Saratoga Best Bets:
It is a monster weekend in racing with one of my favorite tracks opening back up, Del Mar! Not only do we get Del Mar added to the Saturday mix, but we will also have the Haskell at Monmouth. Before we get to Saturday, though, let’s dive into today’s card for some Saratoga best bets.
$110k Allowance N1X, Saratoga, Race #9
Saratoga is known for the N1X turf allowances, with horses using them as springboards into stakes races, and this one is no exception. #5 Child of the Moon will make her American debut as she tries to become the next stakes horse in the Chad Brown barn. She was decent in Europe, taking five tries to break her maiden, but did improve with every start. Brown is very good with these horses, clicking off at a 24% win rate with first-time starters in North America, and Prat takes the mount. Hopefully, we will get somewhere around 3-1 on her.
Right to her inside, #4 Vino Rouge will be the favorite. She has tactical speed, which could be deadly in a field that lacks pace, and ran a very good third at this level two back while facing No Show Sammy Jo, a horse I have been waiting to run back. If the price were better, I’d be interested, but at a short number, it’s tough to back her.
#7 Determined Lilly has won back-to-back state-bred races on the turf, but the waters get deeper today facing open company. She can make her own trip and has won from up close and way back, but it’s tough to see her winning this race with the likes of the 4 and 5 in this one. I do like her in the back half of the trifecta and superfecta.
#2 Any Port is another one that will round out exotics for me. Throw out her last since it was over the dirt and her progression fits for a horse that can hit the board.
Picks: 5-4-7-2
Saratoga Best Bets: $50 Win #5
$12k Claimers, Saratoga, Race #7
We head to the bottom of the barrel in the Saratoga races for our other spotlight. Last time out, #5 Emerald Forest disappointed at just over 3-1 versus better than he faces today and was claimed for $32,000 by trainer Linda Rice. She is very good off the claim and has trained this horse before. I like the re-claim angle when a trainer wants a horse back in the barn, and I expect a good race today from Emerald Forest on the drop.
#8 Critical Threat won last time out in April against slightly better than he will face today, but that was a smaller field where he was able to control the pace. He will be on the engine early again here, but should have some company. On the positive side, Falcone’s barn has started out the Saratoga meet hot, and he does have a win over the Saratoga dirt.
#6 Lafitte’s Fleet was claimed in the Dutrow barn at this level two back. They moved the horse way up to $40,000 where he was not competitive, and now back to this level. When Irad Ortiz rides for Dutrow, watch out. The two combine for a 25% win rate over the last two years and the horse is spotted to win.
#4 Ribbons and Medals is the price horse for me here. He possesses top-end speed and gets a big-time jockey upgrade to Tyler Gaffalione here. He’s in good form and has the right to improve again here, second off the claim for Wayne Potts.
Picks: 5-8-6-4
Saratoga Best Bets: $50 Win #5
Spot Plays:
Saratoga Race #1: $50 Exacta 1-8
Saratoga Race #10: $50 Win #4
