Summer gets even better as Spa opens
By kasept. Filed in Uncategorized |
As Tom Durkin says in the familiar Spa advertising, ‘the season you wait for all year’ has arrived, and a very challenging 10 race card is upon us. It’s a big week with Del Mar’s opening Wednesday, the Spa stand kicking today and superb stakes action throughout North America through Sunday. Saratoga will be contentious as always this summer and it won’t take more than a good idea or two any afternoon to make your Toga play successful.
I hope many will get a chance to make a trip to ‘the foothills of the Adirondacks’ between now and Labor Day. With Saratoga’s 150th anniversary celebration and a lot of the contentiousness around New York racing abating, it feels as if this is going to be a great season.
Best of luck for Saratoga 2013!
SARATOGA
POST-SCRATCHES
1st: OC/N1X, 3+, 9.5f-T (P3, DD)
Have had odd run of meet opening hits the last 3 years that has included $28 Nine O Wonderful, $14 Boat and Kerry Metiver’s $48 Dontstealmyland. leading to early advantages. That doesn’t always happen, and patience, discipline and determination are paramount to success over these next 7 weeks. This edition of the lid-lifter looks wide open, so don’t be shy about trying to start your meet off with a bang..
Most likely: #10 Cheyenne Nation 5-1 3rd
Best Value: #8 State Flag 10-1 5th
Next Best: #12 Hardest Core 9-2 WON ($11.40)
Exotics Use: #4 Money in Motion 12-1 11th
2nd: CLM, 3+, 8.5f-IT (P4, P:3, DD)
Droppers, surface changers, barn switchers.. Tough way to kick off the first P4 of the year. 2012’s version of this race on opening day produced Roy Lerman’s $75 winner Presumptive. Gary Gullo says he’ll likely SCR #2 Springcourt (20-1) due to the heat. Interesting candidate if staying in..
Most Likely: #10 Volcano Run 7-2 6th
Best Value: #12 Short Shrift 10-1 WON ($30.40)
Next Best: #9 Dual Citizen 9-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #8 Yankee Fourtune 6-1 8th
3rd: MSW, 2yo-F, 5.5f (P3, DD)
Pletcher SCR’s apparent stronger half of the entry..
Best Value: #3 Predicate 8-1 3rd
Next Best: #7 Art of the Game 5-2 4th
Exotics Use: #1 Stopchargingmaria 1-1 WON ($3.00)
Super Add: #6 J. Quirk 10-1 2nd
4th: On the Bus-NY, F&M-3+, 8.5f-IT (P3, DD)
Most Likely: #3 Hessonite 6-5 WON ($3.80)
Best Value: #4 Inimitable Romanee 8-1 2nd
Next Best: #5 Shakeira 2-1 6th
Exotics Use: #6 Mystic City 12-1 4th
5th: MSW-NY, 2yo-F, 5.5f (P6, P3, DD)
Some well bred NYers here including Hangingwithsonny (Half to 6x winner Hangingonaprayer); Flying K C (Half to Mott turf winner Mobridge); Michonne (Half to SW I’m a Numbers Guy); Talk to Me (Half to quickish winners Berry Bound & Wild Berry). Maker slaps Lasix on to I’m Gonna Flip and reaches for Castellano..
Most Likely: #5 I’m Gonna Flip 5-1 6th
Next Best: #7 Irish Sweepstakes 5-2 WON ($4.20)
Best Value: #3 Michonne 10-1 8th
Exotics Use: #2 Flying K C 4-1 4th
<$50 P4 Play:
2: 4-5-8-9-10-12
3: 1-3-6-7
4: 3
5: 2-3-5-7
6x4x1x4 = 96 x .50 = $48
$0.50 Pick 4 (12/1,2/1,2,3,8/7,9) Paid $86.50
6th: NY-ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 5.5f-T (G/S, P3, DD)
Jere. Englehart’s Irish Whisper is by Langfuhr out of City Zip mare Tishmeister. Move to lawn should suit, has plus style for assignment and maiden-breaking effort from May takes this..
Most Likely: #8 Irish Whisper 5-1 12th
Best Value: #2 Invading Humor 10-1 3rd
Next Best: #3 Subtle 4-1 WON ($11.20)
Exotics Use: #9 Neck of the Moon 3-1 4th
7th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 7f (P4, P3, DD)
Deep, outstanding group. I’m reaching around for viable prices..
Best Value: #7 New Line 10-1 WON ($24.80)
Next Best: #6 Strike One 4-1 8th
Exotics Use: #8 Indy’s Illusion 12-1 7th
Super Add: #3 Coin Flip 8-1 9th
8th: 6th James Marvin (G3), 3+, 7f (P3, DD)
Other than the American Oaks at HOL, can’t think of a stakes race that has become a fixture as quickly as the Marvin. Another solid cast this year and another ‘A’ race from Souper Speedy should be imposing..
Most Likely: #3 Souper Speedy 5-2 4th
Next Best: #4 Sage Valley 5-1 WON ($8.90)
Exotics Use: #1 Politicallycorrect 4-1 2nd
Super Add: #2 Hello Lover 15-1 3rd
9th: 95th Schuylerville (G3), 2yo-F, 6f (DD)
Easy to conceive Bahnah not reprising her Churchill debut. Brazen Persuasion the only filly here that has won at the distance, a favorite angle in these early season juvy events. John Robb will be looking to sweep the opening weekend baby bumps with Jonesin for Jerry here and flashy Debt Ceiling in the Sanford Sunday. Pletcher has cross-entered Yes Liz in the Sanford by the way, so it will be interesting to see what he does at SCR time..
Most Likely: #4 Brazen Persuasion 3-1 WON-DH ($2.80)
Next Best: #1a (POE) Yes Liz 5-2 4th/3rd
Exotics Use: #5 Bahnah 7-5 WON-DH ($2.40)
10th: NY-MSW, 3+, 8.5f-IT
Most Likely: #2 A Better Tomorrow 7-2 6th
Next Best: #7 Hudson Miracle 4-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #9 Sunbio 5-2 7th
Super Add: #8 Sonnyandpally 8-1 WON ($25.80)
<$50 P4 Play:
7: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8
8: 3
9: 1-4–5
10: 2-7-8-9
8x1x3x4 = 96 x .50 = $48