Saratoga opener got meet off to a literal hot start with some terrific racing in mid-90’s heat that baked a crowd of 32,000. Most notably for wagering purposes, main track had a distinct late-runner/outside path flow to it that bogged pacesetters by midstretch. Only $750k weanling Bowie was able to hang on after cutting out fractions up front and was fortunate the 5.5f wire arrived when it did. Obviously, watch for how Saturday’s surface plays with 4 sprints before the ALW route 9th featuring the return of My Man Sam from the Derby. Turf was seemingly fair with stalkers fairing better than deep closers. ATR listeners came within a nostril of giant win mutuel off Gary Gullo visit and explanation of why Scarlet Goddess was likely to run well off the claim, stretching out first time on the turf with the tongue tie being removed. A $39 place tote and $204 exacta with 5-2 favorite Annie Rocks was the consolation prize for those that jumped aboard. Hope everyone enjoyed Day 1 and did well. Season is underway and Saturday should be terrific with a compelling Diana as the feature. 9:03pm ET for California Chrome v. Dortmund in the San Diego too..

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: CLM/N2L, 3+, 6.5f (P5, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #7 Afleet Martini 7-2 2nd
Best Value: #6 Roman Revival 5-1 5th
Next Best: #1 Zamjara 8-5 DNF-Pulled UP
Exotics Use: #3 Money Changer 5-2 WON ($7.60)

2nd: MSW, 2yo, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

Potential to be explosive if you want to get adventurous with prices utilizing pedigree angles. Unbridled Eagle for instance from solid turf routing dam Pleasant Song and half to equally adept Rooster Cruiser. Adds Lasix and Saez..

Best Value: #4 Unbridled Eagle 30-1 3rd
Next Best: #7 Our Stormin Norman 5-1 5th
Exotics Use: #6 One of a Kind 8-1 7th
Super Add: #1 Master Merion 9-5 2nd

3rd: Sanford (G3), 2yo, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #5 Bitumen 8-5 WON ($3.90)
Best Value: #1 Zartera 9-2 3rd
Next Best: #2 Random Walk 7-5 2nd

4th: MCLM/$40k, 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #8 Come as You Are 4-1 WON ($4.60)
Next Best: #7 Onlytheshadowknows 5-2 2nd
Best Value: #6 Whitegate SCR
Exotics Use: #3 Chomsky 3-1 3rd

5th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 5.5f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #2 Altar Boy 7-2 4th
Best Value: #5 Big Rock 8-1 WON ($15.40)
Next Best: #3 Canadian Flyer 3-1 6th
Exotics Use: #10 Cort 9-2 3rd

P5 Grid:

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

Simple (A+B): 6x4x3x1x2 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A’s: 3x2x3x1x2 = 36 x .50 = $18

P4 Grid:

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

Simple (A+B): 4x3x4x3 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A’s: 2x3x1x3 = $18 ($9 for .50)

$0.50 Pick-4 (2/5/6,8,9/5) Paid $199.25

6th: MSW, 2yo, 5.5f (P6, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Forge 7-2 5th
Best Value: #7 Royal Copy 12-1 2nd
Next Best: #8 One Liner 3-1 WON ($7.80)
Exotics Use: #5 Any Questions 6-1 9th

7th: OC/N2X, 3+, 8.5f (G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #8 Ascend 4-1 WON ($9.40)
Next Best: #2 Inordinate 9-5 5th
Best Value: #10 Ice Cutter 15-1 6th
Exotics Use: #Slim Shadey 8-1 2nd

8th:OC/N1X, 3yo, 1m-IT (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1e Woodford entry 5-2 8th/10th
Best Value: #6 Conquest See Ya 10-1 4th
Next Best: #2 Our Way 6-1 WON ($22.00)
Exotics Use: #9 Hockey School 8-1 3rd

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

Enough pace here to embrace My Man Sam wholeheartedly?

Best Value: #1 Gray Sky 9-2 4th
Next Best: #4 My Man Sam 8-5 2nd
Exotics Use: #6 Testosterone 5-1 5th

10th: Diana (G1), F&M-3+, 9f-T (DD)

Yes, I’ll protect with Dacita, annoying as she is..

Best Value: #5 Mrs McDougal 10-1 7th
Next Best: #4 Wekeela 7-2 10th
Exotics Use: #2 Miss Temple City 3-1 4th
Super Add: #9 Rainha Da Bateria 20-1 3rd

11th: CLM, 3+, 8.5f-IT

Most Likely: #3 Aripeka 7-2 3rd
Best Value: #10 Dream Man 6-1 2nd
Next Best: #2 Winter Springs 5-2 4th
Exotics Use: #4 Procurement 8-1 WON ($14.60)

P4 Grid:

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

Simple (A+B): 3x2x6x4 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A’s: 3x2x3x2 = 36 x .50 = $18

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