Two impressive ‘TDN Rising Stars’ who captured their debut maiden victories at the legendary Spa will square off Thursday in the $175,000 Grade III With Anticipation Stakes for 2-year-olds on Saratoga’s inner turf course.
The Headliners
Capital Partner (GB), a son of Kingman owned by Klaravich Stables Inc., enters as the 5-2 morning line favorite despite experiencing a troubled debut on August 2. The Chad Brown trainee overcame a fractious performance in the starting gate, multiple bumps, and rank behavior to unleash a spectacular late rally from the clouds, winning by half a length over the same 1 1/16-mile distance.
“He was fractious in the gate, bumped more than once, rank, and green, yet he unleashed a from-the-clouds kick while wide in the stretch,” noted the connections. With Flavien Prat retaining the mount after the Rising Star performance, Capital Partner appears poised for improvement with a cleaner trip.
Brown brings impressive credentials to Thursday’s contest, having captured this race in 2024 with Zulu Kingdom (Ire), who has since developed into a Grade I winner. The Hall of Fame trainer also claimed victories in 2012 and 2014.
The Challenger
Dr. Agne, campaigning for Madaket Stables LLC, Twin Brook Stables, and Belladonna Racing LLC, makes his anticipated return following his stunning July 11 debut. The Into Mischief colt, trained by Cherie DeVaux, carries blue-blood breeding as a son of champion turf mare Lady Eli.
The regally-bred youngster captured his maiden in impressive fashion over seven furlongs in an “off the turf” contest, earning his Rising Star status with a powerful stretch drive.
“Step one was winning, and he did that impressively,” DeVaux explained. “We just hope to continue on now. He is maturing well. He is a horse that is big and sturdy. He holds his condition well and he’s doing really well.”
Dr. Agne faces the dual challenge of stretching out from seven furlongs while making his turf debut, though his breeding suggests he should handle the surface change. Irad Ortiz Jr. maintains the partnership.
Supporting Cast
The eight-horse field features additional intrigue with Final Score (Not This Time) and Heeere’s Johnny (Oscar Performance), who finished one-two in an August 10 maiden over the course and distance. Final Score, a $600,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase for Repole Stable, represents Todd Pletcher’s barn, while Heeere’s Johnny boasts impressive family credentials as a full brother to this month’s Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes winner World Beater.
The field also includes statebred maiden winner Caroline St. Beat (Tiz the Law), Godolphin homebred Gloves Off (Nyquist) shipping in from an Ellis Park debut victory, Strategic Risk (Noble Bird) who finished fourth in the Grade III Sanford Stakes, and longshot One More Freud (Tonalist), a 14½-length debut winner who was subsequently claimed for $35,000.
Stakes Significance
The With Anticipation Stakes, named in honor of George W. Strawbridge Jr.’s outstanding turf runner, serves as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge series qualifier, with the winner automatically earning a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The race has produced several notable graduates, including 2007 winner Nownownow, who captured the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Monmouth Park.
