De Niro, Unacceptable Lead Saratoga Parade of Youth
Two young horses with seemingly bright futures will get a chance to showcase their talents on opening day at Saratoga, a racetrack with a historic past.
De Niro, a 2-year-old colt, will start in the six-furlong Sanford today, and Unacceptable, a juvenile filly, will contest the six-furlong Schuylerville.
De Niro and Unacceptable are unbeaten in two starts at 5 1/2 furlongs.
De Niro rallied from far back to win his debut by nine lengths, then rallied again to win the Tremont Breeders’ Cup on June 29 at Belmont Park.
“It’s always good to have a horse that can run the last part of the race,” trainer Allen Jerkens said. “He hit the side of the gate (in the Tremont). But he won and we’re happy about that. He came from out of it and beat some nice horses.”
Unacceptable also has beaten back challenges in her races, including the Astoria Breeders’ Cup on June 22 at Belmont.
De Niro will carry 122 pounds and be opposed by Flitch, Boone’s Mill, Northern Centaur, Criminal Bundle and Montreal Red, all carrying 115.
Unacceptable will be co-highweighted at 119 pounds with Pinpoint Control and Petrouchka.
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