The Spa Spot: Morning Breeze
We reach the end of the first week - a four-day stretch - of the Saratoga season with a 10-race program this afternoon. Post time is 1 p.m.
- The $100,000 Evan Shipman for New York-breds is the feature race. The 1 1/8 miles dirt race has drawn a field of seven.
- Juddmonte Farms' Lunar Victory has won three straight for trainer Bill Mott and is moving into stakes company in the Shipman for the first time since returning from Europe last year. Other likely favorites are Johannesburg Smile, who has won three of his las six starts; Fiddlers Afleet, a seven-time winner; and Sailmate, who has been in the money in six of seven career starts.
- Trainer Ian Wilkes is planning to breeze two of his stakes horses this morning. Neck 'n Neck is being prepared for the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on Saturday. The colt won the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs. Also being sent out by Wilkes is Whitney prospect Fort Larnard, winner of the Grade 3 Cornhusker in his most recent start.