Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Balance the Books (Lemon Drop Kid) came flying down the center of the Saratoga stretch late to just nip pacesetting Joha (Johar) in Thursday's GII With Anticipation S. The colt, still a maiden after a late-running runner-up effort over this same course and 1 1/16-mile distance Aug. 4, broke from the outside and was taken back to last and angled to the rail by Julien Leparaoux. He trailed the field down the backstretch as Joha set fractions of :23.60 and :47.71. Joha turned for home after three-quarters in 1:12.08 and opened a clear lead, looking home free at midstretch, before Balance the Books surged late to get his head in front on the wire. The 4-1 shot completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.30.
   "Down the backside, I saw him winding up for a big run," commented winning trainer Chad Brown. "I knew it would be close, but he got a hard bump from someone leaving the quarter pole, and I thought that would probably cost us the race. In the shadow of the wire, my hope rekindled a bit and we got there. It was a strong finish by Julien, and I'm grateful for that."
   Brown added that Balance the Books would now likely be pointed towards the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with a prep in either the Oct. 7 GIII Pilgrim S. or Oct. 6 GI Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.
   The victory continues a strong summer at the Spa for Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and Lawrence. The two won the GII Saratoga Special S. with Spurious Precision (High Cotton) and have been represented by Saratoga juvenile maiden winners Insolvent (Big Brown), Read the Proposal (Read the Footnotes), as well as GII Amsterdam S. winner Currency Swap (High Cotton).
   "Seth Klarman and Bill Lawrence give me some nice horses to train and I'm thrilled for them," Brown added. "They're having a terrific meet as owners, and I'm happy to get a Grade II for them."

Thursday, Saratoga Race Course
WITH ANTICIPATION S.-GII, $200,000, SAR, 8-30, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:42 1/5, fm.
1--#@BALANCE THE BOOKS, 116, c, 2, by Lemon Drop Kid
        1st Dam: Kreisleriana, by Seeking The Gold
        2nd Dam: Kooyonga (Ire), by Persian Bold (Ire)
        3rd Dam: Anjuli (Ire), by Northfields
($37,000 yrl '11 KEESEP; $160,000 2yo '12 KEEAPR). O-Klaravich Stables Inc & William H Lawrence; B-Scott C Heider & Knowles Bloodstock Inc (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Julien R Leparoux. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $137,000. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.




2--Joha, 120, c, 2, Johar--Mujado (Ire), by Mujadil. O-Wade M Wacker; B-BEC Bloodstock (KY); T-Michael J Maker. $40,000.
3--Charming Kitten, 120, c, 2, Kitten's Joy--Iteration, by Wild Again. O/B-Kenneth L & Sarah K Ramsey (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher. $20,000.
Margins: HD, 1 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.40, 3.15, 2.25.
Also Ran: Notacatbutallama, He's So Fine, Hightail, Almost An Angel, Craving Carats, Bernie the Jet. Scratched: Lawn Man, Private Tutor, Read The Proposal, Sonofasamurai, Special Skills, Sweet Shirley Mae, The B's And E's.
Click for brisnet.com PPs, brisnet.com chart or brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Taylor Made Sales.