Bashart, Velazquez hang on for victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Bashart showed potential in his debut race at Belmont on July 12, disputing a fast pace and still hanging around to finish a close third in a swiftly run six- furlong heat on turf. Bettors thought enough of this effort — especially when the winner of that race came back to win his next start — to dispatch him at 6-5 in Sunday’s fifth race going 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon course.

Once again Bashart was involved early, racing three-wide off the flank of High Ransom and Branded Hand through a half in 48.23. Those three kept their positions around the turn and into upper stretch, where Bashart emerged with a short lead. The Rosedown Racing homebred put those two away in midstretch, but was immediately challenged by longshot Arctic Slope, who ranged up alongside late and appeared to have momentum. But Bashart dug in gamely, holding off Arctic Slope to win by a half-length. The time was 1:43.11 over firm going.

The winner is a 2-yearold son of War Front conditioned by Todd Pletcher. John Velazquez had Sunday’s ride.

Race 1

Art of the Game had bad luck in her career debut here on opening day, beaten nearly 20 lengths after banging herself around in the gate. The 2- year- old filly continued to work well

enough in the mornings, however — including a bullet four furlongs last Monday – to inspire bettors to send her off at 7- 5 in this 6 1/ 2- furlong maiden special.

Art of the Game made the front and quickly established distance between herself and the rest of the field. The daughter of Elusive Quality led by two going into the turn, and maintained that margin into upper stretch. Predicate posed a potential threat over the next furlong but was unable to close on the favorite, who crossed the line 3 1/4 lengths in front. The running time over a fast main track was 1:18.65.

Mike Smith rode the winner for Nick Zito and owner Richard C. Pell.

Race 3

It isn’t often that a horse opens up a 12-length advantage half a mile into a race. It also isn’t often that a horse runs a half-mile in less than 45 seconds and still figures in the outcome.

In this $ 35,000 claimer, Comandante flew the first half-mile in 44.93 seconds, putting him a dozen lengths ahead of his closest pursuer, Grey Oak. The lead started to shrink on the back side of the turn, but the 10-1 longshot — who had lost his three previous starts by a combined 55 lengths — was still up by three lengths at the furlong pole. A 14.1- second final eighth won’t do, however, as Comandante was passed by three horses in the final 100 yards.

Boston Proper got to the wire first in 1: 24.11, besting Escape Artist by half a length. Rosie Napravnik piloted the 3- year- old Speightstown colt for J. Lee and Joyce Didier, Ron Moquett trains.

Race 10

The success Ken and Sarah Ramsey had with homebred offspring of Kitten’s Joy on Saturday — their horses won the Arlington Million, Secretariat Stakes and Sword Dancer Invitational, all Grade 1s — carried over into Sunday when their Runs Like a Kitten (3-1) ran down favored Bramley in the final jumps to win this 11-furlong turf marathon for older maidens by a half-length. Chad Brown trains, and Javier Castellano was in the saddle. The winning time was 2:21.29.