Kent Desormeaux has two mounts today at the spa which are worthy of playing. In the sixth at Saratoga he scales the three-year-old filly Silk Route(10). The early tempo of this race is of concern but I still like her to come right back and win against winners. Despite a "snail's pace" of 50.19 and 1:15.11 she graduated the maiden ranks. Slow early(-1-1/2) to trail. Silk Route was still last midway on the far turn and being steadied while awaiting running roon. Sixh in the stretch she came with a big late surge. She sports an improving pattern and if there's any kind of pace up front this filly should win.

In the eighth race the Curlin Desormeaux scales So Elite(7). I loved this colt's trying and reaching style to take the Charley Barley. So Elite was kept extremely wide down the backstretch(-2) while last. So Elite was wheeled to the outside and went three-wide(-1) into and on the second turn. Spanked left-handed once in the straight he came on to win drawing clear. Make note in So Elite's last two wins at Woodbine the horse's that chased him to the wire returned to win. That's the kind of "strength of race" validation we look for.

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Warren H. Eves