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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,033
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Saratoga: Saturday, July 29
Good Morning racing fans -- wherever you may be? Maybe, you're heading north up the New York State Thruway or west on the MassPike, or just possibly, you're on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York. Wherever you may be, I wish you the best.
As a side-note, my beloved Red Sox, as Simon and Garfunkle might have said, are "slip-sliding away". Damn Yankees! Remember "Spahn and Sain and a day of rain," or was it; "Pray for rain". In Boston, today, it's "Pomeranz and Sale, and pray for a gale."
Here are my picks on today's Saratoga card:
Race One:
5 MOJOVATION is my pick in today’s opener, a 6-panels MSW sprint. I’m particularly impressed with this first-time starters array of excellent morning works. You can add to the equation: the Hall of Famer, “Johnny V.,” in the irons (he won yesterday’s Curlin) and trainer Todd Pletcher. The colt’s dam, Starship Warspeed, had one winner from one starter. Others: 6 Country Squire; 3 Bourbon Resolution; and 2 Lionite.
Race Two:
2 SURPRISE TWIST is my longshot try in this turf route on The Inner. As I look over the form, I see a lot of early speed in this one. I believe this race begs for a closer. I also believe that my top choice has a solid chance to be that closer. Yes, this Gone West-bred 3 year-old is now facing winners (he broke his maiden in his last start at Laurel one month ago at approx. the same distance). Javier Castellano is in the irons for trainer Arnaud Delacour. Others: 6 Painter’s Rags; 8 Hieroglyphics; and 9 Master Merion.
Race Three:
6 KENTUCKY DANCER is my pick here. I will begin by saying that I like the turf-to-dirt angle. This 4 year-old filly was used early at Ellis Park in her last; she had nothing left in the gas tank. She should find this dirt sprint more to her liking. The filly’s trainer, Bart Hone, does very well with horses making their first start with a trainer. Joel Rosario is in the saddle. Others: 3 Kirby’s Penny; 2 Murrell’s Belle; and 7 Pico Chick.
Race Four:
In this MSW turf sprint, I’m going with the first-time starter, 3 EL DULCE. I’m partial to the dynamic duo of John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher. This Candy Ride-bred bay colt has been working well leading up to his first pari-mutuel start. Others: 1 Beta Max; 5 Triangulate; 9 Johnny Ray.
Race Five:
In the Grade II Amsterdam, I’m going with 6 TOGA CHALLENGER. This Rudy Rodriguez-trained colt has won two straight. The colt has the chauffeuring services of the red-hot Irad Ortiz, Jr. This colt should benefit from his outside post. Others: 2 Coal Front; 5 Excitations; and 3 Mo Cash.
Race Six:
5 REVVED UP is my choice in this OC turf route. This Candy Ride-bred colt can certainly get the distance. Yes, this 4 year-old has been away from the races for a while; yet his trainer, “Shug” McGaughey, does very well in that category. Jose Ortiz is in the irons. Others: 1/1A Altar Boy, St. Louie; 3 War Stroll; 2 Tathqeef.
Race Seven:
3 AFFILEO is my longshot special in this allowance turf route, n1x. This GB-bred was second in a similar race at Aqueduct many fortnights ago. I’m not trying to be “too clever by half” when I suggest that this lightly-raced 5 year-old mare has a shot – at a price (you might consider investing a quid, or two). Yes, I know, she’s been on the shelf, as Billy Joel would have suggested: “For the longest time!” Yet, her morning works are good. The mare’s trainer, Graham Motion, does well with horses who have been ‘on holiday’. Others: 7 Mom’s On Strike; 8 Ack Naughty; 2 Vagabond.
Race Eight:
In this the prestigious Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt, to be contested over the distance of 6 furlongs for a purse of 350 “Huge”, I’m pickin’ the euphonic-sounding, alliteratively-named 5 year-old 8 LIMOUSINE LIBERAL. This Successful Appeal-bred gelding has won his last three. He’s performed exceedingly well in stakes company. This gelding has the services of one of NYRA’s best, Jose Ortiz. His trainer, Ben Colebrook, does very well with horses who won their last race. A recent “bullet” work at Keeneland signals readiness. Others: 5 Bird Song; 4 A. P. Indian; 3 El Deal.
Race Nine:
In the Grade II Bowling Green, a race to be contested on the turf at a distance of one mile and three-eighths for a purse of 250k, my selection is: 2 FRANK CONVERSATION. This 4 year-old Quality Road-bred colt has shipped cross-country from Santa Anita. In his last two at Arcadia, CA, this colt finished seco0nd on both occasions. Any slight improvement… His regular rider, Mario Gutierrez, is in the irons for trainer Doug O’Neil. O’Neil does well with shippers. Others: 7 Ascend; 4 Sadler’s Joy; 5 Hunter O’Riley.
Race Ten:
1 ALWAYS DREAMING, the Kentucky Derby winner, makes his first appearance on the race track since finishing 8th in Pimlico’s Preakness Stakes. Trainer Todd Pletcher has had time to freshen up this son of Bodemeister. This colt’s morning works leading up to this, the Grade II Jim Dandy, have been very good. The Hall-of-Famer, “Johnny V.,” is in the irons. Others: 2 Cloud Computing, 4 Pavel, and 3 Guiseppe the Great.
Race Eleven:
In the finale, an MSW turf route, I’m picking 3 WAKE ISLAND. This War Front-bred filly’s trainer, “Mechanicsville Chad” Brown, does very well with horses who have been on the shelf. Javier Castellano is in the irons for this bay filly who’s hit the tote in all three of her races. Others: 2 Durable Goods; 6 Freedom; and 7 Remarqued
__________________
Walt (Teach)
"Walt, make a 'mental bet' and lose your mind." R.N.S.
"The important thing is what I think of myself."
"David and Lisa" (1962)
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good luck!
Thunder Mesa 12-1 
Pagliacci 5-1 
Kentucky Dancer 6-1 
Ultima 8-1 
Excitations 8-1
St Louie 12-1
Broken Border 8-1
Spartiatus 20-1 
