8/19: Saratoga (Day 24-West Point; $61k C/O)
 

May have let one of the best possible scores of the meet slip by Wednesday when attempt to lean on Silver Timber as single in the feature cost the $3,337.50 ($1) late Pick 4. Julien Leparoux gave the multiple turf sprint stake winning Chad Brown trainee absolutely no chance to win in the Troy, while third choice 'Next Best' Awakino Cat ($14.60) found his seam on the way to the wire. When 'Super Add' Glacier Bay ($26.20) wired the nightcap, it combined with 6th race 'Best Value' Diablo's Fire ($7.20) and 7th race 'Most Likely' Avenging ($15.40) for the bulbous quad payoff.

One hope was that some listeners/readers took defensive cover from the P4 single via P3 plays around the feature; The 6th-8th trioka paid $238.25 while the 7th-9th returned $786.50... It was a quirky day overall as I struggled through the first half of the card before finding winners on the second half. Hope everyone did well and we can come across another opportunity like Wednesday's between now and Labor Day. Carryover in the P6 for the third time in 4 Thursdays where NYRA was ready to seed the sextet with $100,000!


SARATOGA RACE COURSE


POST-SCRATCHES


1st: CLM, F&M-3+, 8.5f-IT (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Opera Heroine 3-1 2nd
Best Value: #3 Fourth Chapter 8-1 3rd
Next Best: #4 Witchy Meeting 5-2 10th


2nd: MSW, 2yo, 5.5f (P4, P3, DD)

Typical Toga juvy event with well breds and well meants. Watch the board as betting barns like McLaughlin's will be clearly active or dead with a horse like #3 Emcee. #1 (POE) Justin Phillip, front end of Zayat ownership entry, is half to fast MSW Keyed Entry and SW Successful Mission, and Steve Asmussen told Seth Merrow and I on 'Keyword: Saratoga" Monday that the First Samurai colt has come along steadily and is well prepared after a long string of drills..

Most Likely: #1 Justin Phillip 2-1 2nd
Next Best: #2 SCR
Best Value: #3 Banned 12-1 5th
Exotics Use: #8 It's Truly Ahvee 4-1 3rd

SCR Add: #5 Major Duomo 15-1


3rd: OC/N3X, F&M-3+, 9f (P3, DD, Super)

Next Best: #4 Floating Heart 3-1 4th
Exotics Use: #5 SCR
Best Value: #2 Miss Match 5-1 WON ($9.40)
Super Add: #7 Manitoba Miss 8-1 5th


4th: CLM, 3+, 6f (P3, DD, Super)

#4 D'bigcat to SCR after drawing in and winning off-turfer Monday and no longer eligible for condition..

Most Likely: #5 Fuzzy's Story 3-1 2nd
Next Best: #2 Dance Floor Maniac 4-1 WON ($6.30)
Best Value: #6 Lion's Lair 8-1 4th


5th: MDN CLM, 2yo, 5.5f (P6, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #6 Wicky Jones 4-1 4th
Next Best: #5 It's My Party 3-1 5th
Best Value: #2 Ry Bread 5-1 7th
Super Add: #7 Thankfulness 7-2 6th


<$75 P4 Play:

2: 1-3-5-8
3: 2-4-5
4: 2-5-6
5: 5-6

4x3x3x2 = $72


6th: S/ALW, 3+, 7f (G/S, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #2 Star of New York 5-2: Collared late; Sits behind speed.. WON ($7.60)
Best Value: #5 Capt. Obvious 6-1: May simply prefer dry land.. 3rd
Next Best: #4 In Just We Trust 3-1 2nd
Super Add: #3 Eltish Star 10-1 4th


7th: NY-MSW, 2yo, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #8 Deciphering Dreams 3-1: May be the only actual horse in field.. WON ($5.70)
Best Value: #6 Artie Lovesto Party 8-1: Outside shot to be Schiller's first winner.. 10th
Next Best: #10 Cerveza de Barril 8-1 6th
Super Add: #2 Dual Citizen 10-1 2nd


8th: West Point-NY, 3+, 9f-IT (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #7 Straight Story 5-2: Class edge but pace pressure adds intrigue.. WON ($4.10)
Best Value: #2 Minnie Punt 9-2: Logical value inclusion saving ground for rally.. 7th
Next Best: #10 Banrock 3-1: Tough, consistent and loves the strip.. 4th
Super Add: #11 Piazza Di Spagna 30-1: In deep, but collapse potential and he'll run late.. 8th


9th: OC/N1X, 3+, 5.5f-T (DD, Super)

Quality turf sprint with bona fide faves and well-priced dirt-turf movers to consider..

Most Likely: #2 I've Got Speed 7-2 2nd
Next Best: #5 Delano 4-1 3rd
Best Value: #8 Bonavento 6-1 8th
Super Add: #7 Delong Road 12-1 5th


10th: CLM/N2L, F&M-3+, 1m-IT (Super)

Hard to get enthused about 5-2 ML favorite Such Time as This whose figs were earned at DelPark..

Best Value: #9 Jazzy Moves 5-1 5th
Next Best: #1 SCR
Exotics Use: #10 Cover Story 5-1 4th
Super Add: #7 Song for Pupcake 8-1 2nd

SCR Add: #2 Such Time as This 5-2 WON ($6.30)


<$200 P6 Play:

5: 5-6
6: 2-4-5
7: 8
8: 2-7
9: 2-5-7-8
10: 9-10

2x3x1x2x4x2 = 96 x $2 = $192


<$75 P4 Play:

7: 6-8-10
8: 2-7-10
9: 2-5-7-8
10: 9-10

3x3x4x2 = $72


Good luck!
Steve

That was a great example of how good Alan Garcia can be at times. He absolutely destroyed Silver Timber's chances from start to finish by keeping him hemmed in and when he got out it was far too late. We haven't seen many good rides from Garcia for the better part of a year but when he's on his game he's very good.

Best of luck today!

NT

Very interesting card today, G/L everyone.

any thoughts on the west point?

yes, seems like alot of speed in there. take the closers who have experience on the innner turf