First Sunday for the Saratoga Racing Season, my favorite track. Again I have the privilege to analyze the Sunday cards for all of you, thanks to the Daily Gallop for this new opportunity. Lets get some cash.
1st race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) TMMdn 90k Purse $90,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $15,660 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD
Miss Marissa (7) – Solid debut in a race taken off the turf, now gets to the surface they planned from the start. Saez keeps the mount and will be forwardly placed from the gitgo.
Days of Spring (5) – Has the experience factor at her side and has shown she should go well to the two turn distance. Franco repeats on her for perennial Saratoga top trainer Todd Pletcher.
Lucky Jingle (3) – Off the first time starters, she is the one that intrigues me the most. A daughter of Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, her works are good enough for a nice debut, and the favorites haven’t shown that much yet.
2nd. race. 6 Furlongs. Clm 25000n2L Purse $45,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES.
Keeping the Peace (3) – Won his maiden at Monmouth and now Servis drops him to this lower group, looking for easy money (27K on purse + 25K if claimed). Irad prefers him over the #8.
Elios Milos (8) – Another one dropping from straight maidens to maiden claimers, he showed some talent as a two year old but hasn’t been able to replicate that this year. Franco gets the call for Abreu, and the drop in class should serve him well.
Mandatory Payout (1) – Had some problems in his last, but comes with a bullet work in preparation and entices Saez for the riding assignment. Needs some pace up front for his late run to be effective.
3rd race: 51⁄2 Furlongs. (Turf) ‘Mdn 78k Purse $78,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD
AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Adios Amigos (9) – Like Leparoux’s call with this colt, who had some problems in his most recent and has now an outside post to work with. Has three breezes in preparation.
Risp (8) – Figure wise, he is the one to beat. But those numbers have been attained at the main track. Bush stats are not that encouraging switching from dirt to turf, but his figures are by far the best of this bunch.
Crack Shot (4) – Seems to be the speed of the speed and now gets the services of Jose Ortiz, who thrives with speed type horses. Has three breezes that signal readiness for this race.
4th race: 51⁄2 Furlongs. ‘Mdn 78k Purse $78,000 FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Macho Boy (3) – By his works, seems to be very quick and the track still looks to be speedsters. Contessa and Joel Rosario hit at a 21% rate. He should be on the engine from the start.
No Salt (8) – Another first time starter for Bill Mott, who already has a win in the Spa with one of these debuters. Those last two works maybe will enable him to be tagged as the favorite, and Junior Alvarado and Mott are a very efficient tea.
South Africa (7) is another one that whose works have been improving as time goes by, and he entices Jose Ortiz to be on his saddle.
5th race: 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) TMClm 40000 Purse $65,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $11,310 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
Free to Fly (10) – The last time he dropped into a claiming level race, he won decisively. Now receives a good upgrade in Tyler Gaffalione and will be close to the pace from the go.
Zabava (12) – That outside post is not easy to overcome, but she is clearly improving and Irad repeats with her after guiding her to a conclusive win. It is true that the stakes are much tougher now, but she has performed well in these kind of groups before.
Positive Skew (8) – Dropping from allowances to this 40,000 group, she is maybe the best filly in here. But the drop is suspicious and the blinkers on will probably make her go into a much quicker pace that her jockey wants. Too much rest lines to my liking also.
6th race. 1 1/8 Mile. (Turf) TM‘Alw 80000n1x Purse $80,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Fetching (4) – Didn’t have much pace to run against in her last effort, now the pace should be much swifter, and will be extremely beneficial for her. Franco stays up and the added ground should be of her liking.
Singular Sensation (3) – Tried to go in the grass in her last, unfortunately the race came off. Now gets a second chance and her pedigree says she should have no problems in the green stuff. Saez keeps the mount.
Flush (5) – Beat my favorite last time out, in a race in which there was a pretty slow pace that she took advantage of. Rajiv Maragh is very effective teaming with Mc Laughlin, and if she can get an easy lead, she can be dangerous.
7th race: 61⁄2 Furlongs. ‘OC 40000n2x Purse $83,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Binkster (8) – He has had trouble in his last two starts at the start. I think he is the fastest of this bunch and the outside post is very good for these kind of horses. Dylan Davis knows him well and I expect him to be on the lead early.
T Loves a Fight (5) – Has been experiencing a resurgence in his last three starts, including two straight wins, and he keeps climbing up the ladder. Trainer Orlando Noda has done a fabulous job in returning this veteran warrior to his old form, and if he gets a hot enough pace, he will be very dangerous in the stretch.
Cerretalto (4) – Returns from a seven month layoff dropping sharply in class. At the Spa, this is a very common move, but he has only four works for his return, which makes me think he at least needs one or two to be on his best shape.
8th race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Inner Turf) TMOC 80000n1x Purse $92,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $16,008 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
Catch a Bid (8) – Her debut was extremely impressive, showing great talent and winning with something left. Stakes are higher now, but she should get pace to run against and Castellano leaves good fillies in this event to ride her.
Dance Till Dawn (7) – Was doing real good in May and then her trainer Serpe gave her a bit of a freshening. At this trip, she should be at or near the lead and if she is not bothered much up front, she can take them wire to wire. Saez is a master of doing this.
Stellar Agent (10) – Maybe the most seasoned filly in this bunch, quality wise she fits with these. However, she still needs to answer the distance question, as her two worst efforts have come at 8 panels or more.
9th race: 51⁄2 Furlongs. (Turf) TMCrntnCpL100K Coronation Cup S. Purse $100,000 FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
My Gallina (8) – Ran very respectably in the Grade III Soaring Softly. I think this race is an easier spot for her and the five and a half furlongs should be right up her alley. Castellano acquires the mount, and very sizable jockey upgrade.
Break Even (4) – Undefeated so far in the main track, her trainer Brad Cox wants to know if she can also handle the grass. I prefer to look at her in the lawn first before sending her as the favorite, but she is a Grade II winner already, so you know the talent is there.
Midnight Fantasy (7) – Blinkers off for this race , and her races without the shades are by far her best efforts. She is a three time stakes winner already at the Fair Grounds, she is in to much tougher now but she is honest as they come.
10th race: 7 Furlongs. MC 20000 Purse $40,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. Three Year Olds, 119 lbs., Older, 124 lbs. Claiming Price $20,000
Pickle Rick (4) – Very fast out of the gate, but I think Carmouche will look to stalk with him, as the seven panels can be a very tricky distance for a low quality bunch like this one. Danny Gargan hits at 26% with beaten favorites.
Mine the Coin (8) – Drops from maiden special weight to claimers, and was gelded for this race. Coming back from a five month layoff, there are some questions to be answered, but probably will end up as the favorite.
Dr Devera’s Way (2) – Completes the selection, he wasn’t too far off a win last time out and now has three hundred more yards to work with. Junior Alvarado takes the call and if there is a pace melt down, his chances improve dramatically.