FREE SARATOGA OPENING DAY
Opening Day 7/20/19
Dan the Man
Race 1
The Spa opens up at 1 1/8 on the dirt where 6 Bad Student has won at the distance and has two wins on the year so far, both at Oaklawn. Tom Amoss drops 7 Hardly a Secret in here where he is 36% 2nd with trainer, he may not be able to get the distance but he will sit in a stalking positon throughout. Front runner 2- Nobody Move comes off a short lay off and won at this level last time out.
Race 2
4-Drynachan hits the turf with a great workout tab under leading trainer Chad Brown with Castellano in the irons. The best of those who have a career race under their belt 1-Toofoofooforyou will open up the pace from the rail which has been a great angle on dirt but will help this sprint on the grass. 9-Mikes Girl is another first time starter who has a great workout tab under her belt.
Race 3
6 Monteleone drops into the claiming ranks where he likes the distance here will be stalking the pace and seems to be in the ultimate spot for him. 2 Strongside will be returning to dirt where he should have been all along and should push the pace here, however the value of the morning line shows other from the betting perspective. 3 Comeoncomeoncat is another horse who will be on the front and has shown the speed to take win honors today.
Race 4
Looking at this maiden race its hard to look past 6 Azzedine who has placed in ¾ races so far and is looked at as the “other” Chad Brown horse here. Looking at the replay of 5 Clydes Runner last start going 8 wide and placing is well worth the 5-1 morning line and can take down this big field. 4 Dominant Strategy will be making his 3rd career start but first on grass where he has fired a bullet and worth a look.
Race 5
The first 2yr old fillies race of the meet has first time starter 1 Blahnik a potential single as she comes out of great pedigree and hooks up the Pletcher/JV combo. 3 Wild Type & 9 Mertz both have career races under their belts and have worked well to this spot.
Race 6
The NYRA late Pick 5 starts with a 3 Hayfield being a top selection to start it out she always fires and been in the top 2 spots and has done well at distance. 10 Palladian Bridge is entering the second form cycle has run the figures and Ill toss the last race as a tune up for this meet. Taking an old angle at the SPA 1 Dancing All Night provides some speed from the rail placed on course last time in the slop here that was back in July of last year but has a strong work out tab 9/2 is tough to take a year layoff IMO.
Race 7
On this 1 1/16 inner turf course race Ill be looking at a horse who wants to go longer and will target 2 Sweet August Lady who 2nd form cycle and has shown to want the extra ground.10 Pause for the cause seems to love the grass even though she never won on it, its only a matter of time till she breaks though. 5 Way Smart tends to get into a lot of traffic troubles who can win if she can get over that has the speed to win.
Race 8
The grade 3 Schuylerville is the first stakes race on the meet where 1 Catherine the Great can be singled off her 2/2 career record winning both in the slop while putting up great speed numbers she will be one to watch going forward. Taking down Catherine may have to come from the back where 2 Nonna Madeline can follow her around the track and hope to score late. 9 Lady Apple is a strong stalker who just missed last time out would be an upset but is worth a shot.
Race 9
The G3 Lake George on the Turf has George Weaver’s 3 Daddy Long Legs training well and already has a G3 win on his career. 6 Andina Del Sur also has a career G3 win and is 1/1 at the distance. 7 Altea hopes to get his first graded stakes win here and has shown the speed for Chad Brown.
Race 10
Opening day closes out on the turf at a 1 1/16 where 7 Shamsaan is dropping in for the win here after hanging in with much better throughout his career and is much better than his morning line. 8 County Court is shortening up on a drop which is an often winning angle. 12 Prognostication has hit the board all 5 turf starts but has never been this far outside but is coming off a win at a mile.