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HOPEFUL S. (G1), 10TH-SAR, $250,000, 2YO, 7F, 5:56 P.M. EDT, 9-1

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 BREAK WATER EDISON KIMMEL JOHN C DESORMEAUX K J 120
2 DESERT PARTY HARTY EOIN PRADO E S 120
3 COGNITO ASMUSSEN STEVEN M BRIDGMOHAN S X 120
4 MUNNINGS PLETCHER TODD A VELAZQUEZ J R 120
5 VINEYARD HAVEN FRANKEL ROBERT J GARCIA A 120
6 MEDAGLIA D'ONORE SANDERS JAMIE HILL C 120
7 NOTONTHESAMEPAGE WARD WESLEY A TRUJILLO E 120
8 CRIBNOTE VIOLETTE RICHARD JR MARAGH RAJIV 120

An octet of promising juveniles will go postward in Saratoga's marquee event for two-year-olds, the $250,000 Hopeful S. (G1). This closing day feature has attracted a serious group of youngsters, and we'll side with the Todd Pletcher-trained MUNNINGS (Speightstown). The chestnut was the second-highest priced two-year-old sold at auction this year, bringing $1.7 million, and he ran like it on the Whitney H. (G1) undercard, cruising home a 4 1/4-length winner. The chestnut earned a strong 98 BRIS Speed number for his maiden work and has come back with a quartet of solid drills in advance of this. John Velazquez has the return call.

BREAK WATER EDISON (Lemon Drop Kid) rolled home an impressive winner at first asking and followed with a big second in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) for conditioner John Kimmel, who has been white-hot over the past few days. The expensive two-year-old purchase sizzled a bullet three-eighths in preparation of this and could get a nice trip breaking from the rail under Kent Desormeaux. The colt's best could be good enough.

DESERT PARTY (Street Cry [Ire]) brought the highest price in Florida this year when fetching a bid of $2.1 million from Darley Stable, and all looks good so far. The bay freshman crushed foes at Arlington in his debut prior to rolling home a professional winner of the Sanford S. (G2) at 4-5 odds. The Eoin Harty charge sped a bullet five-eighths leading up to this event, and the bay should be rolling late under Edgar Prado from just off the early tempo.

VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi]) was four lengths third behind Desert Party in the Sanford in his debut for the Bobby Frankel barn. The gray colt looked superb in his career debut win at Calder, and if the slop was to his disliking last out, he could move up considerably with a fast strip. Expect a good price on the intriguing longshot under Alan Garcia.

The well-bred COGNITO (Langfuhr) showed courage in taking his second start for Steve Asmussen and will hope to top this field with slight improvement under Shaun Bridgmohan. The half-brother to Grade 2 victor Cool Coal Man (Mineshaft) was also an expensive juvenile purchase, bringing $700,000 at Keeneland April, and the way he rated on the lead last out suggests he can stalk and pounce against these -- if he's good enough.

The wildcard in here is NOTONTHESAMEPAGE (Catienus) for Wesley Ward, runner-up at 1-9 in the Tyro S. at Monmouth Park last out. The speedy chestnut popped a superb 107 Speed number in a maiden event at Churchill two back, and he looks to be the speed of the speed on this day. If the Kentucky-bred catches a lightning fast oval, he could last on the front for a while.

CRIBNOTE (Read the Footnotes) freaked when dusting New York-bred foes by double digits last out for Richard Violette Jr., but the class jump in here could prove to be a bit much for the chestnut colt. Saratoga Special sixth MEDAGLIA D'ONORE (Medaglia d'Oro) has never run fast enough to put a scare into this high-quality field.
1st-MUNNINGS
2nd-BREAK WATER EDISON
3rd-DESERT PARTY

DEL MAR DEBUTANTE S. (G1), 9TH-DMR, $250,000, 2YO, F, 7F, 6:00 P.M. PDT, 9-1

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 PALACIO DE AMOR CHO MYUNG KWON ESPINOZA V 117
2 WILL O WAY CERIN VLADIMIR ROSARIO JOEL 117
3 EVITA ARGENTINA SADLER JOHN W SOLIS A 121
4 STARDOM BOUND PAASCH CHRISTOPHER SMITH M E 115
5 SAUCEY EVENING MOTION H GRAHAM GOMEZ G K 117
6 CANDILEJAS MULLINS JEFF GARCIA MARTIN 117
7 TRIFECTA KING O'NEILL DOUG QUINONEZ ALONSO 119
8 GLITTER CITY MULLINS JEFF BAZE M C 117
9 MONTANA FIELDS HOLLENDORFER JERRY BEJARANO R 117
10 TURTLE CREEK BABE MCANALLY RONALD TALAMO JOSEPH 117
11 EMMY DARLING SADLER JOHN W FLORES D R 121
12 EMPRESSIVE LADY MULLINS JEFF BAZE T C 117

A dozen juvenile fillies will hope to bag the top prize in Monday's $250,000 Del Mar Debutante (G1). We can go a number of different ways in this seven-furlong feature, but we'll side with a longshot on this day in PALACIO DE AMOR (Dixieland Band). The Kwon Myung Cho trainee debuted at this meet, running an even fourth, then responded with a facile score under today's rider, Victor Espinoza, leading handily at every call in her last one. The chestnut filly held off what we think is a promising runner in her last and she should surely enjoy the added ground in here. Breaking from the rail at this distance with this size of a field could possibly pose an issue for the Kentucky-bred, but we envision a ground-saving dream trip along the rail to the top of the stretch for the longshot.

MONTANA FIELDS (Pulpit) was well-backed in both of her career outings for Jerry Hollendorfer and was extremely professional in her maiden score most recently. The exciting chestnut has overcome poor post positions in her two starts and is in a better spot in this one under top pilot Rafael Bejarano. The Virginia-bred should love the extra ground in this affair, and she's been working steadily well in advance of this, leading us to believe that she's very live in here.

EMMY DARLING (Graeme Hall) smartly broke her maiden in the Landaluce S. and finished fourth, moved up to third via disqualification, in the Sorrento S. (G3) last out. The talented chestnut lass has a good running style for this type of race, and if she can work out a clean trip under David Flores from this post, she should have every chance in the lane.

TURTLE CREEK BABE (Grand Slam) is a big exotics threat in our minds at a big price for Ron McAnally, coming off a game maiden win under Joe Talamo. The precocious chestnut made up a ton of ground in her debut in finishing second, and looked equally as good late in her win, and we feel that she's moving in the right direction for this.

EVITA ARGENTINA (Candy Ride [Arg]) stylishly took the Sorrento in her latest test and is unbeaten in two tries for John Sadler. The impressive Kentucky-bred has good tactical speed and a strong closing kick, but with a field this deep, she'll need clear sailing to have a chance. We like the lass but will not go overboard on the expected small price.

Sorrento runner-up STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) is among the top maidens in the country for Chris Paasch and could be ready to shine on this occasion. The gray filly missed the break and made a dramatic late run in her maiden tilt, and came back to finish a fast-closing second in the Sorrento. The Kentucky-bred will surely be well backed at the windows, and she should like the added furlong in here, but we consider her a shaky proposition for the win.

SAUCEY EVENING (More Than Ready) closed well to finish second in her prep for this and has the look of a horse on the rise for Graham Motion. The chestnut California-bred endured traffic and a wide trip in her last and could move up with clearer sailing, but her best may not be good enough at this stage of her career. The prospect will be used in the exotics, though.

CANDILEJAS (Candy Ride [Arg]) has been more consistent than brilliant for Jeff Mullins, finally breaking through in her fourth start in her latest venture. The bay Kentucky-bred is not far off from the top one in here and could close for a minor share with her best. GLITTER CITY (City Place) successfully rated in the Sorrento and took the lead in the lane, but the Florida-bred tired late and is a question mark with added ground for Mullins. The third of the Mullins trainees is EMPRESSIVE LADY (Empire Maker), who impressively ran a maiden field off their feet leading up to this event. The bay had the misfortune of drawing the widest post in here, and we can't see the improving miss clearing the field early under Tyler Baze.

WILL O WAY (Broken Vow) closed from well back to get up in a Calder maiden heat and has been since transferred to the barn of Vladimir Cerin, who has enjoyed success with other members of the filly's family. This miss lacks the experience of her foes and has never raced over synthetic going, so it's hard to back her with confidence. TRIFECTA KING (Peace Rules) looked brilliant in taking down the Cinderella S. two prior, but the Doug O' Neill pupil showed little when last in the Sorrento in her lone effort over this surface. It's hard to back a horse following a poor showing over this synthetic surface.

1st-PALACIO DE AMOR
2nd-MONTANA FIELDS
3rd-EMMY DARLING

PENNSYLVANIA DERBY (G2), 10TH-PHA, $1,000,000, 3YO, 1 1/8M, 5:30 P.M. EDT, 9-1

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 STONES RIVER JONES J LARRY SAEZ GABRIEL 117
2 READY SET MATZ MICHAEL R LEPAROUX JULIEN 122
3 NUMAANY *SUROOR SAEED BIN CARMOUCHE K 114
4 TIZ NOW TIZ THEN HARTY EOIN MENA M 119
5 ONLY FOR NOW RITCHEY TIM F CARABALLO J C 114
6 SMOOTH AIR STUTTS BENNIE F JR CRUZ M R 122
7 WISHFUL TOMCAT CONTESSA GARY C MIGLIORE R 114
8 ALAAZO MOTT WILLIAM I NO RIDER 114
9 TWO STEP SALSA CANANI JULIO C PEDROZA M A 122
10 ANAK NAKAL ZITO NICHOLAS P BRAVO J 114
11 ATONED PLETCHER TODD A LEZCANO JOSE 114
12 ACAI DUTROW RICHARD E NAKATANI C S 114
13 POWER GAME MCGAUGHEY CLAUDE III TRUJILLO E 114
14 YOU AND I FOREVER MOTT WILLIAM I CASTELLANO J J 114

A full field of 14 will chase the hefty purse in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2) at Philadelphia Park on Monday, and we feel obliged to find a price in here. The well-bred NUMAANY (A.P. Indy) impressed with his recent allowance win at Saratoga and seems poised for a career showing, so we'll side with the Godolphin runner. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the colt put forth arguably his best race when third in the Al Bastakiya S. at Nad al Sheba versus older runners and returned well after a poor grass showing. The Kentucky-bred is well positioned in the three post and should be within range for the duration of the nine furlongs.

The classy SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz) has been expertly handled by Bennie Stutts Jr. during his career and is well rested following a comprehensive tally in the Ohio Derby (G2) in late May. The Florida-bred colt, who was an excellent second in the Florida Derby (G1) earlier in this campaign, has failed to hit the board just once in his career, with that one coming in the Kentucky Derby (G1). A strong worktab and the presence of jockey Manoel Cruz add to the intrigue of the top win candidate.

The performance of ATONED (Repent) in the Haskell Invitational (G1) was a throwout, as the consistent colt was equipped with, and obviously didn't take to, blinkers. The dark bay can run all day and he always seems to be in the mix, even though he's settled for second on seven occasions in his career. The Todd Pletcher trainee should improve dramatically and challenge for a placing under Jose Lezcano.

TIZ NOW TIZ THEN (Tiznow) made a big move turning for home in the Jim Dandy S. (G2) last out before tiring to third, but the improving dark bay fits well with this group and is another win threat in this deep field. Conditioned by the red-hot Eoin Harty, the dark bay clearly prefers dirt to synthetic and is proven at this trip. Miguel Mena will pilot the Kentucky-bred.

YOU AND I FOREVER (A.P. Indy) finished a game second to Travers S. (G1) runner-up Mambo in Seattle (Kingmambo) most recently and has steadily improved for Bill Mott. The Kentucky-bred is out of multiple Grade 1 vixen You (You and I), and has trained in good fashion preparing for this, so we consider the bay another contender in this group, even with the widest post.

Dual Grade 3 hero TWO STEP SALSA (Petionville) is among the top sophomores on the West Coast and will make his dirt debut in here for Julio Canani. The talented Kentucky-bred has never been worse than second while facing top competition throughout 2008, and the only question that lingers over the dark bay is his ability to handle dirt. A fair price should be available on the colt, who would be no surprise in here.

POWER GAME (Dixie Union) has romped to two consecutive wins to start his career for Shug McGaughey, and the intriguing prospect just blitzed a bullet half-mile in advance of this. The well-bred sort is a half-brother to Grade 3 hero Survivalist (Danzig), suggesting his stamina will not be in question, and the ease with which he has won thus far makes him a wildcard at a potentially big price. Elvis Trujillo has the call. READY SET (Touch Gold) upset the West Virginia Derby (G3) last out and is on a nice roll for conditioner Michael Matz. Since dropping the blinkers four races back, the well-bred colt has won two, with a neck second and a half-length third, posting BRIS Speed figures of 95 or more in each.

We've always had an eye on ALAAZO (A.P. Indy), but the well-bred Bill Mott trainee has not lived up to expectations to date. The dark bay offered a solid middle move in the Haskell before tiring to fourth over the Monmouth oval, and this surface may be more conducive to his late-running style. It's hard to back the dark bay to win, but we'll use him in many exotic wagers. The surging STONES RIVER (Monarchos) has taken well to the Delaware surface for trainer Larry Jones, romping in four straight by a combined 22 1/2 lengths. The gray has useful Speed numbers and is well drawn on the rail, but he'll need a perfect trip and improvement to win this.

ONLY FOR NOW (Tiznow) has rolled to three straight wins for Tim Ritchey and is probably the now horse in the field. The late-blooming bay has earned 102 and 100 Speed figures in his last pair and should be awfully tough with even minor improvement in his stakes debut. ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop) was a distant fifth in the Jim Dandy S. for Nick Zito and he hasn't won in a long time, so he's best used underneath on this day.

WISHFUL TOMCAT (Tactical Cat) has exploded to a pair of romps after being stretched out to two turns for Gary Contessa, compiling wins at a combined 23 1/2 lengths. The New York-bred has been defeating next to nothing, but it's still hard to omit such an improved performer. ACAI (Three Wonders) has improved a great deal since transferring to the Richard Dutrow barn, winning two straight and posting a 100 Speed number last out. The Florida-bred is going the right way, but the 12 post won't do him any favors.

1st-NUMAANY
2nd-SMOOTH AIR
3rd-ATONED

GLENS FALLS H. (G3), 8TH-SAR, $100,000, 3YO/UP, F/M, 1 3/8MT, 4:48 P.M. EDT, 9-1

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY WT
1 TEJIDA MATZ MICHAEL R ALBARADO R J 116
2 JADE QUEEN PLETCHER TODD A VELAZQUEZ J R 115
3 DYNAFORCE MOTT WILLIAM I DESORMEAUX K J 118
4 HOSTESS BOND HAROLD JAMES MARAGH RAJIV 119
5 LAMENTATION (GB) GASPARINI MARCO HILL C 115
6 PALMILLA SHEPPARD JONATHAN E PRADO E S 117
7 DYNA'S LASSIE FOUT P DOUGLAS COA E M 116

A nice group of marathon specialists will help end the 2008 Saratoga meet on a high note Monday in the $100,000 Glens Falls H. (G3). DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer), who has narrowly lost her two U.S. starts to the likes of Mauralakana (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) and Forever Together (Belong to Me), deserves top billing in the 1 3/8-mile, inner turf contest for fillies and mares and is our selection.

A stakes winner in France at three, Dynaforce started just twice at four last year, winning a 1 1/2-mile allowance at Vichy then running two lengths third to Satwa Queen (Fr) in the Prix Jean Romanet (Fr-G2). That rival later captured the Prix de l'Opera (Fr-G1), so Dynaforce certainly had fine credentials returning from a near 10-month layoff in the June 21 New York S. (G2). She pushed Mauralakana, arguably America's leading turf female runner, to a neck decision that day, and last time just failed to fend off the late charge of Forever Together in the Diana S. (G1). Dynaforce should be well-placed early behind TEJIDA (Rahy) and JADE QUEEN (Giant's Causeway), who are both expected to show speed.

HOSTESS (Chester House) is a win-shy sort who scored her signature victory in the Orchid H. (G3) last March, but she's often in the mix as indicated by her third-place effort in the New York where she was just a neck behind Dynaforce. She can improve on her fourth in this race last year.

Tejida faltered to fourth in the New York S. last time, but showed good staying power two back in the 12-furlong Bewitch S. (G3) when falling a half-length short to Communique (Smart Strike), who has been a surprise performer in the division this year having finished second most recently in the Beverly D. S. (G1). Her ability to last here will most certainly be determined by how much pressure she can withstand from other pacesetting rivals.

Jade Queen, despite her half-length loss in the Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) two years ago, has generally displayed less class than Tejida and thus seems the weaker of the two likely front-runners. She missed by a nose in an allowance/optional claimer at Monmouth two back, and went down in a restricted stakes earlier in the meet.

PALMILLA (Crowd Pleaser) turned in a 20-1 shocker in the Robert G. Dick Memorial S. (G3) at Delaware Park last out, defeating heavily favored Rosinka (Ire) (Soviet Star), the 2007 Glens Falls winner, but that mare did not flatter that form when last of nine in the Beverly D. Palmilla's limited success prior to the Dick Memorial raises the concern that she will revert back to her old ways here. DYNA'S LASSIE (Dynaformer), a minor stakes winner, finished second in the Matchmaker S. (G3) at Monmouth Park last time, but this field is more imposing. LAMENTATION (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]), an Italian import, struggled against listed company in that country and remains eligible for a first-level allowance.

1st-DYNAFORCE
2nd-HOSTESS
3rd-TEJIDA