At the Gate - Friday
Justenuffhumor won a laugher in the Fourstardave Handicap (G2) in his last start, which was his stakes debut, and the four year old colt looks like he is going to be very tough as he is the morning line favorite in today?s $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2) at Saratoga.
The colt has now won five races in a row, and while his price is going to be on the light side, I can?t find a valid reason to take a stand against him.
We might be able to catch a decent exacta as my second choice in the race is Deal Making, a Graham Motion trainee who is making his second start off a layoff.
The gelding is 12/1 on the morning line and coming off a runner up finish at Presque Isle as a prep, I am hoping he gets overlooked in the wagering.
Saturday?s Travers Day card looks outstanding. There are thirteen races including six stakes races. The Ballerina, King?s Bishop, and Travers will be televised live on ESPN starting at 4:30 ET.
While the Travers failed to land Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird or Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, there still is a competitive field of seven three year olds.
Quality Road, coming off an impressive victory in the Amsterdam (G2) on August 3 is the 8/5 morning line favorite.
His main competition will come from Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Summer Bird and Jim Dandy (G2) winner Kensei.
I will have my full card report for Travers Day available here on Friday afternoon.
Here is today's opener from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:
SAR Race 1 OClm $25,000N2X (1:00 ET)
#6 Groomedforvictory 3/1
#8 Ruffino 7/2
#4 South Fourth St. 4/1
#1 Brocco Valley 10/1
Analysis: #6 Groomedforvictory had a tough post last out and raced against an inside speed bias in a game second place finish at today's condition. The gelding swung out to the outside in the stretch and came within a head of running down the gate to wire winner. It was a solid effort considering it was his first go around two turns. The gelding has had a habit of landing in the bottom half of the exacta, but Ramon sticks for a hot Tagg barn and this gelding should be roiling late with a fairer racing surface.
#8 Ruffino has not been seen since January where the gelding prevailed by a nose to win at this level, and he has won 3 of his last 5 starts, all at today's Alw-2 state bred condition. He has won 5 of 9 in his career and has run well off the bench in the past. The Bond barn is 15% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff.
Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 6,8 / 1,4,6,8
TRI: 6,8 / 1,4,6,8 / 1,3,4,6,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 9 Bernard Baruch Hcp G2 (5:30 ET)
#1 Justenuffhumor / #1a Colony 9/5
#7 Deal Making 12/1
#5 Cowboy Cal 5/2
#3 Mambo Meister 8/1
Analysis: #1 Justenuffhumor passed his first stakes test with flying colors as our top pick, winning the Fourstardave (G2) in impressive fashion, paying $9.50 for the win. It was the colt's fifth win in a row, and the well bred colt looks capable of winning right back. He is a half to a couple of nice stakes winners in Dreaming of Anna ($2 million) and Lewis Michael ($812K).
#7 Deal Making figures to be tighter for his second start off a nine month layoff. He made his return over the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle, checking in second against Alw-4 company. He has done his best running on turf and had a productive three year old campaign that included a win in the Stanton, followed by a solid second in the Hall of Fame (G2) here last summer. He is in good hands with the Motion barn and would be no surprise to see him move forward enough second off the bench to be in the mix here at a generous price.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 1,7 / 1,3,5,7
TRI: 1,7 / 1,3,5,7 / 1,3,5,7,8
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: #1 Brocco Valley 10/1
R2: #6 She?s a Ketch 8/1
R2: #8 Ostensibly 15/1
R3: #1 Diamond Song 8/1
R5: #8 Triple Tax Exempt 12/1
R7: #5 Treat Her Right 12/1
R8: #6 Kicky Tune 10/1
R9: #7 Deal Making 12/1
R9: #3 Mambo Meister 8/1
R10: #5 Catch the Bottom 8/1
Good luck today!
Justenuffhumor won a laugher in the Fourstardave Handicap (G2) in his last start, which was his stakes debut, and the four year old colt looks like he is going to be very tough as he is the morning line favorite in today?s $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2) at Saratoga.
The colt has now won five races in a row, and while his price is going to be on the light side, I can?t find a valid reason to take a stand against him.
We might be able to catch a decent exacta as my second choice in the race is Deal Making, a Graham Motion trainee who is making his second start off a layoff.
The gelding is 12/1 on the morning line and coming off a runner up finish at Presque Isle as a prep, I am hoping he gets overlooked in the wagering.
Saturday?s Travers Day card looks outstanding. There are thirteen races including six stakes races. The Ballerina, King?s Bishop, and Travers will be televised live on ESPN starting at 4:30 ET.
While the Travers failed to land Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird or Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, there still is a competitive field of seven three year olds.
Quality Road, coming off an impressive victory in the Amsterdam (G2) on August 3 is the 8/5 morning line favorite.
His main competition will come from Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Summer Bird and Jim Dandy (G2) winner Kensei.
I will have my full card report for Travers Day available here on Friday afternoon.
Here is today's opener from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:
SAR Race 1 OClm $25,000N2X (1:00 ET)
#6 Groomedforvictory 3/1
#8 Ruffino 7/2
#4 South Fourth St. 4/1
#1 Brocco Valley 10/1
Analysis: #6 Groomedforvictory had a tough post last out and raced against an inside speed bias in a game second place finish at today's condition. The gelding swung out to the outside in the stretch and came within a head of running down the gate to wire winner. It was a solid effort considering it was his first go around two turns. The gelding has had a habit of landing in the bottom half of the exacta, but Ramon sticks for a hot Tagg barn and this gelding should be roiling late with a fairer racing surface.
#8 Ruffino has not been seen since January where the gelding prevailed by a nose to win at this level, and he has won 3 of his last 5 starts, all at today's Alw-2 state bred condition. He has won 5 of 9 in his career and has run well off the bench in the past. The Bond barn is 15% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff.
Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 6,8 / 1,4,6,8
TRI: 6,8 / 1,4,6,8 / 1,3,4,6,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 9 Bernard Baruch Hcp G2 (5:30 ET)
#1 Justenuffhumor / #1a Colony 9/5
#7 Deal Making 12/1
#5 Cowboy Cal 5/2
#3 Mambo Meister 8/1
Analysis: #1 Justenuffhumor passed his first stakes test with flying colors as our top pick, winning the Fourstardave (G2) in impressive fashion, paying $9.50 for the win. It was the colt's fifth win in a row, and the well bred colt looks capable of winning right back. He is a half to a couple of nice stakes winners in Dreaming of Anna ($2 million) and Lewis Michael ($812K).
#7 Deal Making figures to be tighter for his second start off a nine month layoff. He made his return over the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle, checking in second against Alw-4 company. He has done his best running on turf and had a productive three year old campaign that included a win in the Stanton, followed by a solid second in the Hall of Fame (G2) here last summer. He is in good hands with the Motion barn and would be no surprise to see him move forward enough second off the bench to be in the mix here at a generous price.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 1,7 / 1,3,5,7
TRI: 1,7 / 1,3,5,7 / 1,3,5,7,8
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: #1 Brocco Valley 10/1
R2: #6 She?s a Ketch 8/1
R2: #8 Ostensibly 15/1
R3: #1 Diamond Song 8/1
R5: #8 Triple Tax Exempt 12/1
R7: #5 Treat Her Right 12/1
R8: #6 Kicky Tune 10/1
R9: #7 Deal Making 12/1
R9: #3 Mambo Meister 8/1
R10: #5 Catch the Bottom 8/1
Good luck today!
