Another great Sunday of racing here at the Spa, with eleven races on tap. Four stakes races are to be run today, with the inaugural rendition of the Saratoga Derby being the main feature and the Grade II Adirondack as the co-feature. Let’s go to the comments:
1st race: 7 Furlongs. ™Mdn 90k Purse $90,000 (UP TO $15,660 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD.
Daphne Moon (4) – Works have been constant and solid for her debut run, and her price tag was 21 times her stud’s fee. Englehart and Jose Ortiz form a nice duo, clicking at a 22% winning rate and should be forwardly placed from the bell.
Weekend Fun (7) – She got tired in her vow run, now she should be more fit to withstand pressure up front, and Santana keeps the assignment for one of his main clients, Steve Asmussen. Works have been of maintenance side.
Lucky Dime (5) – Another first time starter with very nice breezes for his vow run, and she is a half sister to Mitole, so speed should be expected from her. Mott is not known for winning first time our regularly, but can not overlook her completely.
2nd race: 6½ Furlongs. Clm 12500 Purse $34,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. Three Year Olds
Data Driven (2) – Has been a repeated bridesmaid at six furlongs. Now has an additional 100 yards to work with and the pace should develop in his favor. Franco has been somewhat cold in this meeting so far, but this is a great jockey and I expect an increase on his win total very soon.
Curious Cal (5) – Veteran eight-year-old Monmouth shipper that has shown steady improvement over his last three races. Looks like he is the main speed of the race, and there is some of that here, but Navarro is deadly as a shipper, and when he sends them here, it’s because he thinks he is live.
A Different Style (8) – This is the lowest class of horses that he has faced in a long time. It is true that those last outings have leave a lot to be desired, but trainer Amoss hits at a 30% clip 3rd off the layoff and 28% first time in a claiming race, and that last work means je is in good enough shape to win here.
3rd race: 6½ Furlongs. ‘JMorrissyB100K John Morrissey S. Purse $100,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Build to Suit (4) – Extremely talented colt that obviously has had some issues that hasn’t allowed him to have a long campaign. Only seven races lifetime being a five year old horse are a testament of that, but if Chad Brown pencils him in a stakes race out of a six month layoff, it’s because he is good enough to win.
Gold for the King (6) – Coming from running in graded stakes, this is a drop in class for him. I am not that sure that the pace of the race favors him, but Rosario takes the reins and he should be able to out him closer to the pace that in other races.
Eye Luv Lulu (7) – This is the speediest of this bunch and if he is left with a clear lead, he will be dangerous. My main concern with him is that he is 0 for 6 lifetime at the Spa.
4th race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) ™Mdn 90k Purse $90,000 (UP TO $15,660 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD.
Situation Room (4) – Debut runner for Chad Brown in the grass, at two turns; that tells a good part of the story. Add to that the mount by Javier Castellano and the fact that she went for 27 times her stud’s fee.
Sparkling Sky (8) – It is not the norm that Todd Pletcher debuts a two year old on the grass. This one seems to be a talented filly, with a $650,000 price tag and with works that seem to indicate she is ready to roll first time out.
Swanage (6) – Ellis Park shipper with two races under her belt, so experience is on her side. Has shown plenty of early foot and she fought hard only to be bested right at the wire in her most recent. Stakes are higher now, but improvement is not out of the question.
5th race: 1½ Mile. (Inner Turf) ™Waya-G3 Fasig-Tipton Waya S. Grade III. Purse $200,000 INNER TURF FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Gentle Ruler (6) – This marathon is lacking of any true speed type horse, so I think this lady can dictate how the pace will go. She has shown affinity for this distance, and has won four in a row, including a Grade III in her most recent, all of them with Landeros on her saddle.
Santa Monica (4) – Definitely the most accomplished participant in this race, being a two time Grade II winner. Pace of the race definitely is not of her liking, so Ortiz will have to decide where exactly he will put her in relation to the leaders.
Fools Gold (2) – Improving with each new race, she will need to step up a notch to compete against my top picks, but Castellano has already won with her and further improvement is definitely not out of the question.
6th race: 6 Furlongs. ‘Clm 25000 Purse $52,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
The Caretaker (2) – Sharp drop in class for him and seems to love the Saratoga main track, winning two out of three lifetime. Hopefully Luis Saez will have the pace to maneuver from that number two hole and I expect him to be right there when all the marbles are counted.
Oh Shea Can U See (7) – Claimed in his last race by Linda Rice, who excels first off the claim with a 37 % effectiveness. Needs a hot pace in front of him and looking at the participants, I think he can get it. Franco and Rice hit together at 21%.
Tribecca (8) – The fastest of this group and he also is taking a steep drop in class in relation to his last race. Carmouche specializes in speed type horses so expect him to be at or very close to the lead, and if they let him loose, watch out.
7th race: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) OC 62500n2x Purse $95,000 (UP TO $16,530 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Battle Station (9) – That last allowance in which he took part looks to be a tougher race than this one, with a Grade I winner coming on top. Johnny V. takes the reins for good friend Wesley Ward and the outside post gives him alternatives.
Final Frontier (1) – Uncomfortable post, but Lezcano will be looking for the lead at all costs, and if he can get free of any trouble at those initial stages, he will be a tough beat. The short cut back in distance is another factor in his favor and already won at the Spa, although he was disqualified.
Pagliacci (2) – Love the quick turn around from running just a week ago. Linda Rice loves to do this, and generally, she is extremely effective in pulling these kind of stunts. The number two post is no easy pickings, but he showed vast improvement in his most recent and can’t be surprised if he comes on top.
8th race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) ™‘Alw 80000n1x Purse $80,000 INNER TURF FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Chiclet’s Dream (8) – Seems like Chad Brown was waiting for the Spa to start to run this filly, who was very good last year here at Saratoga. Castellano has been her only rider, and keeps the mount in a race in which she should be close to the pace from the gitgo.
Rumor Driven (10) – Showed nice affinity for the tow turn configuration, and once ran in an off the turf event, meaning they have intended to run here in the green stuff. Irad and Chad, as you all know, are a potent combo and she will be forwardly placed from the beginning.
Noble Jewel (4) – That last race was bad, but her debut was a win in a very fast maiden special race. If she takes nicely to the two turns, she can be a nice upset.
9th race: 1‰ Mile. (Turf) SarDrbyIvB1000K Saratoga Derby Invitational S. Purse $1,000,000 AN INVITATIONAL FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS.
Digital Age (8) – He came from post thirteen in his last race, anyway closed nicely to miss by just two and a half lengths. Now has a much better post and the pace should be of his liking. Irad is riding as good as ever and is looking to take the leading jockey of the meeting.
Mohawk (10) – First time in the US for this Aidan O Brien trainee. He is a multiple Graded winner in Ireland and Great Britain, so you know this is a quality horse, it is just a question of how good a shape he is for this race. Jockey Wayne Lordan has the assignment.
Henley’s Joy (1) – Big rebound in his most recent when he won the Belmont Derby at odds of 20-1. He will be a much shorter price now, but I think you can still find some value with him. Has a nice inside post and Lezcano keeps the mount.
10th race: 6½ Furlongs. ™Adirondk-G2 Adirondack S. Grade II. Purse $200,000 FOR FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD.
Frank’s Rockette (2) – Extremely impressive debut at Churchill Downs for trainer Bill Mott, who is not known for having them at 100% at first asking. I expect a better performance today from this filly, who will be my best bet of the day. Leparoux rides back and is running on Lasix for the first time.
Magic Dance (8) – Two wins in the same number of starts from this filly, who exudes talent very similar to her half sister, Grade I winner Guarana. The outside post is an advantage and if for any reason my top pick doesn’t fire, she is the best of the rest.
Perfect Alibi (3) – The six and a half furlongs will play right into her hands and if there is a big battle for the lead between the two favorites, she is more than capable to run them down in the stretch. Irad Ortiz, a master with come from behind horses, takes the call here for trainer Mark Casse.
11th race: 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) Mdn 90k Purse $90,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $15,660 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Standup (8) – Has been in the shelf for almost six months, period in which he was gelded. Pletcher put him in a stakes race as a maiden, so he saw some talent in him, and that race aged well, as horses like Jackson and Gladiator King have been stakes performers. Javier Castellano retains the mount and his works have been steady since June.
Doswell (10) – Three second place finishes in three starts so far, two of them as the favorite. Not the running lines we wanna see for a top pick, but he will be a tough cookie to chew if he replicates any of those efforts. Leading jockey Jose Ortiz keeps going to the well.
Southern Bridge (3) – Returning from a ten month break, he will be forwardly placed from the latch and Johnny V will not stay for the eleventh on a Sunday if he doesn’t see a chance of winning. Working like gangbusters for his return, watch out for him.