HAPPY OPENING DAY TO ALL!!!! Welcome to Saratoga, where the history of horse racing is more evident than anywhere else in my opinion. The best trainers, jockeys, owners, and thoroughbreds all ascend to a small city in upstate New York’s capital region for the premier meet of the year in the United States! We will have daily Wednesday-Sunday coverage of all things Saratoga here at The Daily Gallop. Best of luck to all here on opening day and welcome to the Spaaaaa!
Race 1: 8-6-4
#8 CURLIN’S NEW MOON is going to be the one to start the season off for us here! This gelding won his last race right around this level and was edging away as the race went on. Today he gets a stretch out in distance which pedigree suggests will not hurt but help him, Jose Ortiz is back up after winning the last race on him and at 8/1 ML we should take a stab here.
Race 2: 4-2-9
#4 HURRICANE JAKE has run this distance three times and hasn’t finished further than 4 lengths back. Today this gelding gets lasix for the first time which should help him and Ricardo jumps up for the first time. Last year he had a scorching start to the meet and we see a bullet work since the last race.
Race 3: 1-7-2
It’s Saratoga and prices hit the board all the time. #1 SHADOW RIDER is a 15/1 ML shot and he is one of my “read between the lines” horses. Last race out wasn’t that impressive but let’s look at the running line, bobbled at the start, 4 wide with a half mile to go, then was in the 7 path at the 1/8 pole. It was a complete nightmare of a trip and we can forgive that. This gelding also has a win and a third in three attempts going one turn to two. There is also a stat where Rudy is 3 for 3 with allowance dirt runners going one turn to two after running out of the money 16-50 days ago. If this guy doesn’t win then I’ll be very sad I went this into detail.
Race 4: 5-3-2
#5 GOSILENTLY is coming off a layoff since November which usually isn’t my forte, however this gelding is ITM in all 3 races coming off layoffs comparable to this and has finished 2nd both times he’s run over the inner turf. Kendrick is at the helm here and he is a magnificent turf rider and he won the last time he ran around this level on the turf at this distance.
Race 5: 8-9-2
#8 AUBREY TATE is a first time starter who has some very solid and consistent works. Irad jumps today, both of her last works were gate works and finally her pedigree looks great with parents who ran very well at the trip.
Race 6: 1A-11-4
#1A VETERANS BEACH has a load of back class but did recently disappoint over at Belmont. However David Donk is 13 for 14 ITM with runners coming third off the layoff runners coming back in 35 days or less, with a positive ROI. Add in the fact that the last time he ran this distance he won with Manny Franco, today’s rider, I can see a winner here.
Race 7: 10-4-11
#10 WEGETSDAMUNNYS is taking a step down in class today after she finished extremely well last time out only to run out of racetrack. Today we get an extra furlong which will help a lot, we know how much I love Joel Rosario on closers and this one specifically has some of the best speed figures in the field. Last time Joel was up these two finished a strong 2nd after going 6-7 wide and ran out of racetrack. Very live at 6/1 ML.
Race 8 Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes: 5-1-8
#5 COMICAL is coming off a nice win over at Santa Anita where the figure came back looking very solid and the best out of this field. We get Javier up today and this filly has a very solid collection of works. She cleared the field last time easily and if she gets the trip she can clear this field as well.
Race 9 Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes: 1-5-2
#1 ABYSSINIAN has some back class and has been very consistent over the last three races which all came around this level and distance. We see a bullet work about a week and a half ago and Johnny V jumps back up here and these two have done well together. The works she has put in have been very consistent and she looks to be the winner here.
Race 10: 1-5-6
#1 SISTER GEMA is interesting here as one of my favorite things is Kendrick on the rail. This filly has run two straight very solid races around this level and earned two solid speed figures as well. Those figures are comparable and if not better than those earned by the other lower ML odd horses as well. Last race she kept on after the wire so I don’t think the extra 1/16th of a mile will hurt her here. Hasn’t finished further back than 3 lengths since March, lets give her a shot at 15/1 ML.