Flaxman Stable homebred Aldebaran, winner of four of six stakes starts earlier this year, will end a seven-week layoff in Sunday's grade I, $250,000 Forego Handicap at Saratoga. Seven horses have been entered to contest the seven-furlong Forego, won last year by eventual sprint champion Orientate.
Aldebaran, who will be making his first start since winning the Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park on July 4, will be ridden by Jerry Bailey for trainer Bobby Frankel. The 5-year-old son of Mr. Prospector -- Chimes of Freedom will carry top weight of 123 pounds. In addition to the Tom Fool, Aldebaran's stakes wins this year have included the San Carlos Handicap (gr. I), Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I), and Churchill Downs Handicap (gr. II).
"He had some bad luck last year," Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel said of Aldebaran's 2002 campaign, in which he only had one victory and six second-place finishes. "He ran in a bunch of paceless races."
In his latest work for the Forego, Aldebaran got five furlongs in :59 1/5, handily on the main track here. "He worked great," said Frankel assistant and Aldebaran's daily exercise rider Jose Cuevas. "He feels good. He's had a good summer."
The field for Sunday's grade I Forego Handicap:Post Position -- Horse/Trainer/Jockey/Weight1--Gygistar/Mark Hennig/Pat Day/119
2--My Cousin Matt/Scott Lake/John Velazquez/115
3--Proud Citizen/D. Wayne Lukas/Edgar Prado/114
4--Aldebaran/Bobby Frankel/Jerry Bailey/123
5--Sing Me Back Home/Allen Iwinski/Jeremy Rose/113
6--Mike's Classic/Allen Jerkens/Ray Ganpath/113
7--Najran/Nick Zito/Javier Castellano/113
