Saratoga Best Bets
This weekend is truly a special treat for horse racing fans. Today’s card from Saratoga is the best Friday non-Breeders’ Cup racing that I have seen in years. You have stars, you have competitive racing and full fields with a bunch of opportunities to make some money. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite plays from today’s card.
Just A Game, Saratoga, Race #10
Chad Brown is in mid-season Saratoga form in this year’s running of the Just A Game, with five or seven runners heading to the gate from his barn. That often creates a handicapping nightmare since it can be difficult to know who will go to the lead. I would expect it is going to be #7 Whitebeam who has won over this course and has the most natural quickness. I like Whitebeam, but the price leaves something to be desired since she is your morning line favorite.
I’m interested in #3 Gina Romantica who is cutting back in her second start off the layoff from 1 1/16th to her preferred distance of one mile. In her previous four mile-long races, she has two wins, a second and a very good fourth in the Breeders’ Cup. The price is right today for the first time in a while as well.
Wildcard #4 Coppice will make her second start in the US after just missing in her north American debut. She will need to improve off that race to win, but this is a likely spot for her to do so.
The horse who just nipped Coppice last time is #6 Chili Flag who is also second off the layoff and has a chance to improve. To me, she’s just a cut below the other Brown horses in this field.
Picks: 3-4-7-6
Saratoga Best Bets: $50 Win #3
Acorn Stakes, Saratoga, Race #12
In the final revival of the triple crown for the ladies, #9 Thorpedo Anna will try to take the first and last jewel after her romp in the Kentucky Oaks. She’s a deserving morning line favorite at 8/5, but I am going to try to find value elsewhere due to the post draw and other pace in the race.
#3 Leslie’s Rose has always had the talent but can’t seem to stack up big back-to-back races yet in her career. She quit in the Oaks while chasing from the 13 post and immediately pointed to this race. Her Ashland effort is good enough to win this, and the draw should help her save ground while getting pace to chase.
It’s hard to knock #4 Just F Y I, who has never finished out of the exacta in five career starts, with the last four all being Grade 1 races, but she has lost to Thorpedo Anna and Leslie’s Rose in her last two. She seems to be the most likely horse to hit the board, but not to win the race.
#6 Where’s My Ring returns to New York after a troubled trip in the Oaks. His two worst races are now over an off track as well. Expect a bounce-back performance today.
Picks: 3-9-4-6
Saratoga Best Bets: $50 Win #3
Spot Plays:
Saratoga Race #3 – $50 Win #4
Saratoga Race #5 – $50 Win #10
