Mike Amoss’s Mylute returns from a third place finish in the Grade 2 Preakness Stakes. Jockey Rosie Napravnik has guided this son of Midnight Lute to his best speed figures. Although Mylute is winless in four starts this year—two Grade 1s and two Grade 2s—he’s earned monster speed figures in defeat. He’s been a competitive foe in his last three starts and is likely Palace Malice’s greatest competition in the Jim Dandy.
Code West was an early Kentucky Derby contender as the preps began, but a sixth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby put an end to his Derby dreams. He ran in an allowance race on the Kentucky Derby undercard to finish a neck behind Bellarmine. He later went on to win the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs, a head in front of Uncaptured. After that race he shipped to Santa Anita and later Del Mar, both on the west coast, and now to Saratoga. Although it’s common for horses to ship frequently and trainer Bob Baffert must certainly know what’s best for his horse, one might wonder how much the travel has taken out of him. He's likely to hit the board, but Code West would be a surprise to win the Jim Dandy.
The complete field, from the rail out, is Bashaar, Code West, Will Take Charge, Moreno, Palace Malice, Perfect Title, Freedom Child, Mylute, Looking Cool, and Vyjack, who will likely scratch in favor of Sunday's Haskell Invitational.
The race is the tenth on Saturday’s Saratoga card with a scheduled post time of 5:45 EST. It can be seen on HRTV and TVG.
Photo: Courtesy BelmontStakes.com
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