The Sword Dancer Invitational is a Grade 1 race for three-year-olds and upward going 12 furlongs on the inner turf at Saratoga. The last two editions of the race have been taken by lovable long shot Telling. The gelding has not been entered this year. Before him Grand Couturier won the race twice in a row. John Henry who won in 1981 is the most notable among a laundry list of super star runners to cross the line first in the Sword Dancer.
Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor x Golden Ballet by Moscow Ballet): The 2010 Belmont Stakes winner doesn’t seem to get cranked up until they hit the turn for home. Among his four wins he has won going 9, 10 and 12 furlongs. This race will be his third try on the grass and first since breaking his maiden. The classic winner fired a :59 B five furlong work over this turf course on August 8. I’m honestly not sure what to make of him, but I will lean against him running big here.
Grassy (El Prado x High Savannah by Rousillon) Last year’s seventh place finisher in this race seems to be a perennial underachiever. He might finally be able to get his break through victory here though. He was last seen finishing a close second in the Singspeil at Woodbine for trainer Christophe Clement. Jockey Garrett Gomez had him a tad bit closer that day and it seems to have helped him. JJ Castellano gets the mount for this race and it will be interesting to see if he employs similar tactics.
Rahy’s Attorney (Crown Attorney x Rahy’s Hope by Rahy) Hard knocking old gelding won the prestigious Woodbine Mile in 2008. He has held together nicely since then and the connections have opted to try longer races. It paid off when he scored in the 12 furlong Pan American at Gulfstream. The gelding is more effective at a shorter trip, but he can compete with this group going long. He could end up on a loose lead.
Bim Bam (Deputy Wildcat x Laurel Light by Colony Light) It looks like he is finally back to that strong form he showed early on as a three-year-old. The Ron Moquett trainee was second in the Manhattan two races back and last out finished second beaten just a neck in the Sussex at Delaware. His works look strong and David Cohen retains the mount. I’ll look elsewhere, but recognize him as a win threat.
Boisterous (Distorted Humor x Emmanating by Cox’s Ridge) Had his first try against top notch competition last out in the Man O’ War where he finished third out kicked behind Cape Blanco and Gio Ponti.Shug McGaughey knows how to bring them along slowly, but surely and it looks like he has a colt with a big future. This star in the making is owned by Phipps Stable (shocking, right?) and he likes to race mid pack for jockey John Velazquez. If he moves forward he is as capable of winning this as any horse in the race.
Al Khali (Medaglia D’oro x Maya by Capote) This colt will be ridden by the ice cold Alan Garcia who only just won his first race at Saratoga in over 40 tries on Wednesday. Last year he was third in this race while racing near the pace. Since then they have dropped that running style in favor of closing from well behind the pace. Bill Mott, if you’re reading, please put this colt on or near the lead. If he does that, he could win this race. Don’t count on it happening though.
Teaks North (Northern Afleet x Teaskberry Road by High Honors) The gelding shocked a lot of people last out when he won Monmouth Park’s United Nations at odds of 7-1. Before that he won the Monmouth Stakes at 9/2. He runs a lot of bad races in between good ones so it is encouraging that he won back to back stakes races. Justin Sallusto may have him right for jockey Eddie Castro. Yet another horse with a shot at winning.
Winchester (Theatrical x Rum Charger by Spectrum) Winner of the 2010 Manhattan and Turf Classic Invitational looks to be back in his best form for trainer Chistophe Clement. Last out he closed from the clouds to be second in the Stars and Stripes at Arlington. The race came off the turf. Jockey Cornelio Velasquez is riding well so that works in his favor. With a favorable pace scenario he could be the horse to beat. On his best day he is the best horse in the race, but will we see his best? Only one way to find out.
My top pick to win the 2011 Sword Dancer Invitational is Winchester. Many in this race are unproven, but he is a proven commodity with a pair of Grade 1 wins and and a respectable fourth place finish in the Breeders Cup Turf. You can bet Winchester at Twin Spires where new players get a $100 sign up bonus. Give them a try and also check out our Saratoga Picks.
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