Saratoga Saturday Preview: Preservationist the value

There are a pair of interesting Grade 1s on Saturday’s Saratoga card, headed by an intriguing renewal of the Whitney Stakes (22:46 BST). Heading the market are the second and third from the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont in June, McKinzie and Thunder Snow. It’s not a stretch to say that McKinzie was a most unlucky loser that day, Mike Smith struggling to find room over a furlong out before eventually getting daylight, his mount finishing to good effect once in the clear and only going down by a fast-diminishing three quarters of a length to Mitole. Saeed bin Suroor’s dual Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow was only a neck further back, and there shouldn’t be a great deal between them once more, particularly as the Godolphin runner ought to be well suited by the extra furlong of this contest.

ICYMI

MITOLE held off Saeed Bin Surror's THUNDER SNOW and hot favourite MCKINZIE last night to land a Grade 1 victory at Belmont Park.

The success will take him straight to the Breeders Cup, but where will be next for the English raider?pic.twitter.com/JaKUOv3oOb

— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) June 9, 2019

Considering he’s now a six-year-old, Preservationist is lightly raced compared to the likes of Thunder Snow et al, James Jerkens' charge taking the step up to Graded company in his stride when winning the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes by an impressive four and a half lengths from Catholic Boy last time. That race was over a furlong further than the Whitney, but Preservationist isn’t short on speed (broke his maiden over six furlongs), and he has to be high on the shortlist.

Vino Rosso is another with claims, Todd Pletcher having shrewdly shipped him to California to gain his first Grade 1 victory in the Santa Anita Gold Cup last time by three quarters of a length from Gift Box. The step back up in trip seemed to suit Vino Rosso ideally that day after he found himself a little short of pace over seven furlongs the time before. This more intermediate distance of nine furlongs won’t be a problem and Vino Rosso should give another good account, for all that he maybe lacks the touch of class that a few of these possess. Of the rest, Yoshida is a previous course winner, but he lacks recent solid form and will likely need a pace meltdown if he’s to trouble the principals.

In Summary, while McKinzie and Thunder Snow set the form standard, neither is bomb-proof, and the value bet may well be Preservationist, who is very much on an upward trajectory, even at the age of six. At the time of writing he’s available at around 9/2 and that looks a fair price in what should be a cracking contest.

The supporting Grade 1 on Saratoga’s card is the Test Stakes (22:06 BST) for three-year-old fillies. Classic form is brought into the contest via the Kentucky Oaks Winner Serengeti Empress, but she does seem to need an uncontested lead to be seen to best effect. Bellafina hasn’t been since disappointing as favourite in the same race but she will be a treat to all if rebounding to the smart form she showed prior to Churchill Downs.

Chad Brown continues to carry all before him this season and his Royal Charlotte is unbeaten in four starts, the latest of which came in Grade 3 company at Belmont last time. However, this is the stiffest task she’s faced to date, and her price isn’t particularly enticing. Consequently, the very speedy Covfefe may well be the one to be with. She ran an extremely fast time when winning a Grade 3 at Pimlico in May before possibly feeling the effects of that when disappointing on her next start. Having had a little break since then, and with the likelihood that she’s the fastest of these fillies early, Covfefe looks worth chancing against some higher profile opponents.

Recommendations:

Back Covfefe in the Test Stakes

Back Preservationist in the Whitney Stakes