The Saratoga meet starts to wind down but we still have a lot of exciting racing including 12 races today, these are all state bred races and mostly stakes or maidens. Looks to be a good card so lets get some winners home today! As always be sure to follow me on twitter @cjfelts87.
Daily Gallop stats: Total: 355-90-69-72 (25% win, 65% ITM)
Saratoga ROI- bet $98 won $56.00 ($1.14)
Race 1 Seeking the Ante Stakes 150k state bred 2 yo fillies, 6.5 furlongs
Selections: 2-1-5
Top Pick: #2 Rossa Veloce should show improvement off her debut win at Saratoga last month, sat a good trip to defeat rival Summer Brew by half a length. Steps up to face tougher but Jose Ortiz stays aboard today.
Next up: #1 Make Mischief appears to be the favorite and may be overbet in this spot, two seconds where each time she never threatened the winner against tougher, now faces state breds as she draws the rail; Rosario gets the call.
Race 2 Maiden Special Weight 62k state bred 2yo, 6.5 furlongs
Selections: 7-8-3-1
Top Pick: #7 Masked Marauder is a first time starter for Rob Atras, high percentage trainer and jockey plus Palice Malice is 10% with first time starters with one of those runners putting up a 93 beyer, suggesting this guy can run to today’s par; Speightstown dam is unraced but her first time starters topped out at an 83 beyer so far.
Next up: #8 Judge N Jury can show improvement off his debut, Carmouche gets the mount and Danny Garan runners typically run better second time out.
Race 3 The Albany Stakes 150k state bred 3up, 1 ⅛ miles
Selections: 4-6-1
Top Pick: #4 Chestertown finds easier company after running in the Peter Pan last out, could be sitting on a big race in the third start of his current form cycle, Jose Ortiz hops on and he has shown he is capable of getting the distance.
Next up: #6 City Man will probably be the post time favorite for Joel Rosario and Christophe Clement, has competed well against stakes company and adds blinkers so he should be close to the lead early.
Race 4 Maiden Special Weight 62k state bred 2yo, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 5-6-10-12
Top Pick: #5 Martinez should find the winners circle today if he can improve off his debut, Shug McGuaghey is 27% stretching out and 21% with second time starters. Ortiz keeps the mount and will be there with a clean trip.
Next up: #6 Halpert (I’m assuming named after Jim Halpert from The Office) is a first time starter for Jeremiah Englehart and Luis Saez, More Than Ready is 10% with first time starters with beyers topping out at 102, work tab suggests he’s fit for today and Englehart is 20% with first time starters. Also don’t forget to neglect the Also Eligibles if they draw in, especially #12 I’m Blaming You.
Race 5 The Yaddo Stakes 150k state bred F&M 3up, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 2-4-6
Top Pick: #2 Fifty Five is a personal favorite horse of mine and she seems like the obvious favorite going into this race as the only millionaire in the field, looking for her fourth straight win as she has dominated the state bred stakes scene, layoff shouldn’t be an issue either as she has won off layoffs before. Will be a short price but is the most likely winner.
Next up: #4 Classic Lady goes out of Clement and Rosario who have been very hot teaming up this meet, looking for her second straight win as she takes on the talented Fifty Five. Could make out for a short priced exacta.
Race 6 Maiden Special Weight 62k state bred 3up, 6 furlongs
Selections: 12-3-11-6
Top Pick: #12 Saratoga Pal offers some value at 6-1 ML, draws the far outside which he will have to overcome but his last race was very strong where he overcame some trouble early, that was his first time on dirt since being gelded now he is eligible to improve again as Eric Cancel keeps the mount.
Next up: #3 Advanced Strategy gets back to the dirt after two turf tries and adds blinkers as Rosario stays on, a couple things working in his favor and can be there late with some improvement.
Race 7 Funny Cide Stakes 150k state bred 2yo, 6.5 furlongs
Selections: 1-3-5-7
Top Pick: #1 Eagle Orb is the horse to beat can he improve off his debut win, drawing the rail might be an issue but with a clean trip he should be there late. Steps up but is dangerous with his tactical speed.
Next up: #3 Market Alert will appreciate the drop in class after running against tougher in the Saratoga Special last time out, it’s promising that the connections still think he is a stakes contender and Lezcano keeps the mount today.
Race 8 Allowance 64k n1x state bred F&M 3up, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 1-6-3-8
Top Pick: This appears to be a weaker n1x race but #1 Crescent Lady makes the most sense on paper, finally got through to break his maiden at what looks like his preferred distance, improving 4 year old may be finding her stride and will be tough in this spot with improvement today.
Next up: #6 Astoria Kitten looks like one of the controlling speeds in this race, Saratoga turf routes are known for notoriously slow paces (usually 1:14ish for 6 furlongs) so maybe she can lead a slow pace and steal the race on the front end.
Race 9 Allowance 64k n1x state bred F&M 3up, 5.5 furlongs turf
Selections: 12-8-11-9
Top Pick: #12 Inside Info is interesting at a price, quick turnaround for Linda Rice who puts her on the grass, two back she was scheduled to run on turf then it got washed off and last race at this level was on fast dirt; now she (hopefully) gets to try grass again which is an interesting move for Rice and her 10-1 ML is nice enough to take a swing at it. Lezcano and Rice have a positive ROI when they team up.
Next Up: #8 Freewheeler will most likely go off as the favorite and will be dangerous with improvement, his last try at this level ran well and now he’ll get another try in a competitive field for Todd Pletcher and Irad Ortiz.
Race 10 Fleet Indian Stakes 150k state bred F&M 3up, 1 ⅛ miles
Selections: 5-2-3
Top Pick: #5 Critical Value opens as the 8-5 ML favorite who will be tough to beat with improvement off the layoff. Her one mile and an eighth race was a grade 2 where she finished a good second so she will benefit from easier competition here; two convincing wins against similar and Alvarado keeps the mount.
Next up: #2 Ice Princess ships over from Oaklawn of a 4 month layoff, blacktype winner gets Irad aboard and has the tactical speed to be competitive today.
Race 11 West Point Stakes 150k state bred 3up, 1 1/16 miles turf
Selections: 5-4-1-7
Top Pick: #5 Rinaldi offers a nice price at 6-1 ML, Luis Saez is a master at riding these speed horses in turf routes and I’m thinking he’ll be there at a price today. Steps up to stakes company but has room to improve here.
Next up: #4 Gucci Factor didn’t have a great race last time in the Fort Marcy but now gets class relief off the layoff and could be primed to run a triple digit beyer here with Joel Rosario riding for Christophe Clement.
Race 12 Maiden Claiming 40k state bred 3up, 5.5 furlongs turf
Selections: 3-4-9-8
Top Pick: Tough going in the finale so we’ll do a little price shopping and end up on #3 Inspector Hennig at 12-1 ML. Has tactical speed and his first try on turf was better than it may look on paper, now with that experience keeping Eric Cancel aboard he could be sitting on a big effort today.
Next up: #4 Smite is the obvious favorite who will benefit from class relief dropping from the maiden special level and Luis Saez of course is always dangerous on these speed horses on the turf.