BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A winner of half of his 10 career starts, including the $100,000 AAA Feed & Tack Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs in March, Live Oak Plantation homebred Uncle’s Gold tries to get over the .500 mark Thursday at Saratoga Race Course in the $200,000 Bernard Baruch presented by Snap-On (Listed). An overflow group of ten 3-year-olds and older, including two on the also-eligible list, have entered to race a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Mellon Turf Course.
An out-of-state victory by Florida-bred Uncle’s Gold in the Benard Baruch would earn Live Oak as breeder a $4,000 Export Incentive paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
A winner of five of seven since breaking his maiden on the Gulfstream Park synthetic in his fourth try in November, the 4-year-old Uncle’s Gold had a three-race win streak ended in his last race when second to Program Trading in the Grade 2 United Nations going 11 furlongs on the turf at Monmouth Park on July 18.
In his three previous starts, Uncle’s Gold won the Turf Classic versus Florida-breds on Florida Cup day at Tampa Bay Downs going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass on March 29 then was given a short two-month break by trainer Michael Trombetta.
In his first race back on June 4, Uncle’s Gold won a second condition, $32,000 optional claiming by a neck going a mile-and-70 yards on the grass at Delaware Park and next won by two lengths in a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf at Colonial Downs on June 27.
Uncle’s Gold is by Uncle Mo out of Giant Crystal, by Giant’s Causeway and has two seconds and a third to go along with his five lifetime wins. An earner of $325,510 in his career, Uncle’s Gold has won four of six this year. Uncle’s Gold has just one previous race at Saratoga; finishing sixth in his first career start in a one-mile maiden special weight on the inner turf in August of last year.
Javier Castellano will ride Uncle’s Gold for the first time Thursday and they have drawn post six. Uncle’s Gold in 12-1 on the morning line.
Pin Oak Stud’s Pass the Hat is another looking to resume a win streak Thursday after losing his last race when third in the Grade 3 Kelso going a mile on the Saratoga inner turf on July 5.
Trained by Bill Mott, the 5-year-old horse by Collected won the Grade 3 Poker going a mile on the Saratoga inner turf two starts back on June 7 after taking a second condition, $75,000 optional claiming over the same distance on the Aqueduct turf on April 18.
Pass the Hat has won four of 11 career starts with a second and three thirds with earnings of $371,280.
John Velazquez rides Pass the Hat for the third consecutive time and they will break from post three. Pass the Hat is the second choice on the morning line at 5-2 behind even-money favorite Yo Daddy, who is entered under main track only stipulations.
Rounding out the entries are Fort Washington with Junior Alvarado named to ride, Kupuna with jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., Salamis will be guided by Flavien Prat, Dylan Davis is engaged on Running Bee, Risk Tolerance (Ire) with Manny Franco up and Taking Candy with Jose Lezcano in the irons. Bank Frenzy is also entered under main track only conditions.
Return to the September 2 issue of Wire to Wire
