There is no such thing as a bad day at the Spa. There are tough days, but win or lose Saratoga is a great place to be. Yesterday if you had focused on anything above 10-1 you might have had a memorable day. Form is still settling, and longshots are coming in left and right.
Race 1 6-2-1
Carrumba will be the obvious choice after making a furious close to just miss in his first. Have to use in the horizontals, but not a lot of value. Picture Day gets first Lasix and that may be enough to get her to the wire. Theophilia is another getting first Lasix for Mott and he is pretty good with that move.
Race 2 8-2-7-10
Ack Naughty ran well in a restricted stake with winners. Ortiz stays for the trip. Skinner Box won up here last year and just missed in his last BEL race. Amazing Anne has been struggling to get to the front at the wire but has some good figures and a win at SAR. Courageisamajority just broke her maiden with a new top. Other than the outside post, she looks very capable of going with winners.
Race 3 4-6-8
Bessie’s Boy has plenty of early foot and figures well in this group. Copernicus just missed on the slop and looks to be in good form for Toscano. Scattered Dreams drops down to his lowest level for this one. Some trouble winning, but solid in the verticals.
Race 4 1-7-3
Women Win has three seconds in a row. No doubt about the talent but some concern about the heart. First Service got a good tightener in his first out, moves to his preferred surface today. Miss Anna Marie goes first time for Pletcher/Velasquez; I like the workout pattern.
Race 5 7-3-6
Persnickity just won at this level and comes back for two in a row. Spectacular Me just missed last out and figures heavily at the distance. Magsamelia picks up Castellano for the trip. Has plenty of speed and will be a factor at the front.
Race 6 1-6-10
Love the Kitten runs at her fourth track in her young career. Wesley Ward is a good one with turf babies. Amazing Charisma goes for McPeek. Has some nice works for the debut. Bottle dance has to overcome the outside but does have a race and RuRod is good second time out.
Race 7 4-5-1-11
Summer Breezing was just taken by Jermiah Englehart and he is 25% with first time claim runners. Goes from straight claimers to state-breds. Saratoga Dreamer has good tactical speed and broke his maiden on this track. Three for Me has been on a good streak and also is moving over to state-breds. Saltine Warrior gets the services of Johnny V and may be better suited at the sprint distance.
Race 8 11-3-8
Lunar Rover goes from the far outside but looks to have enough tactical speed to get a good spot going into the turn.. 1 for 1 at SAR. Unbridled Juan hasn’t run a bad one in his short career. Should be in a good spot in this one lap affair on the dirt. Tacticus comes from Europe and the synthetic track circuit. Motion has a high percentage with new Euro runners.
Race 9 8-10-4-5
Tweet Kitten looks to have a perfect style for this race and gets Castellano as a rider. Andalusite is taking a while to break his maiden but could be a factor in the verticals. Long Legacy really woke up when moved to the turf. Jonathan Sheppard will win sometime this meet, why not get it out of the way today? Wings of a Prayer seemed to like the longer distance and figures to be in the picture today.
Race 10 7-3-5-8
The CCA Oaks is a competitive affar, with no horse like Untappable or Stopchargingmaria in the running. Wonder Gal is multiple graded stakes placed and should have to close by many to have a chance. Curalina was a winner last out in the Acorn and Pletcher/Velasquez is deadly in dirt stakes. Include Betty is a deep closer who has the top last race figure. Very much primed for the upset with California recent super apprentice Drayden Van Dyke.I’m a Chatterbox has run some good graded races’ Larry Jones has to be respected here.
Race 11 10-4-8
The last is a bit of a mess so don’t discount any price horse. Mr Maybe looks pretty solid and has recently been gelded. Will have to overcome the outside post. Enjoy the Show has a good last race figure and a win at the distance. Stevie’s Moonshot is the Pletcher entrant. He’s better on the turf and gets back there today.