Wide-Open With Anticipation Features 11 Juveniles
Stakes-placed Earth heads the field in experience.
By Erin Shea
field of 11 juveniles are set to contest a wide-open edition of the 1 1/16-mile $150,000 With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 30, the ninth race on the program.
Leading the field of 2-year-old males in experience is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Earth, a stakes-placed son of Claiborne Farm’s Orb . The Todd Pletcher-trained colt was the first winner for his sire when he took a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race at Gulfstream Park in his debut June 11, chasing down the frontrunner to win by a neck.
Earth then finished third as the favorite in Monmouth Park’s 5 1/2-furlong Tyro Stakes, racing three wide on the turn and fading to finish nine lengths behind the winner. Pletcher said his runner struggled that day over the turf, which was rated as good.
“We ran Earth over at Monmouth and he seemed to struggle. He lost his action a little on the turn when the turf seemed to slip away from him, but he came back with a good work (at Saratoga) and we think the stretch out should help him,” Pletcher said.
The colt will line up in post 4 with jockey Javier Castellano aboard.