Forte Wins Handsomely, Saudi Crown Places, And Angel Of Empire Shows

Todd Pletcher’s ever-so-gentle bet that Forte would respond well to blinkers by concentrating a bit more on his business paid off handsomely in the Jim Dandy on a muddy track at Saratoga on Saturday, as his horse took the win without serious problems, or more pointedly, a lapse of attention to his run.

Forte had gone off as the favorite at 3-5. Brad Cox’s Saudi Crown, whom the money liked at post time better than his more experienced stablemate Angel of Empire, placed, and the latter Cox-trained runner showed. Saudi Crown went off at 3-1, and Angel of Empire was at 5-1 when the windows closed at the track. Forte paid $3.50, Saudi Crown paid $4.10, and Angel of Empire paid $2.70.

Disarm, whom the late money at Saratoga liked well enough to have him at 9-2, or a half-point lower than Angel of Empire, shortly before post time, ran a disappointing fourth. Hit Show, who had gone off at 10-1, ran a dispiriting last.