Hello and welcome to Saratoga Race Course on Travers Week! The mid summer derby is in two days and Saratoga is at it’s peak this week! Today is an extremely interesting card and something I cannot recall every seeing before. All 10 races today (9 that will be handicapped due to a steeplechase opener) are routes. Let’s get right into it and get hot before Travers!
Race 2: 2-5-7
#2 INTERNET OF THINGS is taking a very large step down in class for Chad Brown and obviously has the best beyers of the field. I’m usually not a big fan of runners switching surfaces but Chad brown 25% when going turf to dirt and 2 for 5 at levels close to this. Oh and he’s 42% in claiming races, so that’s a thing too. Lastly we get Irad up who has been hot and this horse looks the best, will be keying over the others in an exacta and tri.
Race 3: 5-4-3
#5 ENGLISH SOUL has two straight very solid races under her belt and those were both since switching over to the turf. She should be going toward the front in not on the lead and Joel should get her more mild fractions than last time out today. Last race she hit the gate and still finished strong for 2nd, if speed is carrying she is easily the one to beat and with a clean break and some added distance, she looks good.
Race 4: 1-5-6
#1 SERGEANT DRIVE is switching back to dirt which is this geldings preferred surface. This is his first start off the claim today and Rob Atras is 5 for 9 with 3 seconds when entering a race like this off the claim. This guy will get some pace to chase and will be coming on late for Jose and this guy is a solid runner at this distance.
Race 5: 3-2-8
#3 LA NEGRITA didn’t really show much of anything in that debut but it’s experience. That trip was garbage and she takes a slight step down in class. We get blinkers on and she has early speed which will work together well. Decent numbers for Rudy with his second time starters and at 6/1 ML lets take a shot here.
Race 6: 8-1/1A-6
#8 CROSSING THE MOON is going back to dirt after a two turn try on the turf and we get blinkers on here. Kenny is 26% with first time blinkers and 25% with blinkers going on. This guy got a feel for a route last time out which is huge and we get a massive jockey upgrade in Joel Rosario today who should give us a much better trip and a better finish than in previous races.
Race 7: 7-5-9
#7 THE GREAT JOHANNA switched to the turf last time out and gave us an honest enough effort where she was closing after getting bumped at the break. It’s clear she wanted more racetrack and has run 2nd three times at a mile plus on the dirt. Ricardo retains the mount and will realistically get a better break with more tactical speed which will help her here.
Race 8: 2-5-3
#2 FIERY OPAL has a win here at this distance at the Spa on July 12th. We get a rider upgrade today with Irad hopping on and we see ascending Beyer’s since May. This gelding has proved he can get the distance and this slight step up in class doesn’t concern me. Trainer is a solid 29% in going from sprints to routes as well, lets take a shot here.
Race 9 Riskaverse Stakes: 8-6-3
#8 NEW AND IMPROVED is coming off a win here at the Spa on this inner turf at this exact distance. We see a nice bullet work since that last race and she has some trouble in that last race which makes her victory in that race all the more impressive. Finally Castellano jumps off the 6/5 ML favorite to ride this filly, read into that what you will.
Race 10: 5-4-1
#5 SANDY LANE KITTEN has earned some very decent Beyer’s and they’re comparable to this field. Javier is jumping up for a rider upgrade on a 10/1 ML shot here in the finale. Last time out the pace was too fast and he was kept too close. Today Javier should be able to put him in a nice stalking position in a race with some pace and can get to the wire first at a price here in the finale!