Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from an action-packed Saturday that included memorable performances in the Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by DK Horse and Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga Race Course and the Bing Crosby Stakes and San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

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KEY CHANGE: It takes courage to add blinkers midway through the season to a colt that was 2-year-old champion and had done little wrong. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher made that bold move with Forte and that may well have made the difference in a taut nose decision against Saudi Crown in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes. At least jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. thinks so. “Irad said he thought (the blinkers) left him pretty focused and he wasn’t too headstrong,” Pletcher said. “I think they made a positive change without being overwhelming.” The son of Violence won for the seventh time in nine starts with a runner-up effort in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets off a 10-week layoff. He will head into the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes as the one to catch in the race for the Eclipse Award as North America’s top 3-year-old male.

The Chosen Vron and Berrios. (BENOIT photo)

STREAKING: The Chosen Vron won his eighth consecutive race on Saturday, but this time he left the company of California-breds to prevail in a stirring stretch duel in the $403,500 Bing Crosby Stakes and secure an automatic fees-paid berth in the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park. The Chosen Vron was ridden by Hector Berrios and is trained by Eric Kruljac. The winner overcame a bumping incident approaching the far turn. “I love to ride him,” Berrios said. “He’s very game and he makes it fun.” Kruljac admitted he was under pressure to enter the Crosby – from his foreman. “He told me he would shoot me if I did not run,” said a beaming Kruljac.

STAR POTENTIAL: Saudi Crown was late getting to the races, not making his debut for trainer Brad Cox until he broke his maiden on April 16 at Keeneland. The Always Dreaming colt has come to hand in a hurry since then, however. He followed his successful debut with an allowance win and then placed second in the Dwyer Stakes and the Jim Dandy. “Saudi Crown has a tremendous amount of upside,” Cox said. He intends to bypass another confrontation with Forte in the Travers and will instead target the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 23 at Parx Racing.

Elite Power and Ortiz. (Angelo Lieto/NYRA)

GREAT GIFT: Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott celebrated his 70^th birthday in style when champion male sprinter Elite Power overtook Gunite by a desperate head for Ortiz Jr. in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap. Elite Power notched his eighth consecutive victory on behalf of Juddmonte, including three this season. Mott is accustomed to winning at Saratoga on his birthday. This was the 18^th time he did so. “Winning on your birthday is fun, but the most important thing is that we generate Grade 1 winners for a major stable like this horse did,” Mott said. The Forego Stakes, set for seven furlongs on Aug. 26 at Saratoga, is likely next for the crack sprinter.

Senor Buscador upsets the San Diego. (Eclipse Sportswire)

BREAKING THROUGH: New Mexico-based trainer Todd Fincher had never won a stakes race at Del Mar. That changed in a big way when Senor Buscador, responding well to the handling of Geovanni Franco, pulled an upset in the $302,000 San Diego Handicap. Fincher’s pre-race instructions to Franco were key. “I told him to ‘Just let the horse do his thing. Don’t panic and start riding early. He’s got one strong kick. He’ll start picking them up at the half-mile pole on his own. Wait as long as you can, then push the button,’” Fincher recalled. When Franco asked, Senor Buscador answered in a big way on behalf of Peacock Family Holdings.