SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: CLM, 3+, 8.5f-OFF THE TURF (P5, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 River Date 4th
Next Best: #8 Southside Warrior WON ($6.90)
Exotics Use: #1 Mills 2nd

2nd: MSW, 2yo, 8.5f-OFF THE TURF (P4, P3, DD)

Best Value: #12 Honorable Treasure 10-1 WON ($9.20)
Next Best: #8 Ezmosh 9-2 2nd
Exotics Use: #4 Congruity 3-1 3rd
Super Add: #6 Cullum Road 12-1 4th

$1 Exacta (12-8) $21.40
$1 Trifecta (12-8-4) $63.50
$1 Superfecta (12-8-4-6) $360.50

3rd: S/ALW, F&M-3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Meh. Typically nondescript starter hodge-podge. Favored Hexameter (9-5) isn’t all that special..

Most Likely: #4 Wildcat Belle 5-2 2nd
Best Value: #7 Kentucky Dancer 8-1 6th
Next Best: #5 …

DEL MAR TURF CLUB ~ OPENING DAY

POST-SCRATCHES

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

Very good cast with heady looking firsters (Pretty Owl, Snowdust, Literary Critic) facing off against several with experience (Classy Tune, Discreetly Leah, Slim Fit). Sherman’s Discreetly Leah & Proctor’s Slim Fit may compromise Callaghan’s favored Classy Tune with pressure on the front end.

Most Likely: #3 Pretty Owl 2-1 2nd
Next Best: #8 Classy Tune 9-5 WON ($4.00)
Best Value: #6 Literary Critic 10-1 5th
Exotics Use: #2 Slim Fit 5-1 4th

5th: MSW, 2yo-F, 5f (P6, P3, DD)

As discussed with Baffert, prospects for Just a Smidge appear good, but Hall of Fame …

DEL MAR

POST-SCRATCHES

4th: Cal-OC/N1X, F&M-3+, 6.5f (p6, P3, DD)

$89k Must Pay P6 C/O starts here..

Most Likely: #4 Late ‘n Left 5-2
Next Best: #5 Papa Mambo 3-1
Exotics Use: #3 Reckless Charm 4-1

5th: OC/N1X, F&M-3+, 9f-T (P3, DD)

Wildly competitive group. Almost no way to eliminate candidates. Pick and pray..

Most Likely: #8 Sutton’s Smile 9-2
Best Value: #5 Girl Downstairs 12-1
Next Best: #12 Lady Pamela 7-2
Exotics Use: #7 Mrs. Norris 8-1

6th: CLM, F&M-3+, 5.5f (P4, P3, DD)

Best Value: #2 Pragmatical 3-1
Next Best: #3 Buzzer Beater 7-2
Exotics Use: #4 Tuscany Beauty 9-5
Super Add: #5 Rockantheros 10-1

7th: 35th Matriarch (G1), F&M-3+, 1m-T (P3, DD)

Miss Temple City the filly to beat and Annals of Time win from #11 …

AQUEDUCT

POST-SCRATCHES

6th: OC/ALW, 3+, 6.5f (P4, P3, DD)

Whitmore returns to races and is using this as tightener toward Oaklawn season assignments. Tricky group to read with quixotically campaigned Summer Revolution SCR’D involved..

Best Value: #7 Eye Luv Lulu
Next Best: #3 Will Did It
Exotics Use: #1 Whitmore

7th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 1m-T (P3, DD)

Best Value: #4 Runaway Posse 8-1
Next Best: #3 Ross J Dawg 8-1
Exotics Use: #8 Bibbo 30-1
Super Add: #2 Tricked Up 3-1

8th: 70th Go For Wand (G3), F&M-3+, 1m (DD)

Most Likely: #4 Wonder Gal 9-5
Next Best: #3 Bar of Gold 8-5
Best Value: #1 Camille Claudel 20-1
Exotics Use: #7 High Ridge Road 6-1

9th: NY-MSW, 2yo-F, 8.5f-OFF THE TURF

Off the turf and other …

It’s been another delightful Spa session and I hope everyone has enjoyed the coverage and had their share of successes.. Big finish appears in store this Labor Day with stakes-dotted carryovers at both Saratoga and Del Mar.

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: CLM, 3+, 6f (P5, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Gambler’s Ghost 7-5 WON ($2.50)
Next Best: #5 American Creed 6-1 2nd

2nd: NY-MSW, 2yo-F, 7f (P4, P3, DD)

Home of the $800k New York bred ~ #5 Moondance..

Most Likely: #2 Swing and Sway 4-1 5th
Best Value: #4 Strawberry Tequila 5-1 2nd
Next Best: #7 Mini Megan 7-2 6th
Exotics Use: #5 Moondance 3-1 8th

3rd: MSW, 2yo, 8.5f-T (P3, DD)

Very …