Opening Day at Saratoga
July 21, 2017
Race 1
The opener to this meet seems to be lacking in pace up front. #1 Indycott is dropping of a big effort at Belmont LTO in the slop. Should be stalking the two speed horses here, has failed as a favorite the last two versus stronger. Won here last year and claimed at this level.#6 River Date appears to be the speed of the race and has been running high consistent speed figures. Has had a bad habit of being caught late but will not be asked as mich this time out as the #3 seems to be the only other speed of the race. #5 Rich Daddy comes into the race on his 3rd form in the cycle and has come over from a Churchill in good form. Has a win at the distance this year at Gulfstream.
Race 2
#4 Beaux Arts is moving to turf for the first time in this state breed race and has been training well since the switch. #1 Wanda Frytook to the grass in the last race and is adding blinkers, should get a good effort here. Locally trained #5 Scat Back is a first time starter out of Scat Daddy and should be able to get a good price in here.
Race 3
#1 Offlee Beam is the lone speed in the race and may find the lonely lead. Has been able to show the ability to handle the distance while taking a big step up in class, looking for a peak effort here today in what should not be challenging early. #6 Point Hope moves up in class and is 1/1 with the new barn. #3 Planet Trailblazer has taken to the dirt since the switch over, however does need to overcome the habit of going wide which has happened in each of the last few starts.
Race 4
#3Pattern Recognition comes into his third career start for a great barn in the 2nd form in the cycle and has had a great training pattern and should be forwardly placed. Would be a potential first single of the meet for me as everything is pointing towards a win here. #8 Takaful- is dropping out of graded stakes competition and shortening up. Has trained well since last out and should also be forwardly placed to the #3. A definite play if you don’t want to single to the 3. #6 Royal Asset is entering the 3rd form of the cycle and running well on the year has a win over the track last year here.
Race 5
#4 Amazing Belle is the best of those who have run a race is coming back onto dirt. My style is always pointed towards those who have run prior and will be a single on the tickets. #1 More Mojo and #7 Honey Glow are two interesting first time starters who each respectively have potential for a win here.
Race 6
#11 Some Kind Crazy has run well as of late and entering the 3rd form of the cycle. #12 Discreet Image looks to be up front here shortening up since last and has good works on the tab. #3 Andromedas Risk liked the all-weather of PID and taking a step up is worth a look heading to conventional grass.
Race 7
#2 Messi Motions G2 winner is coming in to settle down for a win. Has speed well beyond this level and looks to be the horse to beat. #10 Highland Sky is a closer who has been necked the last two is entering the 3rd form in the cycle and needs to hold his form to catch this group late. #6 Red Riffle likes the course which may give a small leg up on the competition here.
Race 8
#1 Mels Gone Wild wired a 95 in debut at Parx steps up in class but the speed is hard to look past here and even dominated the finish. If the Speed holds up like last year you can single here. #4 Dream it is has had escalating beyers while stretching 2/2 with an ungraded stakes win LTO at Woodbine. A play if you don’t wish to single here. #3 Best Performance with such a speed duel in here this is set up for Jose Ortiz to sit back and rate those in front and has been running in ugs at Belmont.
Race 9
#11 Dream Dancing has hit the board every start at the distance, is a G3 winner at the distance down in Florida. Loved training here and has Julian Leparoux in the irons who on the year in all of the G’s has lost at most was 3 ¾ lengths. #1Fifty-Five another horse how has hit the board at the distance won a G3 at Tampa and placed in a G3 at Belmont. #7 Party Boat has 2 wins at the distance and lost by a length to #11 in only G3 try where she went 5 wide. A better trip could get to the wire first.
Race 10
#2 French Dressing 0/20 on the career but drops to lowest level in years and has shown to be able to handle the distance. #3 Submitentering 3rd career start has improved each start and hoping for a step forward here who did go 5 wide and held. Less experienced as the others which could help here. #8 Sweet Connie Girl Great jockey trainer combo is Chad Brown and JJ Castellano and is on the 2nd form in the cycle.