The six 2-year-old colts entered in Sunday’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special have all won nothing more than a maiden race apiece, and they did so over three types of surfaces at six different tracks. From the rail out, it’s a matchup among maiden winners Exaggerator (Del Mar dirt), Holding Gold (Woodbine synthetic), Hammers Vision (Belmont turf), John Q. Public (Ellis dirt), Saratoga Mischief (Saratoga dirt), and Mid Life Crisis (Delaware dirt). Saratoga Mischief is the morning-line favorite at 9-5, not only because his victory came over today’s track and distance but also because he earned the top dirt Beyer Speed Figure in the field, recording an 81 for his debut triumph July 25 at the Spa. He also appears to have the right running style for a field of 2-year-olds that is surprisingly short on precocious early speed. Only Mid Life Crisis won his maiden race on the front end, and Saratoga Mischief should be close early based on his stalking debut performance. Exaggerator was flown in from California just three days ago and looks second best on paper but may require a stronger pace than he’ll get today to be most effective. In his two California starts, he has been ninth of 10 and seventh of nine in the early going and was up in the final stride to win his second start by a nose. :: Bet the Saratoga Special with DRF Bets and get FREE access to this article and all of DRF Plus, including Saratoga selections, video, and real-time analysis. Everybody’s guessing on whether Holding Gold and Hammers Vision will make the synthetic-to-dirt or turf-to-dirt transition today, especially because their sires are unknown quantities in American dirt racing, with fewer than a dozen foals by each having run in North America. Holding Gold is by the Australian-bred stallion Lonhro, and Hammers Vision is by first-crop sire Court Vision, a turf miler. Holding Gold will take a lot more money because trainer Mark Casse’s runners always do, even though he snapped a five-year, 0-for-22 record in Saratoga dirt races when he won a statebred race with a 7-5 shot last Thursday. Hammers Vision should offer much better value. It is difficult to endorse Mid Life Crisis or John Q. Public. Mid Life Crisis won his debut from gate to wire at Delaware against a suspect field and will have to improve sharply on his winning Beyer of 61.  His best chance may be to get loose early and lull the field to sleep behind him. John Q. Public comes off a 15-length drubbing three weeks ago in the Sanford three weeks ago, in which he had a poor start but did little running thereafter. He adds Lasix today for the first time but would have to improve mightily on his first two starts to be competitive here. :: DRF Bets Exotic Summer: Get a 20% bonus on all winning trifectas Sunday at Saratoga