue-hen mares of the past decade or so, Halory. Miss Halory is half-sister to graded stakes winners Halory Hunter, Van Nistlerooy, Prory, Brushed Halory and Key Lory! Meanwhile, TOBY THE COAL MAN is by Mineshaft, out of a half-sister to 2YO champion Declan's Moon, named Major Melissa. The January foal has a great developmental edge for Zito/Lapenta and is working very well.

YESTERDAY'S RECAP (Thursday, Aug. 14):

Surprising betting favorite REYNALDOTHEWIZARD lost virtually all chance at the start of Thursday's G2 Saratoga Special, but fellow Churchill invader RUN AWAY AND HIDE had no such problems in coasting to an easier-than-it-appears victory in the season's second big 2YO stakes for the boys. The Ronny Werner trainee followed in his sire's footsteps, as RUN AWAY AND HIDE matched City Zip's performance in this race in 2000. Now unbeaten in 3 starts, he's won over 3 distinctly different surfaces - Kee, CD, Sar - at increasing distances from 4-1/2 to 5 to 6-1/2 furlongs. He also did so off a significant layoff of nearly 3-1/2 months. Friends, we have a new leader atop the HEAP.

The fractions fit or exceeding the class and development of the quality field - :21.66, :44.80, 1:09.28 and 1:15.67. Particularly impressive is the :24.48 third quarter and solid :06.39 final 1/16th given the rapid nature of the fractions. RUN AWAY AND HIDE made his running from only about 2-1/2 lengths off the pace, so he was a part of the mix, not a benefactor from it. He held off a tenacious challenge from a green BREAK WATER EDISON, who validated himself as probably the best maiden winner of the Belmont spring/summer meeting with a performance that was outstanding. To boot, 'EDISON easily projects as the best route candidate in the entire Saratoga Special lineup. He get shigh marks on the HEAP as well.

It's hard to tell what REYNALDOTHEWIZARD gets from this performance. He certainly overcame the poor start in his distant third, but you'd expect some meltdown among the chasers in a race that goes so quick. You'd have to think he passed tired horses to a decent extent. Something appeared to have gone amiss with Bashford Manor runner-up LYIN' HEART. He was swooping contenders on the far turn wide, looked rough-gaited trying to negotiate the bend at the 1/4 pole and then simply stopped running to be last. Steve Asmussen's barn, and his 2YOs, appear to be tailing off for whatever reason right now. I'll be taking an "underlay" stand against them in the coming days until further notice.

On the undercard, a 5-horse field in Race 2 won't tell us everything we need to know, but you had to be at least somewhat impressed by debut winner ARGYLE PINK, the half-sister to G1 winner and champion sprinter Smoke Glacken. She pressed a very promising Asmussen firster in SELECTIVE from the 2-path, battled all the way and put that one away in the final strides to win by 3/4 length in a decent 1:04.01. These fillies REALLY quickened from the half-mile to the five-eighths call, going that furlong in a sharp :11.97 and separated themselves from the field. They maintained essentially the same margins under the wire. SELECTIVE won't be a maiden long, and ARGYLE PINK certainly ran the kind of race that makes you want to play her back in an ALW, but I wouldn't jump into the deep waters of a graded stakes just yet. Her sire, Sky Mesa, also ran extremely well at 2 on this track, so there's a lot to like. She makes the HEAP toward the bottom-end of the scale in a nice performance.

SARATOGA TOP OF THE HEAP (updated through Thursday, Aug. 14racing)

1. RUN AWAY AND HIDE (Werner): Easier-than-it-appeared effort in the G2 Saratoga Special saw him run strong 1:15.67 for 6-1/2 furlongs, including a third quarter in :24.48 despite chasing a blistering :44.80 half-mile. Unbeaten on 3 surfaces now and did this off a layoff to boot. 

2. PRECIOUS PACKAGE (R. Dutrow): Absolutely drilled Indian Blessing's half-brother, SPANIARD, after a heated early duel and drew away in 8/2 MSW going 6-1/2 furlongs in 1:17.26. His 6F split was faster than 2 ALWs on the same card and the Flanders Stakes, and was only about 3 lengths off superstar Indian Blessing's split in the G1 Test that day. Golden Missile colt probably a sprinter, from the same female family as Lunarpal.

3. MUNNINGS (Pletcher): $1.7 million buy ran a solid 7/26 MSW field completely off it's feet in :44.92 and still came home in an incredible :24.92 for a 6F time of 1:09.84. Pletcher's Speightstown colt actually ran faster than same-day G2 Vanderbilt runners (note the track slowed significantly during the day). Bred even better for turf on dam side. 

4. BREAK WATER EDISON (Kimmel): G2 Saratoga Special runner-up in fast 1:15.67 was a bit green in the lane, but projects as a strong 2-turn candidate down the road by Lemon Drop Kid. Smashing Belmont debut win validated with serious Saratoga Special performance. 

5. (f) MINE ALL MINE (W. Ward): Crushed a potentially loaded MSW filly cast 7/24, one day after scratching from the Schuylerville for that spot. Ran her 5F split 5 lengths faster than the boys in same-day G2 Sanford and had plenty in reserve to win geared down by 9-3/4. Had tried boys twice at Churchill, including G3 stakes.

6. DESERT PARTY (Harty): Certainly best in 4-horse G2 Sanford on 7/24, having to wait and make a few moves during the 6F stretch-out. Didn't shatter the clock, or beat much, coming home last 1/4 in :25.57 and last furlong in :13.13. Professional, but not brilliant, in this performance.

7. CRIBOTE (Violette): New York-bred freaked by 13-1/2 in fast sprint 7/27, getting 5-1/2F in 1:03.32 on a drying out track. Capable against open company in his debut at Belmont, so Read the Footnotes colt not restricted only to NYBs.

8. KENSEI (Asmussen): Professional winner in sharp 1:10.78 for tough 6F debut distance on 8/6, fresh off a zippy 1:00 5F gate drill that was so un-Asmussen-esque that you had to take notice. From female family of Wait A White, Mr. Greeley colt could be a 2-surface threat.

9. CHARITABLE MAN (McLaughlin): Blistered solid 6-1/2F MSW bunch in tough debut distance, running only about 4 lengths slower than razor-sharp NYB ALW runner Hawkwood did in the previous race (actually coming home a tick faster the last sixteenth). By Lemon Drop Kid, should love more distance.

10. CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Wilkes): Over a drying-out track, rallied from 6 back to win 8/13 MSW by 7-1/2 lengths in razor-sharp 1:03.56. Outran expectations for patient trainer, tipping his potential brilliance, and is by route specialist Candy Ride, so should be a serious factor going longer. 

11. JUST A COINCIDENCE (Zito): Second-best to freakishly good MUNNINGS in his debut 7/26, pressing that one through half in :44.92 and holding clearly for second the entire way. $200K Forestry colt has big future given rugged test of 6F debut with those fractions.

12. (f) MANI BHAVAN (S. Klesaris): Romped to wire-to-wire G2 Adirondack win 8/13 in a slowish time (1:18) and needing nearly 7 seconds the last sixteenth, but looked visually much more impressive as jockey Garcia was looking around for competition with a quarter-mile to go. Bred purely to sprint, from female family of Speightstown, and proved she could go fast when zipping :57-3/5 in debut win at slowish Delaware Park. 

13. REYNALDOTHEWIZARD (Harty): Surprising G2 Saratoga Special favorite lunged at start and lost all chance, but did really for well-beaten third in a race where the top 2 did not come back. Fast half :44.80 makes you think some of the chasers were fading horses, though, so we'll have to see another start to get great feel here. 

14. (f) JARDIN (Asmussen): Dominated Schuylerville from outside post 7/23, but struggled home last 1/4 in :25.82 and last furlong in :13.28. Clearly best despite taking heat.

15. BRAVE VICTORY (Zito): Second to Cognito in 7/23 MSW dash, but overcame start and traffic and appeared best with promising future by Lion Heart.

16. COGNITO (Asmussen): Wired promising MSW cast 7/23 from rail draw, having benefit of a prior start. Half-bro to Cool Coal Man held on in solid time that would have been 2nd in older NYB stakes on same card.

17. (f) ARGYLE PINK (Kenneally): Half-sister to Smoke Glacken debuted a smart winner from the 2-path, dueling good-looking Asmussen firster SELECTIVE and inching clear late in 1:04 flat. They went :11.98 from half-mile to five-eights in nice display of accelleration.   

18. JOIN IN THE DANCE (Pletcher): Wired an off-the-turf MSW 7/25 from the fence and zipped the opening 1/4 in :21.96, the fastest first quarter of the day, including a pair of sharp older ALW races. Sky Mesa colt likely to keep on dirt now.

19. VALIANCY (Asmussen): Beat what looked to be a strong MSW cast on 7/31, dueling throughout a fast opening half-mile in :45 flat and drawing away late. From female family of Tuzla, so there's turf options moving forward, too. 

20. OFFICER IPOD (T. Dutrow): Delaware raider set the G2 Sanford pace on 7/24, but could not hold down the fort against just 3 rivals, despite the tactical advantage. Did hold second money, but may be challenged much farther.