Saratoga Late Pick-4 August 13

I wasn’t taken with the early part of the card so I focused on the late Pick-4.

Race 7

  • A horses – (1) Galileo’s Song, (3) Earring
  • B horses – (2) Pas de Soucis, (5) Pop By, (7) Spiga

Race 8

  • A horses – (4) Barry Lee, (9) Copper Bullet
  • B horses – (2) Mo Diddley, (3) Hollywood Star, (7) Vino

Race 9

  • A horses – (3) Hollywood Star, (6) First Appeal, (11) Vicki’s Dancer
  • B horses – (2) Aussie Prayer, (9) Noble Freud

Race 10 

  • A horses – (6) Admirals Cove, (10) Wingman
  • B horses – (1) Data Room, (8) Champagne Papi, (9) Noble Freud
  • C horses – (2) Cape Angel, (3) Strong Side

Saratoga August 12

Best Bet: Gift Box, Race 9

Longshot: Sammy Wonder Stone, Race 1

Race 1

  • 7  Sammy Wonder Stone
  • 6  Set the Trappe
  • 5  Scarly Charly
  • Secondary (1, 2, 4)

Race 2

  • 2  Airtouch
  • 9  Base Command
  • 8  Indimaaj

Race 3

  • 2  Six Schillings
  • 9  Space Mountain
  • 4  Dr Edgar
  • Secondary (3, 5)

Race 4

  • 3  Sly Roxy
  • 6  Limited View
  • 1  Pure Silver
  • Secondary (7)

Race 5

  • 4  Azar
  • 12  Blarp
  • 9  Made in Detroit
  • Secondary (2, 10)

Race 6

  • 8  Sportswear
  • 10  Double Bourbon
  • 2  Machtree
  • Secondary (3, 9)

Race 7

  • 2  Coal Truth
  • 1  Wyatt’s Town
  • 9  Coltandmississippi
  • Secondary (5, 7)

Race 8

  • 5  Puca
  • 8  Off Limits
  • 2  Somethingelse
  • Secondary (1, 3, 4, 6)

Race 9

  • 1  Gift Box
  • 5  Lewys Vaporizer
  • 8  Still Krz
  • Secondary (3)

Race 10

  • 7  World Approval. 
  • 3  Time Test
  • 2  American Patriot
  • Secondary (1, 5, 6)
  • This edition of the Fourstardave Handicap has a small but very competitive field. In fact you can make a case for any of the 6 turf horses scheduled to start . The horse with the most natural speed looks like Sassy Little Lila, and I have a feeling she could be out on an easy lead and hard to catch. However, she’s not proven against males and this is a strong field, but she does give some reason to pause. Time Test is the obvious favorite, but given he couldn’t win in a couple of five horse fields he may be vulnerable. American Patriot was no match for the horses in the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot, but is a multiple graded race winner and has done well at the distance. The horse that has captured my attention is World Approval. He has been consistent and the cutback to a mile should be a big help. I expect him to track Sassy Little Lila and get the jump on the closers, and if he gets a good ride from Franco (an upgrade from Leparoux in my opinion) he can pull off the mild upset.

Race 11

  • 1  Atwitzend
  • 12  Mr. Cat
  • 8  Dab
  • Secondary (7)

Saratoga August 11

Race 1

  • 5 La Inesperada
  • 4  Midnight Bounty
  • 2  Shakespearian Dream

Race 2

  • 7  Lion in Wait
  • 10  Dynamic War
  • 6  Artistic Quality
  • Secondary (2, 9)

Race 3

  • 2  Lone Trader
  • 4  Blue  Belt
  • 6  Alaskan Prince
  • Secondary (7)

Race 4

  • 6  Star Empire
  • 5  Hard Hitter
  • 1  PIrellone
  • Secondary (2, 4)

Race 5

  • 4  Pocket Book
  • 2  Bridaled Temper
  • 1  Latrevo

Race 6

  • 3  Cerretalto
  • 4  Benevolence
  • 2  D’funnything
  • Secondary (6)

Race 7

  • 4  Pence
  • 8  Set Me Up
  • 3  Filius Scat
  • 2  Mr. Massena
  • Secondary (7, 10)

Race 8

  • 3  Weekend Hideaway
  • 6  Stallwalkin’ Dude
  • 2  Cadeyrn

Race 9

  • 8  Objective Complete
  • 10  Sandy Belle
  • 3  Kinky Sox
  • Secondary (5, 7)

Race 10

  • 4  Cashless Society
  • 9  Prado Vision
  • 6  Story Alexis
  • Secondary (2)

Saratoga August 8

Race 1

  • 2  Set the Trappe
  • 6  Are We Not Men
  • 8  Cocked and Loaded
  • Secondary (1A, 5)

Race 2

  • 4  Wild and Funny
  • 2  Escapade
  • 5  Golden Orb
  • Secondary (6, 8, 10)

Race 3

  • 4  Conquest Windycity
  • 3  Mo Tom
  • 6  Rally Cry

Race 4

  • 2  Summer Mischief
  • 8  Millies Party Boy
  • 5  Sister Sophia
  • Secondary (7)

Race 5

  • 8  Another Genius
  • 2  Cozzy Spring
  • 7  Fire Key
  • Secondary (1, 4, 6)

Race 6

  • 7  Smarty Smart
  • 4  Honey Graeme
  • 10  History Supreme
  • Secondary (9)

Race 7

  • 10  Main Road
  • 9  Bar None
  • 1  Diamond Jim
  • Secondary (4, 6, 11)

Race 8

  • 9  E J’s Legacy
  • 3  Ode to the Hunt
  • 11  Nutzforboltz
  • Secondary (1, 4, 8)

Race 9

  • 4  Royal Inheritance
  • 3  Libby’s Tail
  • 5  Sheplaysthefield
  • Secondary (1, 6, 8)

Race 10

  • 4  Green Mask
  • 3  Pure Sensation
  • 1  Undrafted
  • Secondary (6)

Race 11

  • 12  Escape Velocity
  • 6  Unbroken Chain
  • 1  Otto
  • Secondary (5, 8)

Saratoga August 5

Race 1

  • 8  Frisky Magician
  • 4  Excluded
  • 11  D’Eloquent
  • Secondary (2, 6)

Race 2

  • 2  Total Cooperation
  • 6  Behavioral Bias
  • 4  Zap Zap Zap
  • Secondary (7,  8)

Race 3

  • 4  Suffused
  • 1  Apple Betty
  • 8  Guilty Twelve
  • Secondary (2, 5, 7)

Race 4

  • 1  Roaming Union
  • 3  Monteleone
  • 6  Eclipsed Moon
  • Secondary  (8, 10)

Race 5

  • 5  Delta Prince
  • 7  Whatwonderfulworld
  • 11  Mutazen
  • Secondary (1, 2, 12)

Race 6

  • 11  National Flag
  • 2  Ceevee
  • 10  Mad Munnys
  • Secondary (4, 8)

Race 7

  • 1  Projected
  • 3  Zennor
  • 6  Aubenas
  • Secondary (2, 4, 7, 11)

Race 8

  • 5  Vertical Oak
  • 10  American Gal
  • 8  Faypien
  • Secondary (1, 2)

Race 9

  • 6  Gun Runner
  • 4  Tu Brutus
  • 2  Breaking Lucky
  • Secondary (1)

Race 10

  • 9  Sky My Sky
  • 7  On Leave
  • 2  Sassy Little Lila
  • Secondary (10)

Race 11

  • 4  Always a Suspect
  • 7  Neolithic
  • 6  Mo Town
  • Secondary (1, 3)

Saratoga August 4

Race 1

  • 7  Sand City
  • 3  Burkey’s Babe
  • 4  Corey Q
  • Secondary (5, 6)

Race 2

  • 4  North Eight Street
  • 7  Little Miss Amy
  • 6  Talks Til Midnight
  • Secondary (7)

Race3

  • 2  Sethary
  • 6  Factorial
  • 3  Beltany
  • Secondary (1)

Race 4

  • 5  My Roxy Girl
  • 6  Cartwheel
  • 1  Starlite Mission
  • Secondary (4)

Race 5

  • 8  Catapult
  • 5  Forge
  • 3  Monster Bea
  • Secondary (2, 6, 11)

Race 6

  • 3  Barrel of Dreams
  • 2  Iron MIzz
  • 7  Eloweasel
  • Secondary (1, 5, 6)

Race 7

  • 3  Curtis
  • 6  Star Empire
  • 8  Lifelong Dreamer
  • Secondary (1, 5)

Race 8

  • 9  Portfolio Manager
  • 3  Cowboy’s Hero
  • 4  Petrov
  • Secondary (1, 7, 11)

Race 9

  • 2  Big Handsome
  • 5  Snap Decision
  • 1  Bricks and Mortar
  • 4  Yoshida
  • Secondary (7, 9)

Race 10

  • 3  There He Goes
  • 6  Calculated Risker
  • 2  Kierland
  • Secondary (1, 11)

Saratoga July 30

Race 1

  • 3  Terra Promessa
  • Saratoga has to be disappointed that only three horses signed on for the Shuvee, and none of the three has been particularly impressive. Paid Up Subscriber has a series of Grade 1’s this year, but hasn’t managed better than a second. I’m going to give the nod to Terra Promessa, mainly because she looks most likely to snatch the lead, and the lead in such a short field is a huge advantage.

Race 2

  • 6  Frozen Hannah
  • 1A  Jet Majesty
  • 8  Gotachancetodance
  • Secondary (3, 4, 7)

Race 3

  • 4  Dunk a Din
  • 6  Augie’s Coming
  • 3  Enduring Honor
  • 2  Fielding Gold

Race 4

  • 9  Heldatgunpoint
  • 7  Six Schillings
  • 4  Mister Maestro
  • Secondary (8)

Race 5

  • 6  Dancing
  • 8  Scary Not Scared
  • 2  Party Club
  • Secondary (1, 4)

Race 6

  • 6  Im the Captain Now
  • 8  Focus Group
  • 1  All About Voodoo
  • Secondary (3, 5)

Race 7

  • 8  Generous Kitten
  • 7  Neoclassic
  • 2  Indebted
  • Secondary (4, 6, 9)

Race 8

  • 7  Syndergaard
  • 8  Cause for Surprise
  • 2  Nobody Move
  • Secondary (6, 3, 5)

Race 9

  • 4  Kantune
  • 2  Lucullen
  • 10  J. S. Choice
  • Secondary (5, 9)

Race 10  

  • 6  New York’s Finest
  • 3  Pioneer Spirit
  • 1A  The Walk
  • Secondary (2, 9)

 

Saratoga July 29

Race 1

  • 5  Mojomation
  • 3  Bourbon Resolution
  • 4  Thunder Mesa
  • Secondary (2, 6)

Race 2

  • 11  Hembree
  • 8  Hieroglyphics
  • 2  Surprise Twist
  • Secondary (1/1A, 3)

Race 3

  • 3  Kirby’s Penny
  • 7  Pico Chick
  • 6  Kentucky Dancer
  • Secondary (1, 2)

Race 4

  • 3  El Dulce
  • 9  Johnny Ray
  • 7  Majestic Dunhill
  • Secondary (2, 5)

Race 5

  • 2  Coal Front
  • 3  Mo Cash
  • 6  Toga Challenger
  • Secondary (5)

Race 6

  • 5  Revved Up
  • 7  Call Provision
  • 3  War Stroll
  • Secondary (1/1A, 6, 9, 10)

Race 7

  • 8  Ack Naughty
  • 5  La Sola Ranger
  • 2  Vagabond
  • Secondary (7, 10)

Race 8

  • 5  Bird Song
  • 2  Awesome Banner
  • 8  Limousine Liberal
  • Secondary (3, 4)
  • This edition of the Vanderbilt Handicap presents an interesting handicapping challenge. Limousine Liberal is the horse to beat and he does look solid in here. You could make a case for most of the runners, but I decided to look for some odds and went with Bird Song.  He’s been running nothing but graded races, wiring fields in the Fred W Hooper and the Alysheba. I’m going to excuse the Stephen Foster. Jockey Julian Leparoux broke Bird Song well enough, but pulled him back to fifth, with Bird Song fighting for his head the whole way around the turn and into the backstretch. By the time he finally tried to let the horse go Gun Runner had established an easy lead and drew away. He cuts back in distance, but he’s sprinted well previously and has a win in two tries at Saratoga. If Leparoux rides a little more aggressively, I think Bird Song could come back at a decent price.

Race 9

  • 7  Ascend
  • 1  Bigger Picture
  • 4  Sadler’s Joy
  • Ascend seems to stick out in the Bowling Green having come off an impressive winning the Manhattan. He’s two for two this year, and has a first and a second in four starts at Saratoga. However, he should be a very short price and if you’re looking for a slightly better price, look at Bigger Picture. He’s been running well in 2017 and comes off a good win in the G1 United Nations. Sadler’s Joy should benefit from the added distance in today’s race and could turn the tables on Ascend.

Race 10

  • 1  Always Dreaming
  • 2  Cloud Computing
  • Let’s be realistic. After you get by Always Dreaming and Cloud Computing you’re considering horses that have lesser credentials than those two. I’m looking at Always Dreaming on top. His Preakness was admittedly a poor race,  but Pletcher believes he’s come back well and should be the Always Dreaming we saw in the  Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby.  One thing to worry about is the X-factor horse, Pavel, a West-coast invader that has had one sprint race where he showed plenty of speed and could wind up in the same role as Classic Empire in the Preakness. That certainly gives more reason to consider Cloud Computing who showed he was tractable in the Preakness. If you want to believe Pavel will duel Always Dreaming into submission, then Cloud Computing and under the radar horse Giuseppe the Great both have big outs.

Race 11

  • 3  Wake Island
  • 2  Durable Goods
  • 8   Magical Sky
  • Secondary (7, 11)

Saratoga July 28

Race 1

  • 4  Mary Pray for Us
  • 2  Madame Aamoura
  • 1  Big Mara 
  • Secondary (6)

Race 2

  • 2  Dark as Midnight
  • 8  Lightning Buzz
  • 4  Professor Snape
  • Secondary (9)

Race 3

  • 7  Dovecote
  • 10  Subic Bay
  • 1  Fast Mama
  • Secondary (2, 5, 9)

Race 4

  • 1A  Set the Trappe
  • 6   Gambler’s Ghost
  • 7  Driving Me Crazy
  • Secondary (4)

Race 5

  • 9  Aveenu Maincainu
  • 8  Perfect Expectation
  • 1  Looking Ready
  • Secondary (4)

Race 6

  • 5  Regal Rome
  • 9  Rimanisempreforte
  • 7  Flattermefabulous
  • Secondary (10, 11)

Race 7

  • 2  Tale of S’avall
  • 9  Shaft of Light
  • 4  Threefiveindia
  • Secondary (1A, 3, 6, 8)

Race 8

  • 7  Gauguin
  • 8  Rocketry
  • 1  Rapt
  • Secondary (3, 5, 9)

Race 9

  • 2  Outplay
  • 7  You’re to Blame
  • 3  Small Bear
  • Secondary (5)

Race 10

  • 7  Atwitzend
  • 6  Shades of Brown
  • 1  Mount Upton
  • Secondary (2, 4, 10, 12)

Saratoga July 23

Race 1

  • 5  Miss Mo Mentum
  • 8  Sureis
  • 10  Our Girl Abby

Race 2

  • 4  Top Fortitude
  • 7  Scarf It Down
  • 6  Monte Man
  • Secondary (5, 8)

Race 3

  • 5  Uncle Mojo
  • 2  Mr. Classical
  • 3  Weather Wiz
  • 1  Powerful Ally

Race 4

  • 9  Driven West
  • 3  Main Road
  • 10  Rapid Red
  • Secondary (2)

Race 5

  • 3  Securitiz
  • 1  Thebigfundamental
  • 2  Royal Posse
  • Secondary (4, 7)

Race 6

  • 5  Thrice
  • 12  Cha Cha Heels
  • 7  Prado Vision
  • Secondary (2, 4, 10)

Race 7

  • 6  Nisha
  • 3  Shesmyheartandsoul
  • 11  Tainted Angel
  • Secondary (4)

Race 8

  • 7  Sweet August Lady
  • 9  Bree’s Got Heart
  • 2  Lem Me Dance
  • Secondary (1, 4, 5, 12)

Race 9

  • 3  Animal Appeal
  • 6  Louisville First
  • 12  Ginger N Rye
  • Secondary (1, 8, 9)

Race 10

  • 2  Abel Tasman
  • 7  Salty
  • 3  Daddy’s Lil Darling
  • Secondary (6)

Race 11

  • 10  Starstruck Kitten
  • 9  Pollock
  • 6  Nile Prince
  • Secondary (1, 3, 11)