[Kasept]

Long, hot day at the Spa Saturday featured some notable performances and the leaking of money. Seeing Allen Jerkens win another G1 was worth losing the late P4 when Emma's Encore nosed Judy the Beauty in the Prioress and having some of the sports' good people like Janis Whitham, Ian Wilkes and Brian Hernandez win the Whitney with Fort Larned was equally heart-warming. Fort Larned blew apart the quality Whitney field showing an added stalking dimension to earn an ideal trip with solid, low profile pilot Hernandez seizing control of the race at the top of the stretch throttling the E Dubai colt into high gear. The move earned the field's lone 4 year old an immediate 4+ length lead that put the closers into panic mode. By the time Ron the Greek, Flat Out and Hymm Book found their best stride, the race was long over. Fort Larned's 110 Beyer makes him the 8th horse in 2012 to achieve a 110 or more fig at a mile or more joining Wise Dan (117), Shackleford and Caleb's Posse (Both 115's), Game On Dude (116), Nates Mineshaft (113), Royal Delta and Successful Dan (110's).

The day's wagering was manically frustrating having found several featured price plays that ran well but ultimately fell short of placements required for remunerative success. In the 5th, Fredricksburg (9-1) threw his head before the gates opened and missed the start before turning in a sustained run that got him the super slot in his debut. Mark him down for next time. Meanwhile, Summer Shiner (29-1) was involved from the outset chasing Craving Carats and ended third. The 6th saw Lord of Love (10-1) stymied for a beat while trying to rally, only to miss by a neck and head, third to Poliziotto and Prime Devil. In the De La Rose, Dancing to Town (10-1) ran a courageous race on the front end only to be headed at the wire by favored Dealbata that stole an exacta score out from under with winner Julie's Love. In the 11th, 23-1 Ya Gotta Have Soul lost the photo to 46-1 (!) Our Dark Knight quashing a big exacta with slam dunk 4-5 winner Dominus. Finally, in the nightcap, 24-1 Out of Your Mind was too fresh from the gate for Edgar Prado to deal with and after chasing 'chaser Manacor, leveled out in the stretch to be 4th. One price that did help out was the 7-1 on Fort Larned who hooked up with Ron the Greek for a decent $70+ exacta in the Whitney. So while there were consistent losses much of the day, I left knowing the concepts brought to the undertaking were valid enough. Hope everyone did OK and enjoyed the good Saturday racing. Vanderbilt Day Sunday with agood card and exceedingly intriguing feature with Shackleford, Emcee, Rothko, Justin Phillip and more..


SARATOGA RACE COURSE


PRE-SCRATCHES


1st: OC/N1X, F&M-3+, 9.5f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #9 Trophy Wife 3-1 WON ($8.30)
Best Value: #1 Centrina 6-1 5th
Next Best: #3 Decennial 5-1 9th
Exotics Use: #2 Forbidden Gift 10-1 2nd


2nd: MSW, 3+, 9f-IT (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #9 Input 3-1 2nd
Best Value: #6 Cornhusker 10-1 DNF
Next Best: #2 Conspiracy 4-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #1 Lelaps 10-1 WON ($10.60)


3rd: MSW, 3+, 5.5f-T (P3, DD)

Zito sends Mrs. Whitney's Prescott Brown, an Awesome Again colt out of KY Oaks winner Bird Town who has had trouble getting a foal to the races..

CAME OFF THE TURF

Most Likely: #5 Loud Pipes 7-2 2nd
Best Value: #7 Late SCR
Next Best: #2 Rockin Boogie 3-1 DNF-Lost rider
Exotics Use: #1 Our Mister 8-1 WON ($8.40)


4th: ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #7 Late SCR
Next Best: #6 Resonating 9-5 WON
Best Value: #2 Evasive Cat 8-1 6th
Exotics Use: #3 Brilliant Katie 5-1 3rd


5th: MSW, F&M-3+, 8.5f-IT (P3, DD)

CAME OFF THE TURF

Best Value: #7 Late SCR
Next Best: #8 Junoon 5-2 WON
Exotics Use: #10 Always Home 4-1 5th
Super Add: #2 Late SCR


<$75 P4 Play:

2: 1-2-6-9
3: 1-2-5-7
4: 2-6-7
5: 7-8-10

4x4x3x3 = 144 x .50 = $72

$0.50 Pick 4 (1/ALL/6,7/ALL) Paid $4.70 x 24 = $112.80


6th: MSW, 2yo-F, 8.5f-T P6, P3, DD)

Fun group with interesting peds including Paddy O'Prado baby sis Double Tapped. 3-1 on Three Hearts is an underlay. Pundits may cite her being a sib of Pluck, as if that's an endorsement..

Most Likely: #3 Double Tapped 6-1 6th
Best Value: #6 Pink Traffic 8-1 4th
Next Best: #1 Anita Chica 10-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #4 Skyfall 4-1 WON ($12.80)


7th: NY-ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 1m-IT (G/S, P3, DD)

Here it is... A NY-bred turf route allowance. The most productive value events on the circuit..

CAME OFF THE TURF

Most Likely: #1 I Dreamt I Was 7-2 3rd
Best Value: #4 SCR
Next Best: #5 SCR
Exotics Use: #2 Siracha 15-1 8th


8th: NY-MDN CLM, 2yo-F, 5.5f (P4, P3, DD)

Doubt the 5-1 on Sassy Expressions with Tony Dutrow numbers on the drop, etc..

Most Likely: #2 Sassy Expression 5-1 5th
Best Value: #7 Uncaged Heart 6-1 4th
Next Best: #6 SCR
Exotics Use: #5 Ascended Fever 3-1 3rd


9th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Professor Fate 4-1 4th
Best Value: #4 Ascauga 6-1 3rd
Next Best: #3 Thermal Cat 5-2 WON ($6.20)
Exotics Use: #8 Cajun Breeze 3-1 2nd


10th: 28th Vanderbilt H. (G1), 3+, 6f (DD)

Great group for this prep/companion to the Forego..

Best Value: #4 Rothko 8-1 5th
Next Best: #1 Shackleford 6-5 8th
Exotics Use: #3 Justin Phillip 10-1 2nd
Super Add: #2 Emcee 2-1 3rd


11th: CLM, 3+, 7f

Some scrammble in this nightcap with a million things going on at once: Drop downs, Cut backs, Turf to dirts, First off claim. you name it. Grab your angle and hold on tight!

Best Value: #10 Kid Wando 15-1 5th
Next Best: #5 Africanist 3-1 7th
Exotics Use: #3 My Man Dan 5-1 11th
Super Add: #4 Devoted Wildcat 8-1 4th


@$75 P4 Play:

8: 2-6/SCR-7
9: 4-6
10: 1-2-3-4
11: 3-4-5-9-10-11-14

3x2x4x7 = 168 x .50 = $84


Good luck!
Steve