Bail Out The Cat Heads Sanford

Bail Out the Cat will attempt to reward his backers with some liquid assets when he takes on seven other 2-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course in Sunday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Sanford.

The odds-on favorite in his lone previous effort, Bail Out the Cat dueled for early supremacy and took command in the stretch to win by 2 ¼ lengths under a hand ride in the mud at Belmont Park June 10.

“Bail Out the Cat is kind of a quirky horse,” said Melissa Cohen, assistant to trainer Rick Violette. “He needs a target – you could see that at the end of his race.”

Bail Out the Cat’s debut victory was flattered when Pluck, who was a distant third in that event, came back to break his maiden on the turf at Belmont July 11.

The Violette barn appears to be loaded with 2-year-old talent, having also sent out impressive debut winners Let’s Get Fiscal and Sovereign Default during Belmont’s Spring/Summer Meet. Like Let’s Get Fiscal and Sovereign Default, Bail Out the Cat is owned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence.

“He’s right up there,” said Cohen when asked to compare Bail Out the Cat with the barn’s other juveniles. “It’s hard to tell how good he is because of his quirkiness. He just does what he has to do.”

Bail Out the Cat, the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the Sanford, will break from post position 4 with Alan Garcia aboard.

Lou Brissie already has a stakes victory to his credit, having won the Grade 3 Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs April 30 in his second start. Caught wide in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill July 3, he chased home Kantharos to finish second by 9 ½ lengths.

“Lou Brissie won his first start, won the stakes on Kentucky Oaks Day, then ran second to one of the best 2-year-olds in the country,” said trainer Neil Howard. “Everything he has done has indicated that he has talent. We have been pointing for the stakes at Saratoga, but these races will be tough, especially those that have a lot of history.”

Robby Albarado, who rode the son of Limehouse in his debut triumph and later defeated him aboard Kantharos in the Bashford Manor, will be reunited with Lou Brissie in the Sanford.

“Robby rides most of our horses, so when he was available we grabbed the opportunity,” said Howard.

Coupled in the wagering with Blue Right By, Lou Brissie was tabbed at 3-1 on the morning line and will break from post position 6. Both colts will compete for owner Dogwood Stable.

Another Silver Oak, a 2 ¾-length victor in his debut at Delaware Park June 15, will compete with blinkers for the first time in the Sanford.

“He was a little difficult to load [at Delaware], but he did everything professionally after that,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Another Silver Oak for Repole Stable. “We’re doing something we rarely do, and that’s make an equipment change after a win. We’re running him with blinkers on, and we have given him a few workouts in blinkers.”

John Velazquez has the mount aboard Another Silver Oak, who drew post position 4 at 10-1 on the morning line.

Chipshot enters Sunday’s race off a 2 ¼-length decision over fellow Sanford entrant Nacho Saint in a June 6 maiden event at Monmouth Park. The Sanford will be the fourth start for Chipshot, who began his career with a sixth at Keeneland in April and a runner-up effort at Churchill in May.

Shaun Bridgmohan, who rode the Steve Asmussen trainee in his first two races, has regained the mount aboard the 7-2 third choice. The duo will break from post position 5.

The Sanford field is rounded out by a pair of juveniles who broke their maidens the last time they went postward. Maybesomaybenot enters Sunday’s race off a six-length score at Churchill July 3 in his second start, while Commonwealth Rush graduated by a half-length at Belmont June 18.

The field for the Grade 2 Sanford: