Quality Field at Saratoga

The seventh race today at Saratoga is only a $58,000 allowance, but it has a stakes-quality field.

The field of 11 older horses in the 6 1/2 -furlong contest includes Alke, Badge Of Silver, Multiple Choice, Mountain General and Pretty Wild.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Alke will be making his first start since he was second to Our New Recruit in the $2-million Golden Shaheen on March 27 at Dubai. A 4-year-old Grand Slam colt, he has won five of 10 and has been the runner-up in four losses. John Velazquez will ride as Alke makes his debut at Saratoga.

Badge Of Silver, a 4-year-old son of Silver Deputy owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Ronny Werner, hasn’t run since finishing fifth as the 7-10 favorite in Laurel’s General George Handicap on Feb. 16. A winner of four of six starts, including the 2003 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds, Badge Of Silver will be ridden for the first time by Jerry Bailey.

Mountain General, who has won 10 of 32 and earned more than $628,000, has a win and two seconds in three races at Saratoga.

Race of the day: Test The Waters, who scored a mild 5-1 surprise in her lone start of the Hollywood Park meet, will try for a repeat in today’s seventh at Del Mar. Victor Espinoza will ride the 5-year-old Chequer mare for Jeff Mullins, who trains her for a partnership, in the $63,000 optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

One for the road: Twentythreejaybird looks like the controlling speed in today’s third at Bay Meadows and could be long gone under jockey Ron Warren Jr.

Exotically speaking: A pick six using Precis, Bold Stock and Tapio in the third, Dewey’s Trick, American Anthem and Platinum Princess in the fourth, Etch in the fifth, Zam Zam in the sixth, Test The Waters, Bukat Timah and Good Student in the seventh and Redmeansgo in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/48. Money: Previous day/meet total: $13.20/$265.60. Total money bet: $340.