At the Gate - Sunday
The bombs were flying at Saratoga on Saturday: Heavenly Blaze ($51.50), Prince Dubai ($57.50), and Telling ($68.00) the three biggest prices on the day.
That blew up everyone?s Pick 6 tickets, leading to a Sunday Pick 6 carryover of $262,977.
I was not close to having any of the three longshots on what was a dreadful day of handicapping and wagering. My bankroll and ego both took a hit.
After Telling pulled off the big upset in the Sword Dancer (G1) in the tenth race, I was so disgusted I did not even stick around for the finale.
I felt a little better after seeing we nailed the exacta in the final, returning $124.50. After painfully watching the first ten races on the card, it would have been nice to actually witness cashing a ticket. They were rare on the day.
After a steak, a couple of cold Stella Artois, and kicking sand in my face, I am feeling like we are going to have a much better day on Sunday.
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)
#7 City Spirit 7/2
#2 R Betty Graybull 3/1
#8 Jet's Tradition 4/1
#1 Got Clearance / #1a Rizzi's Twist 5/1
Analysis: #7 City Spirit gets the nod in a tricky opener in which five of these are coming back off the bench. The mare is making her first start since February for the Hushion barn that is 13% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. The mare won at this level three back in the slop going two turns on the inner at the Big A, then in her last two starts ran third and second against open Alw-1 optional claimers, running into repeat winners in each of those two outings. She cuts back in distance and has a win on the main track and turf at six furlongs.
#2 R Betty Graybull was off a step slow and made a mild late run to finish third last out in her first start off an eight-month layoff. The runner up in the race was Olde Glamour, who won the restricted Jersey Girl Stakes in her next outing on July 15. She figures to be fitter second off the shelf and she won a restricted stake last fall at Monmouth Park in her third career start.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 2,7 / 1,2,7,8
TRI: 2,7 / 1,2,7,8 / 1,2,5,7,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 10 West Point Hcp (5:56 ET)
#9 Kutais 6/1
#7 Banrock 2/1
#2 Hangingbyathread 7/2
#5 My Man Lars 8/1
Analysis: #9 Kutais had to steady and dropped back to trail the field in the early going, was caught behind a wall of horses at the quarter pole, altered course to the outside made a made a good run for second money in the NY bred Do It Fast. Since switching back to the turf this guy looks better each time out for a low profile barn that has started ten runners at the meeting with five landing in the money. Edgar sticks and a clean trip can get this guy home first and we should catch a fair price.
#7 Banrock was fifth last out in the united Nations (G1) and two back was just a nose behind Presious Passion, who was considered one of the top turf horses in the U.S. before throwing in a clunker in the Arlington Million last Saturday. The gelding won the NY bred Kingston three back off a six month layoff. He is a five time NY bred stakes winner and will be tough to handle in this spot.
Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 7,9 / 2,5,7,9
TRI: 7,9 / 2,5,7,9 / 1,2,5,6,7,9
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
R2: #2 Christmas Trip 10/1
R6: #1 Johannesburg Smile / #1a Fourseventeen 8/1
R6: #7 Badgers 15/1
R7: #8 Seattle Mission 8/1
R8: #4 Deputy?s Citizen 10/1
R9: #9 Citifest 10/1
R10: #5 My Man Lars 8/1
R11: #4 Miss Redoubled 10/1
Good luck today!
The bombs were flying at Saratoga on Saturday: Heavenly Blaze ($51.50), Prince Dubai ($57.50), and Telling ($68.00) the three biggest prices on the day.
That blew up everyone?s Pick 6 tickets, leading to a Sunday Pick 6 carryover of $262,977.
I was not close to having any of the three longshots on what was a dreadful day of handicapping and wagering. My bankroll and ego both took a hit.
After Telling pulled off the big upset in the Sword Dancer (G1) in the tenth race, I was so disgusted I did not even stick around for the finale.
I felt a little better after seeing we nailed the exacta in the final, returning $124.50. After painfully watching the first ten races on the card, it would have been nice to actually witness cashing a ticket. They were rare on the day.
After a steak, a couple of cold Stella Artois, and kicking sand in my face, I am feeling like we are going to have a much better day on Sunday.
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)
#7 City Spirit 7/2
#2 R Betty Graybull 3/1
#8 Jet's Tradition 4/1
#1 Got Clearance / #1a Rizzi's Twist 5/1
Analysis: #7 City Spirit gets the nod in a tricky opener in which five of these are coming back off the bench. The mare is making her first start since February for the Hushion barn that is 13% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. The mare won at this level three back in the slop going two turns on the inner at the Big A, then in her last two starts ran third and second against open Alw-1 optional claimers, running into repeat winners in each of those two outings. She cuts back in distance and has a win on the main track and turf at six furlongs.
#2 R Betty Graybull was off a step slow and made a mild late run to finish third last out in her first start off an eight-month layoff. The runner up in the race was Olde Glamour, who won the restricted Jersey Girl Stakes in her next outing on July 15. She figures to be fitter second off the shelf and she won a restricted stake last fall at Monmouth Park in her third career start.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 2,7 / 1,2,7,8
TRI: 2,7 / 1,2,7,8 / 1,2,5,7,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 10 West Point Hcp (5:56 ET)
#9 Kutais 6/1
#7 Banrock 2/1
#2 Hangingbyathread 7/2
#5 My Man Lars 8/1
Analysis: #9 Kutais had to steady and dropped back to trail the field in the early going, was caught behind a wall of horses at the quarter pole, altered course to the outside made a made a good run for second money in the NY bred Do It Fast. Since switching back to the turf this guy looks better each time out for a low profile barn that has started ten runners at the meeting with five landing in the money. Edgar sticks and a clean trip can get this guy home first and we should catch a fair price.
#7 Banrock was fifth last out in the united Nations (G1) and two back was just a nose behind Presious Passion, who was considered one of the top turf horses in the U.S. before throwing in a clunker in the Arlington Million last Saturday. The gelding won the NY bred Kingston three back off a six month layoff. He is a five time NY bred stakes winner and will be tough to handle in this spot.
Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 7,9 / 2,5,7,9
TRI: 7,9 / 2,5,7,9 / 1,2,5,6,7,9
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
R2: #2 Christmas Trip 10/1
R6: #1 Johannesburg Smile / #1a Fourseventeen 8/1
R6: #7 Badgers 15/1
R7: #8 Seattle Mission 8/1
R8: #4 Deputy?s Citizen 10/1
R9: #9 Citifest 10/1
R10: #5 My Man Lars 8/1
R11: #4 Miss Redoubled 10/1
Good luck today!
