Can Havre de Grace Beat the Woodward Boys?

Saturday, it will be the 4-year-old filly Havre de Grace’s turn to take on males in the 58^th running of the $750,000 Woodward,  a race won by such champions as Curlin, Cigar, Holy Bull, Spectacular Bid, Affirmed, Seattle Slew, and of course, Rachel Alexandra.

Along with the Grade 1 Forego, the Woodward will be telecast live on VERSUS from 5 – 6 p.m. as part of the continuing “Summer at Saratoga” series by the NBC Sports Group.

No worse than third in all 12 of her lifetime starts, Havre de Grace is 3-1-0 from four starts this year, with victories in the Grade 3 Obeah at Delaware Park, the Grade 3 Azeri at Oaklawn Park, and the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn. Her only loss came by a nose to Blind Luck in the Delaware Handicap, and when a hoped-for rematch in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at the Spa did not materialize, owner Rick Porter decided to do something bold.

“Obviously, we think we have a chance to be Horse of the Year,” said Porter. “And after we got beat a nose in the Del ‘Cap, we thought we had to do something aggressive, either run against Blind Luck again in the Personal Ensign [or] take the boys on. We had to do something to get everybody’s attention, hopefully.”

Indeed. Only a handful of fillies and mares ever have competed in the 1 1/8-mile Woodward, and Rachel’s accomplishment was more remarkable in that she won it at age 3 against older males. Porter, however, said the Stonestreet filly’s success in the race was not a factor in the decision to have Havre de Grace face males herself.

“We thought the time was right,” he said. “How Rachel won the race really had nothing to do with it.”

Like Rachel Alexandra before her, Havre de Grace is the morning-line favorite for the Woodward, in which she will face seven older males as she receives a three-pound weight concession. At 8-5, she drew post position six and will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez.

Second choice at 5-2 on the morning line is Flat Out, most recently second, three lengths behind Tizway, in the Grade 1 Whitney Invitational Handicap on August 6. Longshot winner of the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park on July 2, the 5-year-old Flat Out put together back-to-back triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in those two races, with his 113 for the Suburban the highest of the year for all horses going more than a mile.

“He’s sound and it’s a good feeling to know he’s doing well,” said trainer Charles “Scooter” Dickey of Flat Out, who drew post position 7 for the Woodward with Alex Solis aboard.

Also returning from the Whitney is Giant Oak, the Grade 1 Donn Handicap winner who was third behind Tizway and Flat Out. With Shaun Bridgmohan aboard, Giant Oak drew post position 3 and was listed at 8-1 on the morning line.

Returning to Saratoga for the third straight year is Mambo Meister, who in 2009 was second on the turf in the Grade 2 Fourstardave and fifth in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch. Last year, he was fifth sprinting in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt.

“This may be his best incarnation yet,” said trainer Phil Gleaves of Mambo Meister, most recently an 11-length winner of the Primal Stakes at Calder Race Course on July 24. The 6-year-old gelding covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.17, earning a 110 Beyer, third-best of the year beyond a mile.

“That was the fastest 1 1/16 miles in three years at Calder, and his Beyer, along with a negative 4 ½ on the Sheets, puts him in the upper echelon of horses,” said Gleaves, who trains Mambo Meister for the Quantum Racing Team.

Mambo Meister drew the outside for the Woodward and, at 10-1 on the morning line, will be ridden by Fernando Jara.

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who won last year’s Woodward with Quality Road and the 2007 edition with Lawyer Ron, sends out the duo of Rule, beaten favorite in the James Marvin, and Mission Impazible, most recently sixth in the Whitney.

Rule, who drew post position 4 under Javier Castellano, is 5-1 on the morning line while Mission Impazible, with John Velazquez in the irons, is 10-1 from post position 2.

Rounding out the field are Convocation, winner of an optional claimer at the Woodward distance on July 29, and the Nick Zito-trained Ice Box, third in that race.

The field for the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward: