2016 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York will play host to the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on Saturday, July 30. Horses three years old and upward will be featured when they take to Saratoga's dirt track and dash six furlongs for the winner's share of the $350,000 purse.

A strong field of eight have been confirmed for the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes - race 9 on Saratoga's busy Saturday schedule. Pot time is 5:40 PM. Let's take a glance into the past performances of all eight combatants for this intriguing Grade 1 stakes.

2016 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Race Preview at Saratoga Race Course

Anchor Down 5-2 - Todd Pletcher trained Ringling has 14 career starts with four wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. He posted an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Belmont Park last July but failed to place in his next five starts including a fifth in the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes in August and a fourth after getting DQ'd from third in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap March 5, 2015. He has been better lately however - a respectable second behind Frosted last time out in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park June 11 followed a career-best effort - a win by an impressive 6 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes on that track May 7. Before that were consecutive fourths - the Grade 1 Carter Handicap April 9 and the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap in March. Anchor Down has been trending upward ahead of this weekend and will be after a third straight quality result from the rail. Jose Ortiz rides the tepid morning line favorite.

Delta Bluesman 3-1 - Jorge Navarro trained gelding has nine wins, 10 seconds and seven third place finishes in 43 career starts. He arrives on the heels of a nice two race win streak both in gate-to-wire fashion - the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Stakes by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths last time out July 2 at Gulfstream and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Monmouth Park June 11. He was DQ's to fifth after crossing the line first in the Decathlon Stakes as well and now has won three of his last four starts overall ahead of this week - in career best form. Delta Bluesman departs from post 3 Saturday with Emisael Jaramillo in the reins of the morning line second choice.

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Holy Boss 9-2 - Steve Asmussen trained colt had four race win streak to start 2015 - by a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes August 1 after two minor stakes scores - the Chick Lang in May and the Bachelor Stakes in April to go along with an Allowance Optional Claiming in March. He has been just OK in six starts since - a third last time out in the Grade 2 True North Stakes June 10 followed a fifth in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes in May, an OK third in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes in April, a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, a fourth in the Grade 3 Ogden Phoenix Stakes October 2 and a third in the Grade 1 King's Bishop Stakes in August. He has 14 career starts with five wins, a second and two third place finishes and enters this week in so-so form. John Velazquez has been tabbed with getting Holy Boss his first win in nearly a year from post 5 Saturday as the third betting choice.

A. P. Indian 5-1 - Arnaud Delacour trained gelding has placed in 12 of 14 career starts - an impressive eight wins and four runner-up finishes. He enters on a three race win streak - the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes last time out July 9, the minor Donald LeVine Memorial (for the second year in a row) at Parx and the minor Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth Park in May. Before that were a pair uncharacteristic sixths in stakes races to end his 2015 campaign. A. P. Indian has been competitive virtually every time out and will be after his fourth straight stakes score form gate 4. Joe Bravo gets the call at an intriguing 5-1 odds.

Catalina Red 5-1 - Jorge Navarro trained colt looked terrific this past spring - a win in the minor Hilton Garden Inn/Hampton Inn and Suites Sprint at Tampa Bay in April was followed by a breakthrough win t 14-1 odds over Calculator and Kobe's Back in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes May 7. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 2 True North Stakes at Belmont Park June 10. He also had minor stakes wins in August of 2015 and two more in 2014. Catalina Red has won three of his last five starts overall including the nice graded stakes score two starts back. He arrives in decent form and will have Luis Saez guiding him from gate 2.

Chublicious 12-1 - has seven wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 14 career starts for trainer Jorge Navarro. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday on a two race win streak - the minor Mr. Prospector Stakes June 26 and the minor John J. Reilly Handicap in May - both at Monmouth Park. Before that was a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming in November and a win in a similar race in October - both at Parx. He has won three of his last four starts overall and looks ready for his step up in competition - from gate 6 with Antonio Gallardo aboard.

Requite 12-1 - lightly raced George Weaver trained colt has four wins and a second place finish in six career starts. Last time out was a good win in the minor Parrot Key Stakes at Gulfstream June 4 after 10 months away, a respectable second in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes and a two race win streak - the best of which coming in the minor Big Cypress Stakes in June, 2015. Requite has been in every race in her career so far and hopes to keep that trend going from post 7 Saturday. Javier Castellano has the mount.

All Star Red 20-1 - Rudy Rodriguez trained colt has placed in seven of 11 career starts - five wins and two runner-up finishes. He enters off consecutive runner-up finishes - an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out at Belmont Park June 15 and the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Handicap at Pimlico in May. Before that was an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Aqueduct in April and consecutive off-the-board finishes. All Star Red has been decent the last three months and chases his first stakes score in decent form. Irad Ortiz will be in the irons from the outside gate 8.

2016 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Saratoga's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:40 PM.