Race 1– 5 1/2 F | 3yo & Up | MAIDEN CLAIMING: $40,000 | PURSE: $48,000 (TURF)
Selections: 6-10-3
#6 BLACKTOP LEGEND has had a handful of bad trips, but looks to be a solid contender in the race. His works have been average, but does have an experience advantage over some here. #10 SOUTH WEST BAY has had a little drop off in training performance since coming over to Saratoga, but I won’t let that stop me from using him. His early-career body of work is enough for me. I believe that #3 TEACHABLE MOMENT will like the cutback in distance.
Race 2– 6 F | F&M | 3yo & Up | MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT | PURSE: $90,000 (DIRT)
Selections: 1-3-7
#1 RAPPIDO GATTA broke sharply last time out and chased the pace before fading at the end; the winner of that race returned to finish 4th here on Wednesday with a 74 Beyer. #3 DOLL COLLECTION hasn’t really stepped forward in her last two outings. However the 3rd-place finisher from her last race returned to win with a 71 Beyer. I think she will enjoy the turn back to a sprint. #7 QUASAR hasn’t really done much since coming to the U.S., but does match up against this field from a speed figure standpoint. I’d play her at a decent price.
RACE 3– 5 1/2 F | 3yo & Up | CLAIMING: $25,000 | PURSE: $52,000 (TURF)
Selections: 2-4-9
#2 FRISKY MAGICIAN has finished on the board in 13 out of 20 career races at this distance, and is coming of a decent second last time out. #4 PSYCHIC ENERGY has shown improvement in his last two starts. Even in his other previous races, he has had good excuses not to hit the wire first. #9 ROYAL ASSEST has had some nice workouts that I really like and has also shown improvement over the last two starts.
RACE 4– 5 1/2 F | 2yo | MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT | PURSE: $90,000 (DIRT)
Selections: 5-1/1A-7-4
For a trainer who has had recent success in regards to first timers, #5 KOWALSKI has a good shot at snagging the victory. As for #1 SHOPLIFTED and #1A SOVIET, they show pedigree to both Asmussen and Pletcher, who are 22 percent and 23 percent on debut, respectfully. #7 COMPLEXIFIER shows a ton of value, sitting at 12-1 M/L. #4 ACRE is a player here as well.
RACE 5– 1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3yo & Up | ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING: $62,500 | PURSE: $95,000 (INNER TURF)
Selections: 4-2-7
#4 COMBATANT offers nice value. He has had trouble in the past, but didn’t have much of an excuse last time out. However, I like his recent form in training. #FRONTIER MARKET has only finished off the board once in eight career starts, which is even more impressive based on the trips he’s had. #7 EMARAATY has looked good since switching barns, and with the connections, would not be surprised to see this horse cross the wire first.
RACE 6– 6 F | State Bred | F&M | 3yo & Up | ALLOWANCE | PURSE: $80,000 (DIRT)
Selections: 1-9-5
#1 MAKING OUT finished third in her only attempt at the distance, but was 2-to-3 wide the entire trip and has had great workouts as of late. She is a major contender for trainer Levine Bruce. #9 MORE MISCHIEF has not finished out of the top-2 in all three of her career starts and has a good opportunity to do the same in this spot. #5 FLASHPACKINBARBIE is 1-for-1 lifetime, has ben working well and has one of the top figures in the race.
RACE 7– 1 1/16 Miles | 2 Year Olds | MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT | PURSE: $90,000 (TURF)
Selections: 5-1/1A-2
With Chad Brown behind the training and Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, #5 ECONOMIC POLICY fits well here. #1 SUL MOON and 1A GHOST OF THE MAMBO provide decent value for trainer Bill Mott as well. #2 BLANKET OF ROSES has been working well and gets paired up with Javier Castellano.
RACE 8– 6 F | 3yo & Up | ALLOWANCE | PURSE: $92,000 (DIRT)
Selections: 5-6-4-9
This is one of those races where I would have no problem hitting the “all” button, but for bankroll purposes, I won’t. #5 FORTUNE’S FOOL will most likely go off as the favorite, as he was complimented by Endorsed, who ran second in Friday’s Curlin Stakes. Also, I will be using #6 MORNING BREEZ, #4 CHATEAU and #9 OVERDELIVER.
RACE 9– 6 F | 3yo & Up | G1 STAKES (Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.) | PURSE: $350,000 (DIRT)
Selections: 4-1-3-2
Multiple graded stakes winner, #4 FIRENZE FIRE, is coming off a disappointing fifth-place-finish to MITOLE in the GI Met Mile at Belmont Park. However, cutting back in distance, in a race with plenty of speed, seems to be a nice spot for him here. With that being said, #1 MITOLE is by far the horse to beat and, arguably, the might be the best dirt horse in the country, but given the race circumstances, I will try to beat him. #3 IMPERIAL HINT and #2 STRIKE POWER offer value, too.
RACE 10– 1 3/8 Miles | 4yo & Up | G2 STAKES (Bowling Green S.) | PURSE: $250,000 (INNER TURF)
Selections: 5-1-3-2
#5 CHANNEL MAKER likes Saratoga and is back to defend his title from a season ago. #1 ARKLOW has been a solid horse for the majority of his career and is coming off back-to-back seconds at Belmont Park. He fits rights in with this stacked field. #3 YA PRIMO makes his American debut for trainer Chad Brown. Although it is a class test, he went 3-for-3 earlier this year in his homeland, and those wins weren’t even close. I’ll use him underneath, along with #2 SADLER’S JOY.
Race 11– 1 1/8 Miles | 3yo | G2 STAKES (Jim Dandy S.) | PURSE: $600,000 (DIRT)
Selections: 5-6-4
I’m a little hesitant to put #5 TACITUS on top, only because I see this race as feeling-out type of prep race for him, rather than an expected win kind of prep. #6 WAR OF WILL, who is also prepping for the G1 Travers Stakes, is dangerous here. The cutback in distance will prove to be beneficial to this horse. I really like him in this spot, but need to see him top TACITUS one more time. #4 GLOBAL CAMPAIGN is a speedster, who looked great wiring a one-turn nine-furlong GII at Belmont last time out. He looks to be the loan speed. If no one gets out to test him, he has a shot at another wired victory.
Race 12– 1 Mile | 3yo & Up | CLAIMING : $30,000 | PURSE: $48,000 (Inner Turf)
Selections: 5-12-4-9
To me, #5 SURGE PRICING seems to be the logical pick in this race. He won his first time out, ran an okay race in his first start against winners, and, now, drops in for a tag for Chad Brown. #12 LETTERMAN’s only victory came in the one race he went two turns on turf. #4 MY MACHO is another taking a drop in class, and #9 NO MO PROMISES will be a big price and could improve. I’m taking a shot with him here.