By www.FullCardReports.com

Saratoga Ace of the Day: Nine different riders and trainers brought in winners Thursday so the nod goes to FOOTLIGHTS, the Reports' Top Pick Value Odds runner who beat six geldings and one mare to take the $150,000 Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup at 2 3/8 miles over National Fences. As advertised, PREEMPTIVE STRIKE went right to the front and was out by 20 lengths after a mile. The field tightened as they went by the stands the second time and PREEMPTIVE STRIKE was spent down the backside. He left the course before the tenth fence while FOOTLIGHTS took over willingly and opened up by more than seven lengths off the final turn and into the last jump. She took that one well and was an easy winner by more than eleven lengths under Xavier Aizpuru and 133 pounds. UNDERBIDDER was along for the place by a neck over THE LOOPER. Odds-on favorite MIXED UP failed to fire with the 162 pound load he had to carry and finished fifth. FOOTLIGHTS is a 7-year-old bay mare owned by Arcadia Stable and trained by Roger Horgan. She stopped the clock in 4:33.01 and returned $18.00. It was the seventh victory of FOOTLIGHTS' 30-race career and her first Grade 1 score.

The steeplechase season returns to New York on September 22nd with the first running of the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Stakes at Belmont Park. The $150,000-added stakes will be a prep for the $300,000 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Grand National, to be run October 20th at Far Hills, New Jersey.

Troubled Trip: In Thursday's opening event, a mile-and-a-sixteenth NW2L claimer on the Mellon turf, MT. ORIENT ($11.60) wired the field in 1:42.49 but we trip-noted the 7/2 place runner, DELTA PARK. This 3-year-old gelding bobbled at the break under Ramon Dominguez and was steadied in traffic through the first turn. While the winner was cutting moderate fractions with everything going his way, DELTA PARK was threading his way through the field before angling out off the final turn for the drive. DELTA PARK was going best late and catching the winner until he ran out of ground. Next out for this one with similar.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens gave Centennial Farms’ CORINTHIAN a final workout over the Oklahoma Training Track Thursday morning before running in Saturday’s 54th running of the $500,000 Grade 1 Woodward for horses 3-years-old and up at a mile and an eighth. Met Mile-winner CORINTHIAN breezed three furlongs in 36.88.

Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens said on Thursday morning that he may run MISS SHOP in the Grade 1 Ruffian Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth at Belmont Park on September 8th. MISS SHOP, owned by Hobeau Farm, won the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga by three lengths over UNBRIDLED BELLE last Friday.

The P.G. Johnson Stakes for 2-year-old fillies did not fill so those entries were combined with the males to run in Friday's $80,000 With Anticipation Stakes. The mile-and-sixteenth grass race drew eleven runners with the colt Z HUMOR, part of a Bill Mott 3-horse entry, in for main track only. Four fillies were entered along with three colts and three geldings for the Mellon turf race.

Mike Trombetta's HIGH APPEAL (3/1) is a perfect two for two with both wins coming in 5 1/2-furlong sprints at Colonial Downs. The stretchout is a concern for this son of SONGANDAPRAYER but there's no doubt this one likes the lawn. Both victories were by open lengths and this young gelding has never been asked to run. HIGH APPEAL drew post three and will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez.

The two grass fillies in Bill Mott's 3-horse entry are SHERINE and ZEE ZEE (7/2) who drew posts one and four respectively. After going third in the debut race at 5 1/2 furlongs, SHERINE broke her maiden at Saratoga by more than six lengths at the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance in a respectable 1:42.90. Zayat stablemate ZEE ZEE won at the same distance at first asking on August 6th at Saratoga. It's unusual for an entry to have wins at this distance as 2-year-olds in August but these gals may be the real deal. ZEE ZEE gets a return ride from Kent Desormeaux.

The Barclay Tagg-trained REBOUNDED (5/1) was green in the debut race at Saratoga on August 3rd but he still got home by almost two lengths at the With Anticipation distance. This son of BOUNDARY could go well again here if he runs a straight line out of the 9-hole. Eibar Coa takes the return call.

The Longshot: Bill Mott has another contestant in CARAVEL (6/1) who will race uncoupled from the Zayat Stable fillies because of different ownership. In the debut race, this Kinsman Stable gelding went second to REBOUNDED but was steadied late when the winner could not hold a straight path. He's got early tactical speed, which will come in handy from post eight. We like that Edgar Prado takes the mount back.

CARRY THE DAY, NOWNOWNOW, PULLA FAST ONE, SEA CHANTER, and DAY OF VICTORY are also entered to start.

More than $244,000 jumped into the Pick 6 pool to chase the one-day carryover. One winning ticket took the jackpot for $196,746.00.

Reminder: Friday's program is the second and final Sunset Friday card at Saratoga Race Course this season. Admission gates open at noon. First race post is 2:45 p.m. The ninth and last race will go to post at 7:02 p.m.