A good ten race card is scheduled for Sunday at Saratoga, with the Saratoga Oaks Invitational serving as the feature, for three year old fillies at the testing nine and a half panels distance over the Inner Turf. Without further due, lets go to the comments:
1st race: 6½ Furlongs. ™Mdn 72k Purse $72,000 (UP TO $12,528 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD.
3-4-1
Cantata (3) is another debuting 2 year old filly trained by Steve Asmussen with lots of potential. Her $950K tag price tells us they look for this filly to be a good one. Stone Town (4) had a pretty nice debut, showing good speed against Lucifer’s Lair, who eventually ran in a stakes race. Improvement is expected in this second race lifetime for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. School of Thought (1) draws the rail for her vow run. Her works suggest she is fleet footed out of the gate and Chad Brown is slowly getting off the schneid here at the Spa. Irad takes the reins.
2nd race: 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) MC 40000 Purse $45,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $7,830 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
1-2-3
The Mike Maker entry will be my top choice in this race, with Chocolate Bar (1) returning to the level in which he was competitive and Lokoya Road (1A) running for a tag for the first time. Then we have the Klaravich team sending Complex System (2), who should be forwardly placed from the start, stretching out to a mile and Forward Curve (2B), who debuts for Jorge Abreu, hitting at 40 % here at Saratoga. Seize the Hay (3) completes the selections, this one also dropping for the first time for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has had a resurgent Spa meet.
3rd race: 6 Furlongs. ™Clm 25000n3L Purse $45,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
4-5-3
Rude Awakening (4) drops to this level for the first time and should be forwardly placed from the start, right behind the early leaders. Lezcano preferred her over the other Linda Rice trainee. Lady C (5) seems to be improving, task is much harder now, but Amoss is a solid trainer and if she keeps increasing those figures, she will be right there at the end. Officer Hutchy (3), hasn’t shown the same she showed about six months ago, but now is at a level in which she should be much more comfortable.
4th race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) ™Clm 40000n2L Purse $49,000 (UP TO $8,526 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
6-2-1
Skye Snow (6) was running against better fillies down at Gulfstream, now with Irad on the saddle, should be able to stalk the pace from the start and come rolling late. Lido Key (2) always gives a good account of herself and Mc Peek and Gaffalione form a very nice team. She drops for a tag for the first time in more than a year. Make or Break (1) did well in this same level in her kost recent start, after having some problems along the way. If she can get an easy lead, she can be dangerous.
5th race: 1 3/8 Mile. (Inner Turf) OC 80000n3x Purse $78,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $13,572 NYSBFOA) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
2-6-4
Strategy will be key in the final outcome of this race. We don’t see a true speedster signed in, so we look for a horse that can dictate the pace, and that horse can be Midnight Tea Time (2) . I know he is just 3 for 24 lifetime, but he has 6 seconds and 7 thirds, proof that he always puts a good effort. Nakamura (6) should be much fitter now for his second after the long layoff and Johnny V. follows him up from Keeneland, always a good sign. He’s NO Lemon (4) has maybe the best running lines in this group, needs pace to be effective, that why I relegated him to third. This is a race that calls for the All Button.
6th race: 6½ Furlongs. MC 30000 Purse $42,000 (UP TO $7,308 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS,THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
7-5-2
Striking Speed (7) returns to the main track after a failed attempt in the grass in a much tougher group. Linda Rice hits at 30% going two classes down and the horse has three works in preparation. We don’t see that much speed in here, another factor in his favor. Seize the Day (5) was a Baffert trainee that obviously didn’t make the grade in such a prestigious barn. Now under the tutelage of Rodolphe Brisset, he is also getting back to the dirt. Lets see how he performs. Lost in Rome (2) is knocking at the door in groups similar to this one, with a lil more improvement he can get the job done.
7th race: 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) Alw 74000n1x Purse $74,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $12,876 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
10-6-9
Mo Gotcha (10) stretches out from seven furlongs to a mile, something I think will favor him, because the pace will be somewhat slower now, and with scarce speed, he can take them wire to wire. La Hara (6) just ran against Colonel Liam, who performed creditably in a Grade III yesterday. With a better start, he will be a force to be reckoned with. Duress (9) stumbled at the break in his return to the races, with that one under his belt, he is very live in a very contentious race.
8th race: 6 Furlongs. ™‘OC 40000n2x Purse $67,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
2-11-8
Fierce Lady came very lethargic out of the gate, Rosario put her in contention and then faded late. Now she should be much more ready for her best effort. Big Q (11) is dropping from stakes company into this allowance race, and just for that, her chances are very reasonable. The good outside post will allow her to watch what happens up front and come with her bid from mid race on. Good Credence (8) can be the sleeper in here, looked very nice in winning in front running fashion her most recent, in the mud and from an inside post. 12/1 is a great price on her, if you can, put her in your ticket.
9th race: 1 3/16 Mile. (Turf) ™SarOaksB500K Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. Purse $500,000 AN INVITATIONAL FOR FILLIES, THREE-YEARS-OLD.
6-2-1
This is a very nice purse for an ungraded stakes race. Ricetta (6) comes from Great Britain, in where she placed in a Grade III. Those races are much tougher than these and she has run a similar trip to this one. Bill Mott debuts her in a stakes race, so he feels he can be aggressive with this placing. Enola Gay (2) is a talented filly that is stretching out from a mile, after winning a Grade II at Keenleand. Jose Ortiz should put her at or close to the lead, coming from shorter trips and is very dangerous. With just three races lifetime, there is still upside potential here. Speaktomeofsummer (1) already won at the Spa, taking the Grae II Lake Placid, closing into a tepid pace. She will need to improve some more, but ability is there.
10th race: 6 Furlongs. Clm 40000n2L Purse $49,000 (UP TO $8,526 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
3-4-1
Southern Bridge (3) drops dramatically for Bill Mott, who can be in the verge of a nice streak at the Spa. The cutback in distance also helps him, and the return to the dirt after the grass try should be much beneficial for him. Red Zinger (4) returns from a long stay in the bench dropping to run for a tag for the first time. Englehart hits at a 27% clip doing so and hasn’t missed a beat in the work tab. The big upset here can be Liam’s Fire (1), who ran versus open claimers last time out and gave a good account of himself, now gets restricted claimers to run against. 15/1 is a good price with this horse.