National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes 2013 at Saratoga Race Course
Las Vegas, NV – The Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes is on tap for this Friday, August 9 from Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A purse of $200,000 will be on the line for three year olds willing to go 1 1/16 miles on Saratoga’s turf track.
A strong field of six plus one Main Track Only Entry has been confirmed for the Hall of Fame Stakes – race 8 on Saratoga’s Friday schedule. Post time is 4:47 PM. Here is a brief glance into the past performances of all seven combatants for this Grade 2 stakes – a race that has been billed as yet another showdown between Charming Kitten and his familiar rival Rydilluc.
Charming Kitten – Todd Pletcher colt was third in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes just ahead of Rydilluc at Keeneland April 13 after a good second in the Grade 2 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream March 3 and a nice win in the minor Kitten’s Joy Stakes January 20. He raced to a ninth in the Kentucky Derby and was second in the competitive Penn Mile Stakes June 1. Last time out was another good second – in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby behind only War Dancer and ahead of Rydilluc at Colonial Downs July 13. Charming Kitten has shown well in some tough races, is 9-5 on the morning line based on his recent finishes and looks to have a small leg up on Rydilluc heading into the weekend. He is a coupled entry along with…
Get in Line – Larry Jones trained colt races in stakes company for the first time Friday having looked OK in 2013. Last time out was an unflattering fifth in a Claiming at Churchill Downs May 17 but before that was two straight wins – a Starter Allowance in March and a Maiden Claiming in February – both races at Fair Grounds. Those results however were the only two times he has even placed in six career starts. Hopes are he can set the pace for Charming Kitten.
Rydilluc – came into the Blue Grass Stakes in April on a three race win streak on turf – in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes ahead of Charming Kitten at Gulfstream March 3 after an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Gulfstream January 5 by 5 3/4 lengths and breaking maiden on turf November 25. He was fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes but rebounded with a win in the Penn Mile over Charming Kitten. Last time out was his career worst effort however – an eighth in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby at Colonia Downs July 13. He is 4-for-5 on grass and will be looking to avenge an ugly effort last time out, in turn getting the better of an old rival. He should be the pace setter as always and is the second choice on the morning line at 2-1 odds.
Balance the Books – Chad Brown trained colt looked mighty impressive in winning the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes over Charming Kitten and Notacatbutallama at Saratoga last August 30 and the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland October 7 but has fallen off a tad since. A third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf was followed by a 4 1/2 month layoff, an ugly eleventh in the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes March 23 and a sixth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes. Last time out was a respectable third in the minor Solar Splendor Stakes at Belmont Park July 13 behind Notacatbutallama. He enters this week at 7-2 odds on the morning line.
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes betting at Saratoga Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com
Notacatbutallama – Todd Pletcher colt is has five wins, three seconds and a third place finish in 11 career starts and brings a nice two race win streak into the Hall of Fame Stakes. Last time out was a win in the minor Solar Splendor Stakes at Belmont Park after a terrific score in the Grade 3 Hill Prince on that same track June 15. The only times he’s been out of the money were a fourth in the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes behind Balance the Books and Charming Kitten in August and in the Grade 1 Jerome Stakes January 5 at Aqueduct. He has looked especially good this summer and enters in the best form of his career. He has four stakes wins in his career and is 4-1 on the morning line.
North Slope – Kiaran McLaughlin trained colt will make his graded stakes debut Friday and is coming off an unflattering fifth in his stakes debut – the minor Solar Splendor at Belmont Park July 13 after being squeezed at the start. Before that was his second of two career wins – an Allowance Optional Claiming at Belmont Park May 13. He is 8-1 on the morning line but appears outclassed in this one.
Battier – Todd Pletcher trained colt is a Main Track Only entry but has four wins, two seconds and a third place finish in eight career starts. His worst career effort came last time out – a sixth in the Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park July 6. Prior to that he place d in three straight minor stakes races – the best result being a win in the Fit to Fight Stakes at Aqueduct in April.
Race 8 on Saratoga Race Course’s Friday card with a Post Time of 4:47 PM.
