9/1: Saratoga (Day 40; Hopeful)
 

After an emotional penultimate day that bid adieu to Tom Durkin's immortal race-calling career, the Saratoga season draws to a close Monday. The stand moved at what felt like an especially brisk pace this summer and the Labor Day slate offers one last opportunity to score at the Spa. I hope everyone has enjoyed the coverage of Saratoga and benefited from the information and opinions offered. It's been a great meet with no shortage of the typical ecstasy, agony and frustration and satisfaction.

After today, ATR moves back to 9a-12p Tuesday and will shift to Sirius 220/XM 206 next Monday. Note that the show will only be available online Tuesday-Friday on SportsZone 961 and at www.stevebyk.com.


SARATOGA RACE COURSE


POST-SCRATCHES


1st: OC/N2X, F&M-3+, 9f-T (P5, P3, DD)

Wide open start to season-ender..

Most Likely: #3 Keening 5-1 WON ($8.30)
Best Value: #4 Bella Serenade 15-1 6th
Next Best: #5 Clearbrook 2-1 5th
Exotics Use: #8 Lady of Gold 6-1 2nd
Super Add: #1 Kitten's Queen 6-1 3rd


2nd: NY-MSW, F&M-3+, 6f (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #2 Joshan's Giant 3-1 3rd
Next Best: #1 Brad's Ruby 7-2 WON ($9.80)
Best Value: #10 Jilly Mac 8-1 6th
Exotics Use: #7 Honeychild 12-1 4th


3rd: NY-MSW, 2yo, 5.5f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #4 Elusive New Yorker 4-1 10th
Best Value: #7 Got Winged 10-1 4th
Next Best: #8 Buddy the Elf 7-2 2nd
Exotics Use: #5 Mark My Style 8-1 3rd
Super Add: #9 Fleeting 3-1 8th


4th: Hopeful (G1), 2yo, 7f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #5 I Spent It 2-1 2nd
Next Best: #6 Competitive Edge 6-5 WON ($3.30)
Best Value: #4 Signature Cat 8-1 6th
Exotics Use: #3 Requite 4-1 4th


5th: NY-MSW, 3+, 6f (P6, P3, DD)

Treacherous group of older state bred MDN's..

Most Likely: #1e Live Oak entry 1-1 2nd/6th
Next Best: #9 Curious Cal 5-1 WON ($18.40)
Best Value: #4 Hidden Warrior Late SCR-Gate
Exotics Use: #5 Keen's Cupla 6-1 5th


P5/P4 Grid:

1: 3-4 (A), 5-8 (B), 1 (C)
2: 1-2 (A), 10 (B), 7-8 (C)
3: 4 (A), 7-8 (B), 5-9-11 (C)
4: 5-6 (A), - (B), 3-4 (C)
5: 1-9 (A), 4 (B), 3-5-8 (C)

$0.50 Pick 5 (3/1/6,11,12,13,14/6/9) Paid $1,505.00


P4 Grid:

2: 1-2 (A), 10 (B), 7-8 (C)
3: 4 (A), 7-8 (B), 5-9 (C)
4: 5-6 (A), 3-4 (B), - (C)
5: 1-9 (A), 4-5 (B), 3-8 (C)


6th: CLM, 3+, 1m-IT (G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #4 Live in Joy 5-2 WON ($6.30)
Best Value: #11 Abilio 12-1 6th
Next Best: #9 Which Market 5-1 5th
Exotics Use: #2 Where's Danny 30-1 2nd


7th: MSW, 2yo, 5.5f (P4, P3, DD)

Ask Chuck is a half to Here Comes Ben..

Most Likely: #1 Carpe Diem 8-5 WON ($3.40)
Best Value: #5 River of Dreams 12-1 5th
Next Best: #4 Ready for Rye 10-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #2 Old Mexico 6-1 8th


8th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 9f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #9 Box Office 5-1 3rd
Best Value: #1 Wizardly 8-1 7th
Next Best: #8 C J's Awesome 6-1 WON ($13.00)
Exotics Use: #7 Grand Strand 15-1 10th
Super Add: #6 Harpoon 6-1 6th


9th: Saranac (G3), 3yo, 9f-T (DD)

Most Likely: #1 Ring Weekend 8-5 WON ($5.10)
Next Best: #4 Cabo Cat 4-1 3rd
Best Value: #5 Storm 5-1 6th
Exotics Use: #10 Wallyanna 7-2 5th


10th: CLM, 3+, 7f

Most Likely: #10 Shankopotomus 5-2 10th
Best Value: #9 Seeker 15-1 9th
Next Best: #8 Moe Man 7-2 4th
Exotics Use: #1 Capital City 12-1 WON ($28.60)


P4 Grid:

7: 1 (A), 4-5 (B), 2-9 (C)
8: 1-8-9 (A), 6-7-10 (B), 2-3-5-11 (C)
9: 1 (A), 4-5 (B), 10 (C)
10: 10 (A), 8-9 (B), 1-4-7 (C)

$0.50 Pick 4 (1,9,11,12/8/1,2,6,9/1) Paid $366.25


Good luck!
Steve

Great job yet again today Steve.

Very fitting end to a terrific meet.

Congrats and thanks as always!!:tro::$:

Already looking forward to next Labor Day :eek:

Great job today Steve!!!

Great job Steve, congrats. :tro:

Awesome finish steve!!

Fantastic Steve! :tro::tro:

Great job today Steve and fantastic handicapping all meet. Glad you finally got that elusive P5 . I should have looked at your picks earlier and thrown the #9 in but then I would have jinxed you. Can honestly say the Spa has burnt me out and looking forward to some rest before gearing up for the fall.

Great job Steve, not only today,but the entire meet.Thanks again for your tremendous handicapping, that you share with everyone.I believe everyone appreciates the time and energy you spend on this forum.

What was the final percentage of winning favorites at the meet? Got a feeling like it might have been chalkier then previous meets

Home now after one last post-races group dinner and feeling the full effect of the 7 weeks for the first time. Though each one is unique, it was a typically terrific season with perhaps a couple more particularly special moments that will stay with all of us.

As I said this morning, I hope the coverage benefited everyone in some way. It was a very productive meet and it feels great to end on a high note. Thanks so much for the kind thoughts and expressions of appreciation.

Steve, way to finish strong! Congrats!

steve great meet .but hard to piggyback ur bets with abc method.personally preferred old way.too many bets to type in with abcs.

if they gave you a bag of $20's, you'd complain they weren't hundreds. does he have to punch the ticket out for you too ? Guy hands out winners all meet. Makes people happier than The Great Houdini. I think he might also be secretly be Artie T.

all im talking about is the pick 4 and pick 5 bets i preer the old way he did it the abc method takes a lot of bets room for error just my opinion

so do I, but he is the brains of the outfit, he loves us and wants us to win. There is a method to his madness, but he can change the mood from sad to gladness.......with a nice cold super.