Eight Stayers Signed on for $100,000 Birdstone

Micromanage is a familiar name on the New York minor stakes circuit and the class of the field resulting in his unappealing, but understandable morning line price of 5/2. The five year-old Todd Pletcher trainee has recorded 7 wins in 29 career starts, but is currently on a five-race losing streak since capturing the Jazil Stakes January 19 at Aqueduct. Micromanage won this event last year, giving him an edge on most of his rivals who have yet to attempt the distance or run effectively at the Spa. Javier Castellano, who was aboard for the impressive 8 1/2 length score in 2014, will be back in the irons breaking from post 2.

Turco Bravo knows how to win

Turco Bravo (3/1), has been effective at a 1 1/8 mile-trip and beyond, but has yet to race over the Saratoga dirt. With 11 wins in 42 starts, the Gary Contessa-trained six year-old gelding has a nose for the wire and appears to be training well over the local soil. Jockey Junior Ortiz will take the mount breaking from post 4.

Interesting item for Graham Motion 

Tacitus (7/1) was a distance specialist over synthetic footing in Great Britain, and may have needed a race to adjust while making his U.S. debut finishing fourth beaten 7 1/2 lengths July 26 at Saratoga while going 1 1/8 miles against allowance foes. The four year-old son of A.P. Indy is bred to handle dirt and will receive first-time Lasix – a 27% move for Motion.