Gulfport and Damon’s Mound square off in G2 Saratoga Special

Emerging stars Gulfport and Damon’s Mound will look to make the grade in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juveniles, at Saratoga Race Course.

Cliff and Michele Love’s Florida homebred Damon’s Mound will provide trainer Michelle Lovell her first starter at Saratoga. Lovell, who was a jockey from 1989-94 and also in 1999, went out on her own as a conditioner in 2003. She will be in search of her first win at the Spa after finishing second on three occasions as a jockey in 1993.

“It’s really special,” said Lovell. “I’ve been there a few times and rode a handful of races there many moons ago, so I had the experience of being on the track and being in awe of the beautiful place that it is. But this is a whole new look and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Damon’s Mound, by Girvin and out of the multiple stakes-placed Stroll mare San Antonio Stroll, broke slowly in his July 2 debut sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs under returning rider Gabriel Saez. He tracked four wide before taking command through a half-mile in 45.49 and drew off to a 12 1/2-length score in a final time of 1:09.84.

“We knew he was good, but we didn’t know he’d win like he did because he did it in hand so easily,” said Lovell of the winning effort that garnered an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.