Friday’s recap from Saratoga:
(All odds US)
Replays from Saratoga can be found here:
Saratoga:
Race 1: 5th@ 10.20/1
Race 7: 2nd@ 1.75/1
Race 9: 4th@ 10.30/1
Our two longshots ran 4th and 5th today. In Race 1, our first time starter - Free Ninety Nine didn’t handle the sloppy conditions finishing a well beaten fifth. In Race 7, Winter Pool ran his heart out but was rebuffed in the stretch finishing second by a neck. In the Curlin Stakes, Harvard sat the pocket trip after bobbling at the start and weakened in the stretch.
We’re back at it for a stakes filled Saturday at Saratoga. There is no video this week as I am away on vacation but still wanted to make sure I still sent my selections out to my members. We are expecting fast and firm conditions at Saratoga. Let’s get started.
Saturday picks for Saratoga:
Race 1: HP Moon - 1 pt win - (US Morning Line Odds: 5/1
Two-year-olds line up to race 5 1/2 furlongs and there are several in here that have a right to win but we’re taking a shot with a runner from a mid Atlantic barn who’s been absolutely tearing up the track at Delaware Park in the mornings. Lacey Gaudet doesn’t ship runners to Saratoga unless they’re well meant.
Race 6: Doctor Davis - 1 pt win - (US Morning Line Odds: 8/1)
Two-year-olds on the turf can always be a tricky proposition but trainer Bill Mott has been having a stellar year with his turf firsters and he’s winning at 19% overall at the meet already. Doctor Davis gets Mott’s top rider in Junior Alvarado and the word on the street is that this one has been working well in the mornings - out working several stablemates. Live longshot.
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Race 7: Say Moi - 1 pt win - (US Morning Line Odds: 30/1)
$300k purchase kept good company early in her career but the wheels seemed to fall off when they were trying to decide whether or not she wanted to go short or long. She was laid off and returned with a poor effort over a sloppy track followed by an improved effort on turf while sprinting. She now stretches to a mile and may just get the jump on this field if allowed to settle early. 19% trainer knows how to win with a bomb.
Race 8: Special Reserve - 2 pts win - BEST BET (US Morning Line Odds: 9/2)
A rare Grade 1 - 6 furlong race - the Vanderbuilt- looks like a pretty evenly matched field of sprinters come together here. Special Reserve has only lost once since being claimed and that was a second place finish to Flagstaff who was at the top of his game this winter and spring. Special Reserve looks like he’ll sit the trip just off Strike Power - a horse he’s already defeated. Trainer Mike Maker winning at 28% doesn’t hurt either.
Race 9: Essential Quality - 2 pts win (US Morning Line Odds: 1/2)
Ok so nobody’s getting rich with this one, but the Jim Dandy looks like it comes down to Essential Quality and everybody else. Essential Quality has had a heck of a three-year-old season and now preps for the Travers here and he looks as though he’s scared away most of his competition. Masqueparade - the Ohio Derby winner is the likely second choice and likeliest second place finisher. Brad Cox has won with 6 of 12 starters at the meet so far. Imposing.
Best of luck 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀 to everyone playing Saturday’s races from Saratoga !!