Play of the Day – August 19th 2022

Play of the Day Race Date August 19, 2022 Track Saratoga Race 3 Overview A compact AOC going long on the main track, with several different winning possibilities. Pace It’s tough to figure in these dirt routes, as it’s often left up to the jockeys, who seem to wrangle back their speed horses, but on paper, the pace looks honest in here. Trends The main track has continued to play fair throughout the majority meet, and continued to do so last week, though being close is always preferred. Best Bet GALERIO Number 1 Morning Line (3-1) Best Bet Overview #1 GALERIO (3-1): Cash claim (12%) has some solid…

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Play of the Day – August 18th 2022

Play of the Day Race Date August 18, 2022 Track Saratoga Race 7 Overview A modest 35k N3L sprinting on the turf, with few who meet the winning criteria, at least with their recent form. Pace It doesn’t look overly heated, so you better be close early, especially sprinting this snappy 5 ½ furlongs. Trends Turf sprints rarely fall apart in the lane, and the middle posts tend to be best, and with little speed here, coming from too far back won’t be a recipe for success. Best Bet IMMORTALIZATION Number 7 Morning Line (5-2) Best Bet Overview #7 IMMORTALIZATION (5-2) (turf only): Mth invader goes for a…

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Play of the Day – August 17th 2022

Play of the Day Race Date August 17, 2022 Track Saratoga Race 8 Overview A relatively modest NYB N1X going a mile on main. Pace It doesn’t look overly heated, so tactical speed is a must, especially since it will be a sprint off the far turn. Trends The main track has continued to play fair throughout the majority meet, and continued to do so last week, though being close is always preferred. Best Bet MIA BEA STAR Number 6 Morning Line (N/A) Best Bet Overview #6 MIA BEA STAR (N/A): Stalker did well to draw outside here, and the drop from a tough 25k starter will help,…

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Play of the Day – August 14th 2022

Play of the Day Race Date August 14, 2022 Track Saratoga Race 4 Overview A deep and competitive 50k claimer sprinting on the main with several different ways to go, and a potentially vulnerable favorite in #2 Cost Basis (7-5), who has been off since April and now drops. Pace It doesn’t look overly heated, so tactical speed (at the very least) should be part of the package. Trends The main track has continued to play fair throughout the majority meet, and continued to do so last week, though being close is always preferred. Best Bet EBBEN Number 6 Morning Line (6-1) Best Bet Overview #6 EBBEN (6-1):…

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Saratoga Preview 8.13.22: Fourstardave and Saratoga Special

Happy Fourstardave Day! Today is the Fourstardave Handicap. Named for “The Sultan of Saratoga” who won a race at the Spa for eight consecutive years from 1987 to 1994 – and that was when the meet only had twenty-four and thirty racing days. He was the people’s horse and was beloved by all Saratoga race fans of that era. Appropriately, “Dave” is buried on the backside at Clare Court and forever resides at Saratoga.   Race 4 – Saratoga Special – Grade II Six and One Half Furlongs on the Dirt for Two Year Olds The top two finishers from the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill are entered…
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Saratoga Preview 8.6.22: Whitney, Saratoga Derby Invy

Happy Whitney Day!  This is a fantastic card with four graded stakes races including three Grade 1s – the Test, the Saratoga Derby Invitational, and the Whitney.  I’ll dive into the Saratoga Derby and the Whitney Stakes – both of which sport a $1 million purse. Belmont Stakes day is the only other day on the New York racing calendar when there are two million dollar races - the Met Mile ($1 million) and Belmont Stakes ($1.5 million).   Race 10 – The Whitney Stakes – Grade I  One Mile and One Furlong On the Dirt, For Four Year Olds and Upward  The Whitney is arguably the most important…
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Saratoga Preview Sat 7.30: G1 Vanderbilt, G2 Jim Dandy

Happy Jim Dandy Day!  There are two very nice stakes races on the card today, albeit with short fields. As horse players we like big fields as it spreads the money around and gives us better prices on our good opinions. But there is no need to have a big field to have a great race.  Just check out the four horse Shuvee from Sunday and the five horse CCA Oaks from Saturday.   They were both awesome races between the leaders in their respective divisions.   While reigning Sprint Champion Jackie’s Warrior lays over the field in the Vanderbilt there is very good match-up in the Jim Dandy between…
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Saratoga Preview: G1 CCA Oaks / G3 Caress

Happy Coaching Club American Oaks Day!  Last year’s rendition of the Coaching Club American Oaks saw Marajuca defeat Malathaat and Clairiere in a thrilling stretch run. This year’s renewal features another big time showdown between Todd Pletcher’s Nest and D. Wayne Lukas’s Secret Oath.  Both of these filles were last seen in Triple Crown events where Nest ran an excellent second to Mo Donegal in the Belmont Stakes and Secret Oath was a good fourth in the Preakness.  In the Caress Stakes we get five runners out of the Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont including the winner Caravel, who is back to defend her title in this race.   …
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Preview: Diana/Sanford Saratoga 7/16/22

Happy Diana Day!  The first Saturday card of the meet has eleven races co-featured by the Grade III Sanford and the Grade I Diana. These are two very competitive stakes races where you will need to go at least three or four deep to cover logical runners in any horizontal plays.  Race 8 – The Diana Stakes - Grade I   One Mile and One Furlong on the Mellon Turf Course   for Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward  Chad Brown had his five year win streak in this race broken last year by Charlie Appleby who swept the exacta with Althiqa and Summer Romance.  Appleby is back…
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