IEAH Stables’ Pictural, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., in his most recent start finished sixth, beaten 2 ¼ lengths, in a $37,000 claiming purse at Saratoga on Friday, August 6.
     Pictural, 11.00-1 in the betting, broke seventh from post position 9 under jockey Robby Albarado, but then raced in range of the pace, and even held second in the stretch only to give out thereafter.
     Quick to Charm ($6.40) rallied from sixth for a three-quarter length win as the favorite. Keeping the Honor finished second, a length ahead of Stormy Success in third. The pacemakers, Riptide (23.85, 47.96) and then Big Stick (1:12.32), gave out to finish ninth and eighth, respectively.
     Quick to Charm, a 5-year-old horse by Smart Strike – Grand Charmer, by Lord Avie, completed the one mile distance in 1:37.06 over a good turf course and earned a 74 Beyer Speed Figure; Pictural received a 69.
     The Equibase chart for the race read, “Pictural forwardly placed until the eighth pole along the outside, was outkicked.” He earned $185 in purses.
     French Transition, Tommasi, and Run With the Lark were scratched. The race was open to ages 3 and up which have not won two races on the turf since February 5, 2010, and attracted nine starters.
     Four days earlier, also at Saratoga, Pictural finished fifth, beaten 4 ¼ lengths, in a $25,000 claiming purse.
     Pictural, 15.70-1 under Albarado, broke fourth from post position 4, settled in midpack, and basically turned in an even and nonthreatening effort. Redefined rallied from just off the pace to strike the lead in the stretch (55.79) and drive clear for a 1 ½-length win with 5 ½ furlongs complete in 1:01.75 over a firm turf course. My Best Pal Red finished second, a half-length in front of third-place finisher Southern Exchange.
     Redefined, a 9-year-old son of Labeeb – Definition, by Relaunch, paid $5.20 to win as the public’s favorite. He earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure, Pictural a 69.
     The Equibase chart for the race read, “Pictural settled while off the pace, dropped in to save ground on the turn, roused near the three-sixteenths pole and lacked the needed response.” He earned $750 in purses.
     Icetate, Prince Woodman, Straight Romance, and Midship Mambo were scratched.
     The race was open to ages 3 and up which have not won a race on the turf since February 2, 2010. Nine horses started.
     LAST UPDATED: August 20, 2010