Dandy Saturday all around at Saratoga..
By kasept. Filed in Uncategorized |
Thoroughly spectacular day Saturday at the Spa with beautiful weather and terrific action accommodating an ebullient throng of 31k+. The performances were excellent starting with the Pletcher powerhouse Competitive Edge (88 Beyer) whose debut sends him toward a Hopeful matchup with Big Trouble and the rest of the better Sanford exiters. Coup de Grace and C Zee were very good in the Amsterdam but the effort of The Big Beast 25 minutes earlier left an impression on observers. The Larry Jones and Tony Dutrow charges both earned 100 Beyers and a meeting in the King’s Bishop.
In the co-feature, Jimmy Jerkens capped off the Jim Dandy-Curlin double as Wicked Strong showed a new dimension parlaying blinkers-on into an authoritative Travers prep victory (98 Beyer) on the front end. Twenty four hours earlier, Jerkens had sent V. E. Day to a rallying score in the Curlin (88 Beyer) which marked Jose Lezcano’s 2,000th career win. Belmont Stakes hero Tonalist was an adequate but no excuse 2nd, failing to ever get closer than a length to the Wood Memorial winner. The result adds some rivalry pizazz to the Travers with the Centennial Farms star out-finishing the Robert Evans color-bearer for the first time in 3 meetings. Kid Cruz certainly will go in the meet’s Classic as well and with Haskell players potentially joining the fray, the Travers looms as an excellent confrontation at the end of August.
Work at the windows continued to build steam steadily Saturday too, with some key horse triggering tremendous multi-race or exotics returns. Wins from $58 Away Game, $17 Razzle Jazil and the excellent effort of 21-1 nightcap runner up Charity Reins all helped fill the coffers including the 3rd-5th and 4th-6th bonanza P3’s ($371; $1,016). Already enjoying a day where some good betting choices augmented solid opinions, it looked mid-stretch like Bravo and the Serpe claimant would parade home $45 winners in the 11th. But to his credit, Chris DeCarlo gave Elroi an absolutely brilliant ride and the Peter Pugh trainee inhaled Charity Reins in the final yards and a $326 ($2) exacta had to be the consolation prize.
Hope everyone did well. Another deep and tricky card on tap today with weather a bit threatening. Monmouth of course has a fantastic Haskell Day slate to consider as well..
SARATOGA RACE COURSE
POST-SCRATCHES
1st: MSW, 2yo-F, 7f-Off the turf (P5, P3, DD)
Sunday Sonnet a half to Pianist; Miss Always Ready a full to BC Juvy Turf winner More Than Real..
Most Likely: #1 Sunday Sonnet WON ($3.80)
Next Best: #2 Amy’s Image 2nd
2nd: S/ALW, F&M-3+, 9f-Off the turf (P4, P3, DD)
Most Likely: #7 Love the Breeding 3rd
Next Best: #2 Electro Peg WON ($7.70)
3rd: MSW, 2yo-F, 6f (P3, DD)
Nevin better with juvies after an outing, but be aware Paulassilverlining (10-1) is half to Dad’s Caps and 14x winner Conga Bella. Leiblongs are in town having enjoyed The Big Beast Saturday and High Dollar Woman could make the weekend even more special..
Most Likely: #5 High Dollar Woman 5-2 WON ($5.80)
Next Best: #6 Hopefaithjoy 3-1 3rd
Best Value: #3 Paulassilverlining 10-1 4th
Exotics Use: #2 Skipalute 7-2 5th
4th: MSW, 3+, 9f-Off the turf (P3, DD)
Most Likely: #12 Lunar Rover WON ($6.80)
Next Best: #5 Social Affair 6th
Best Value: #2 Shopping Spree 7th
Exotics Use: #1a Aslan 2nd
5th: CLM, F&M-3+, 8.5f-T (P6, P3, DD)
Most Likely: #14 Darnley Bay 2nd
Best Value: #8 Allie Sweet 5th
Next Best: #9 Who’s Mary’s Daddy 6th
Exotics Use: #4 Swakopmund 4th
6th: S/ALW, 3+, 7f (G/S, P3, DD)
Money to be made if you can figure out how to beat Dyker Beach..
Most Likely: #5 Dyker Beach 4-5 2nd
Best Value: #8 LATE SCR
Next Best: #6 Charitable 5-1 4th
Exotics Use: #3 Mack Miller 6-1 WON ($11.20)
7th: CLM/N2L, F&M-3+, 7f-Off the turf (P4, P3, DD)
Most Likely: #13 Mr Rico is Valid 3rd
Next Best: #9 Eurokay by Me 7th
Exotics Use: #11 Tacones WON ($10.80)
Super Add: #7 Sultry Warrior 5th
8th: OC/N3X, 3+, 7f (P3, DD)
Best Value: #5 Exploring 15-1 4th
Next Best: #1 Night Maneuver 3-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #4 Cozzetti 8-1 5th
Super Add: #6 Perilous Indian 6-1 3rd
9th: 38th Shuvee H. (G3), 9f (DD)
Antipathy looks like the right forward-going filly, but how confident can you be of anything from the 5/0-0-0 McLaughlin barn right now?
Most Likely: #3 Antipathy 9-5 WON ($6.40)
Next Best: #2 Flashy American 5-2 5th
Best Value: #4 Unlimited Budget 6-1 6th
Exotics Use: #5 Stanwyck 3-1 2nd
10th: NY-ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 9f-Off the turf
Most Likely: #4 Milkyyourway 5-2 2nd
Best Value: #5 Lucky Nancy 10-1 WON ($19.00)
Next Best: #15 Very Accompished 2-1 4th
Exotics Use: #16 Touching My Toes 5-2 DNF-Eased