At the Gate - Friday
Goldmark Farm?s Backtalk remained undefeated with a grind it out win in Thursday?s $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, returning $5.00 as my top pick.
The Tom Amoss trainee has now won all three of his starts including the Bashford Manor (G2) two back at Churchill Downs.
The son of Smarty Jones stopped the timer in 1:10.07 for the six furlongs and earned $90,000 for the victory.
The colt is a half brother to multiple stakes winner Bsharpsonata, who bankrolled $595,000 and looks like he is going to have a bright future as Amoss stretches him out.
In midstretch, I did not think he was going to get in front and he just dug in gamely under jockey Miguel Mena.
?I knew the pace was going to be fast and they had to come back,? said Mena.. ?I was a little nervous because this is my first meet at Saratoga, but I got a great horse with a bright future. He never quit. He fought through the end.?
The highlight of our day was My Luckey Penney ($46.20) getting home as my second choice in the sixth race. My top pick Zip By You completed a recommended exacta that returned $272.50 and a trifecta that paid $1,590.00.
I missed the opener, which was a steeplechase race, and I am determined to pick a winner in a hurdle race before the meet is over.
I used to get lucky and pick winners in the jump races all the time, and now I cannot remember the last time I actually got one right.
A good card on tap today, and don?t forget we have a 2:30 ET post time.
Here is today's opener from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:
SAR Race 1 Clm $35,000N3L (2:30 ET)
#9 Sweet Bama Breeze 3/1
#2 Linsalata 5/2
#4 For Free 7/2
#7 Gin Tango 20/1
Analysis: #9 Sweet Bama Breeze is in for a tag here after popping and stopping against NY bred Alw-1 foes in a race washed off the turf last out. Two came out of the race to win next out including the winner Sezzana, who won the NY bred $50K Niagara at Finger Lakes on July 4. The filly has landed in the exacta in 3 of 6 trips over the turf and makes a key barn switch here from one of the coldest barns on the grounds in Sciacca (4 for 173 on the year) to the Brown barn that is 21% winners with newcomers to the barn. The filly owns solid early and mid pace numbers and figures to be sent from the outside. She broke her maiden at Belmont Park last fall over ground with some give to it, and the turf course was landed "good" going into Thursday's card with more rain in the forecast.
#2 Linsalata ships in for the Motion barn that had a bit of a tough luck meeting here last year (31-3-9-4). Going back five years the barn has hit here at nearly a 18% clip. The filly opened up a big lead going a mile last out before weakening to finish fifth against Alw-2 optional claimers. The filly is 0 for 4 since coming to the U.S. but this looks like it might be the easiest group she has faced. The cut back in distance should suit.
Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 2,9 / 2,4,7,9
TRI: 2,9 / 2,4,7,9 / 2,3,4,5,7,9
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 8 Lake George S. G2 (6:22 ET)
#8 The Best Day Ever 6/1
#1 Lady Shakespeare 8/1
#5 Consequence 9/2
#4 Keertana 5/1
Analysis: #8 The Best Day Ever had a tough post and was not much of a threat when shipped to the left coast for the Grade 1 American Oaks. The filly was coming off three consecutive hard fought efforts and looked like a prime candidate to bounce last out while facing much tougher. Two back she came with a good late rally while wide to miss winning the Grade 3 Regret in a photo. The winner of that race was #4 Keertana, who came back to win the Indiana Distaff in her next outing on July 6. She is going to need to run a career top but I think McPeek will have this gal ready to fire her best here and we should catch a fair price.
#1 Lady Shakespeare is coming off a sharp win versus Alw-2 company at Woodbine. This filly may just be coming into her own and she has the pedigree to be a runner. Her full brother is G1 winner Shakespeare ($1.3 million) and she is a half sis to Fantastic Shirl ($252K). She steps into a tough spot here but may be up to it. Good connections with Attfield and Kent and this gal is worth tossing in the mix here if we see close to the 8/1 ML.
Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,8 / 1,4,5,8
TRI: 1,8 / 1,4,5,8 / 1,3,4,5,8,9
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Saratoga
R1: #7 Gin Tango 20/1
R2: #4 Smoke After Six 10/1
R3: #11 Baronshill 12/1
R4: #11 Taconic Victory 12/1
R4: #5 It?smyburtday 10/1
R6: #11 Mine All Mine 10/1
R7: #1 Naughty New Yorker 10/1
R7: #4 Joe Corrigan 8/1
R8: #1 Lady Shakespeare 8/1
R9: #11 Hall of Famer 8/1
Goldmark Farm?s Backtalk remained undefeated with a grind it out win in Thursday?s $150,000 Sanford Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, returning $5.00 as my top pick.
The Tom Amoss trainee has now won all three of his starts including the Bashford Manor (G2) two back at Churchill Downs.
The son of Smarty Jones stopped the timer in 1:10.07 for the six furlongs and earned $90,000 for the victory.
The colt is a half brother to multiple stakes winner Bsharpsonata, who bankrolled $595,000 and looks like he is going to have a bright future as Amoss stretches him out.
In midstretch, I did not think he was going to get in front and he just dug in gamely under jockey Miguel Mena.
?I knew the pace was going to be fast and they had to come back,? said Mena.. ?I was a little nervous because this is my first meet at Saratoga, but I got a great horse with a bright future. He never quit. He fought through the end.?
The highlight of our day was My Luckey Penney ($46.20) getting home as my second choice in the sixth race. My top pick Zip By You completed a recommended exacta that returned $272.50 and a trifecta that paid $1,590.00.
I missed the opener, which was a steeplechase race, and I am determined to pick a winner in a hurdle race before the meet is over.
I used to get lucky and pick winners in the jump races all the time, and now I cannot remember the last time I actually got one right.
A good card on tap today, and don?t forget we have a 2:30 ET post time.
Here is today's opener from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:
SAR Race 1 Clm $35,000N3L (2:30 ET)
#9 Sweet Bama Breeze 3/1
#2 Linsalata 5/2
#4 For Free 7/2
#7 Gin Tango 20/1
Analysis: #9 Sweet Bama Breeze is in for a tag here after popping and stopping against NY bred Alw-1 foes in a race washed off the turf last out. Two came out of the race to win next out including the winner Sezzana, who won the NY bred $50K Niagara at Finger Lakes on July 4. The filly has landed in the exacta in 3 of 6 trips over the turf and makes a key barn switch here from one of the coldest barns on the grounds in Sciacca (4 for 173 on the year) to the Brown barn that is 21% winners with newcomers to the barn. The filly owns solid early and mid pace numbers and figures to be sent from the outside. She broke her maiden at Belmont Park last fall over ground with some give to it, and the turf course was landed "good" going into Thursday's card with more rain in the forecast.
#2 Linsalata ships in for the Motion barn that had a bit of a tough luck meeting here last year (31-3-9-4). Going back five years the barn has hit here at nearly a 18% clip. The filly opened up a big lead going a mile last out before weakening to finish fifth against Alw-2 optional claimers. The filly is 0 for 4 since coming to the U.S. but this looks like it might be the easiest group she has faced. The cut back in distance should suit.
Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 2,9 / 2,4,7,9
TRI: 2,9 / 2,4,7,9 / 2,3,4,5,7,9
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 8 Lake George S. G2 (6:22 ET)
#8 The Best Day Ever 6/1
#1 Lady Shakespeare 8/1
#5 Consequence 9/2
#4 Keertana 5/1
Analysis: #8 The Best Day Ever had a tough post and was not much of a threat when shipped to the left coast for the Grade 1 American Oaks. The filly was coming off three consecutive hard fought efforts and looked like a prime candidate to bounce last out while facing much tougher. Two back she came with a good late rally while wide to miss winning the Grade 3 Regret in a photo. The winner of that race was #4 Keertana, who came back to win the Indiana Distaff in her next outing on July 6. She is going to need to run a career top but I think McPeek will have this gal ready to fire her best here and we should catch a fair price.
#1 Lady Shakespeare is coming off a sharp win versus Alw-2 company at Woodbine. This filly may just be coming into her own and she has the pedigree to be a runner. Her full brother is G1 winner Shakespeare ($1.3 million) and she is a half sis to Fantastic Shirl ($252K). She steps into a tough spot here but may be up to it. Good connections with Attfield and Kent and this gal is worth tossing in the mix here if we see close to the 8/1 ML.
Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,8 / 1,4,5,8
TRI: 1,8 / 1,4,5,8 / 1,3,4,5,8,9
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Saratoga
R1: #7 Gin Tango 20/1
R2: #4 Smoke After Six 10/1
R3: #11 Baronshill 12/1
R4: #11 Taconic Victory 12/1
R4: #5 It?smyburtday 10/1
R6: #11 Mine All Mine 10/1
R7: #1 Naughty New Yorker 10/1
R7: #4 Joe Corrigan 8/1
R8: #1 Lady Shakespeare 8/1
R9: #11 Hall of Famer 8/1
