The rain is gone, the track is listed as good and they are back on the turf.

RACE 7

• 3 Casey Roo was claimed two back by Richard Shosberg who wheeled her back at a higher class level where she ran a fairly even race. I don’t like the fact she has no workouts between that race and today, but Johnny V stays and that is a good sign.  The comment line is a little misleading. She rode the rail around the track and when it was time to move she was generally boxed in. Johnny V make no attempt to punish her through the stretch and if she goes off at her ML 5-1 she would be fair win odds.
• 4 Al’s Gal is the ML second choice but will be my choice today. She was just claimed last out by Bruce Levine who does well off the claim but is not known as a turf trainer. Al’s Gal only has 5 previous starts and gets a chance to improve today.
• 6 Wine Burglar was a little unlucky last out. She kept Lonely Teardrops at bay through the stretch but Ear D’Rhythm flew from out of nowhere to get the win. No reason to expect she won’t run the same race this time.

RACE 8

• 1 Sense of Peace found himself on the lead when Lucci the Lion suddenly backed out of the race. He had a clear lead in the stretch but by the time they hit the wire he was exhausted. I don’t think he gets a break today with the other speedsters in the race. Should be battling up front, questionable if he will be around for the photo.
• 2 Take Down Two was beaten in his last by Photon, a horse who seems to have an extra gear in the stretch. This 9 year old gelding has been a solid racehorse with 103 lifetime starts. Is he fast enough? He is on his best day. Is today that day? There is enough speed for him to use his closing kick so it isn’t impossible.
• 4 Immortal Eyes has been with much better in the not too distant past. He was a win machine in 2013, but since David Jacobson has had the horse he hasn’t been quite the same. He has plenty of speed, but it is unlikely he’ll get the lead. He can come from just off the pace, but given the heartlessness he’s shown in the stretch, I’m on the fence. Still, he will be good odds and this should be his top effort.
• 5 Broad Rule is another with back class. He’s more of a closer and that should be a preferred running style in this race. His last wasn’t that bad and he takes a big drop today. He will be my longshot top choice.
• 6 Photon is a hard horse to leave out given he’s beaten half this field in the last two months. He did, however, change barns after his last victory, and perhaps the change of scenery will break the streak. He won’t figure heavily on my tickets.

RACE 9

• 2 Caribean Beat finished almost four lengths behind Distorted Beauty in her last. She likes to come from well out of it and has actually run her best races on a turf with some moisture in it. She’s competitive and if she times her run right could be the one at the wire.
• 5 Distorted Beauty is making her fifth start and second on the Saratoga turf. She has improved her figure in each start and a small move forward today should give her the win. She’ll be close to odds on and deservedly so.
• 8 One Time Only will be the horse in front on the backstretch. She hasn’t run on the softened turf, so today will be a test to see how far she can take them. I think maybe a little underlayed at the 2-1 ML.

RACE 10

• 1 Tarpey’s Goal ran a monster at CD two races back. He’s been close at 6F before, but hasn’t won a race at that distance yet. Still, you can’t ignore him off the drop.
• 2 Real Estate Rich is the longshot pick. David Jacobson tried blinkers on his in his last two starts and that experiment flopped. He was taken last out by Patrick Quick, and the blinkers come off today. He’s 4 of 5 at the distance and has been competitive with much better. He’s probably the best of the late runners.
• 3 Regulus has plenty of speed to get himself into position and lately has been finishing well. He has a second on the Saratoga dirt and is fast enough to make an impact in the race.
• 8 The Big Deluxe has good early speed and just missed 3 weeks ago at 6.5F. He’s faced better, he’s beaten better but you have to wonder if even with the slight cutback in distance if he has enough courage to make it to the wire in front.