OffTrackBetting.com - Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York will play host to the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes on Sunday, August 14. Two year olds will be after the winner's share of the $200,000 purse when they take to Saratoga's dirt track and race 1 1/2 furlongs.

A short field of just five will take to the track in the Saratoga Special - race 9 on Saratoga's Sunday card. Post time is 5:40 PM. Let's take a glance into the past performances of all five combatants for this Grade 2 stakes - a race that saw Preakness Stakes and Haskell Invitational winner Exaggerator emerge last year.

2016 Saratoga Special Stakes Race Preview at Saratoga Race Course

Recruiting Ready - will hit the track for the third time Sunday having posted a win and a second place finish in two career starts. He enters off a pretty good graded stakes debut - a runner-up finish as favorite in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs July 2. That result followed an eye opening 10 1/4 length win at first asking at Pimlico May 28. Recruiting Ready has been a factor in both career starts to date and will be out to continue the upward trend from the outside post 5 Sunday. Irad Ortiz has the mount.

Sonic Mule - Todd Pletcher trained colt has just one career starts and it was a good one - a maiden score by an easy 3 1/4 lengths at Monmouth Park July 15. Sonic Mule was very good in his only action and will try to replicate that form from gate 2 Sunday. John Velazquez has been tabbed to ride.

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Tip Tap Tapizar - has two career starts for trainer Steve Asmussen with a win and a third place finish. He broke maiden at first asking - in gate-to-wire fashion at Churchill Downs June 11 and followed that with a respectable third right behind Recruiting Ready (nine lengths behind) last time out in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes July 2. Tip Tap Tapizar has looked good in his only two starts and hopes to maintain that trend from post 3 Sunday. Ricardo Santana gets the call.

Get Lit N Get Wild - Kevin Rice trained gelding has placed in four of five career starts - one win and three third place finishes - all MSW races at Presque Isle Downs. He finally broke maiden last time out August 2 after a third July 17, a fifth July 3 and consecutive thirds to start his career. Get Lit N Get Wild makes his stakes debut in OK form and will have Jose Ortiz in the saddle from the rail.

Gunnevera - has a win and a second place finish in three career starts for trainer Antonio Sano. He broke maiden last time out in his third career start after a fourth in the minor Birdonthewire Stakes July 2 and a maiden score at first asking - all results at Gulfstream Park. Gunnevera tries for his first stakes win Sunday and will have Javier Castellano in the irons from gate 4.

2016 Saratoga Special Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Saratoga's Sunday card with a Post Time of 5:40 PM.