Photo: NYRA
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who through Sunday had saddled 20 2-year-old
winners at Saratoga Race Course this summer, will attempt to add yet
another on Thursday when he sends out Charming Kitten and
Notacatbutallama in the Grade 2, $200,000 With Anticipation at 1 1/16
miles on the turf.
Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the homebred Charming
Kitten sparkled in his Spa debut on July 28, making a three-wide move
on the turn and finishing up with good energy for a 1 ¾-length victory.
The son of Kitten’s Joy, out of the Wild Again mare Iteration,
completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.73.
With Javier Castellano aboard, Charming Kitten drew post position 5 and was tabbed the 3-1 favorite on the morning line.
Repole Stable’s Notacatbutallama, who ran greenly in his
debut on August 2, returned two weeks later to post a 6 ½-length
victory, also at the With Anticipation distance. Hall of Fame jockey
John Velazquez has the return call on the Harlan’s Holiday colt, a
supplemental entry listed at 15-1 on the morning line from post position
10.
The most accomplished of the dozen juveniles in the main
body of the race, Joha enters the With Anticipation off a late-running
victory on July 14 in the Colin over Woodbine’s artificial surface.
Ramon Dominguez, Saratoga’s leading jockey, will ride
Joha from post position 6. The Mike Maker trainee is the second choice
at 7-2 on the morning line.
Joha, a son of Johar, broke his maiden in his third start
on May 24 at Belmont Park. The victory makes him one of several
With Anticipation entrants eligible for The New York Racing
Association’s $100,000 juvenile bonus, awarded to any 2-year-old who
broke their maiden at Belmont or Aqueduct Racetrack and goes on to win
a graded stakes at a NYRA track.
Looking for the $100,000 bonus, as well, is the Wesley
Ward-trained pair of The B’s and E’s, a maiden winner going seven
furlongs on July 15 at Belmont, and Almost an Angel, who broke her
maiden on June 19 at Belmont.
The B’s and E’s, 12-1 on the morning line, drew post
position 9 with Junior Alvarado named to ride. Almost an Angel, who drew
the rail under Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, was coupled in the
wagering with the filly Sweet Shirley Mae, who will run only if the
race comes off the turf. The entry is 8-1 on the morning line.
Rounding out the field are Craving Carats, Special
Skills, Bernie the Jet, Hightail, Private Tutor and the Ken
McPeek-trained entry of He’s So Fine and Sonofasamurai. Balance the
Books is also eligible, with Lawn Man and Read the Proposal, like Sweet
Shirley Mae, entered for the main track only.