8/17: Saratoga (Day 23)
 

A less than mediocre day of selections and wagering Saturday was made OK at least by the wionderful editions of the Sword Dancer and Alabama and Liz Gray's first win as a trainer (Obsequious in the 2nd). Strung together chalky on-top winners of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th, but that went to little good use when Weaver (whose horse continue to run well) upset the nightcap.

As I've suggested all meet on ATR, the Alabama will prove to be memorable for a long time as despite a small field PROUD SPELL displayed an unflagging run that should convert any remaining non-believers in her merits as a distaffer of the finest order... Alan Garcia notched another important Gr. I win a half hour earlier as Bobby Ribaudo's GRAND COUTURIER repeated as your Sword Dancer winner with a heady ride. The remarkable 9yo BETTER TALK NOW ran a quality 2nd... Finally, longtime Dale Romans' assistant LIZ GRAY got her first victory as a pro conditioner as Obsequious lit up the board in the 2nd against a very good field.

Hope you had a good day. Del Mar with a $200,000 Carryover today and I will try to get a look at it later this morning from the Spa... Let's score out today!


SARATOGA RACE COURSE


Pre-Scratches..


1st: NYB-S/ALW, 3+, 7f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #7 KISS THE CRUISER 6-1 WON
Next Best: #5 Prince of Peace 5-2 5th
Exotics Use: #1 Building New Era 4-1 2nd

$1 Exacta (7-1) Paid $36.00


2nd: MSW, 2yo-F, 7f (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #9 Amanwella 6-1 2nd
Most Likely: #6 Heckuva Hunter 7-2 4th
Next Best: #4 Foxy Bailey 4-1 5th
Super Add: #8 State Treasure 5-1 3rd

.10 SUPER PLAY: Key 9 1st/2nd with 2-4-5-6-8 (1x5x4x3 = 60 x 2 = 120 x .10 = $12.00)


3rd: ALW/N2L, 3+, 9f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #3 Tizbig 2-1 2nd
Best Value: #5 He's Solid Gold 5-1 5th
Next Best: #1 Numaany 4-1 WON

$1 Exacta (1-3) Paid $15.40


4th: MSW, 2yo, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Stomp 5-2 2nd
Best Value: #2 Land Grant 4-1 3rd
Next Best: #6 Troy G. 5-1 WON

$1 Exacta (6-1) Paid $7.30
$1 Trifecta (6-1-2) Paid $21.60


5th: NYB-MSW, 2yo-F, 5.5f (P6, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #7 Symbol 4-1 6th
Next Best: #6 Anjorie 3-1 WON
Best Value: #8 Green Harbor 6-1 5th
Super Add: #9 Seaquin Star 6-1 7th


<$75 P4 Play:

2: 6-9
3: 1-3-4-5
4: 1-2
5: 6-7-8-9

2x4x2x4 = $64


6th: S/ALW, 3+, 8.5f-IT (G/S, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #3 VALTRUS 3-1 WON
Best Value: #6 Cobblestone Way 5-1 4th
Next Best: #8 Dirty Water Dog 3-1 9th
Super Add: #7 Dancing Tin Man 10-1 2nd

$1 Exacta (3-7) Paid $13.80


7th: MDN CLM, 3yo, 5.5f-T (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #6 Ridge Royal 6-1 WON
Most Likely: #1 Alabama Man 3-1
Next Best: #11 SCR
Super Add: #4 Snuckinandsnuckout 12-1 2nd

$1 Exacta (6-4) Paid $108.00


8th: NYB-OC/N2X, 3+, 1m-IT (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Grasberg 3-1 4th
Best Value: #2 Alexandros 15-1 2nd
Next Best: #8 Imperial River 5-1 6th
Super Add: #7 Half Moon Street 15-1 9th

.10 SUPER PLAY: Key 2 with 1-4-7-8-9-11 (1x6x5x4 = 120 x .10 = $12.00)


9th: 5th John's Call [R], 4+, 13f-T (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #2 Just as Well 3-1 8th
Best Value: #6 Taconeo 12-1 2nd
Next Best: #5 Summer Patriot 5-2 WON
Super Add: #3 Crown Point 6-1 7th

$1 Exacta (5-6) Paid $32.00


10th: CLM/N2L, F&M-3+, 1m-IT (Super)

Close to impossible to exclude any..

Most Likely: #6 Irish Bride 6-1 8th
Best Value: #9 Not Now 10-1 4th
Next Best: #10 Empress Indy 6-1 2nd
Super Add: #4 Dance Lesson 6-1 10th


<$75 P4 Play:

7: 1-6
8: 2-4
9: 2-6
10: 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

2x2x2x9 = $72


Good luck!
Steve

STEVE any look at longmile?
 

Can we get some help? 3-2-4-8-7 using 11 3 as key plays.

Steve, in the 9th Crown Point is listed as the 3 not 4
 

:)

I/l

Today's picks
 

Great call on Kiss the Cruiser. Way to go TG's.

Early pk4 split with pmac:

2- 1,6,8,9
3- 1,3
4- 1,2
5- 3,6,9

Good Luck!

Buckley
 

Great call Steve.

Jon Buckley is one of the nicest guys and a true horseman. Have used him as my trainer at FL and he always seems to ship to Saratoga and/or Belmont once ayear and seems to always score

PSH

3rd race
 

Skills Coach possibly sneak in there?

take a stab at the late pk4:

7- 1,2,7,8
8- 4,11
9- 2,3,5,8
10- 2,3,6,9

Good Luck!

Del Mar C/O play:

4th: 1-2
5th: 1-2-6-7
6th: 1-4-5
7th: 4-6
8th: 6
9th:: 2-6

2x4x3x2x1x2 = 96 x $2 = $192

$2 Pick 6 (1/6-7-9-3/6/10-6-6) 5 Correct Paid $221.80 X 3 = $665.40

Steve, started tailing you in the 6th race, had a little bit to win on the 3, and then hit the $216 exacta by boxing your picks in the 7th. Thanks much as always for posting your great handicapping!

Late Pick 3

Race 8: 4,5,8,9
Race 9: 2,4,5,6
Race 10: 2,9

Late Pick 3

4,11
2,5
4,5,10

$12

Steve, started tailing you in the 6th race, had a little bit to win on the 3, and then hit the $216 exacta by boxing your picks in the 7th. Thanks much as always for posting your great handicapping!

Glad you scored and thx for the kind compliment. My godson Sam and 'Big Day Jay' hit that generous EXA here too! Sorry I did not get a chance to make post scratch changes though as the 11 in the 8th was a must use and I hope all saw that he drew in.

Am sitting at the BBQ with "The Oey" enjoying the late action... Good luck to all the rest of the way and in the DMR P6.

Steve....I missed the fact that the 11 drew in to the 8th race. I didn't use him on my pick 3 ticket.....Ouch.

looking for help
 

can anyone tell me if the horse in the seventh race,,,ridge royal,,,
had more turf starts or dirt starts in his last 5 races?i got stuck in today and no chance to get form
it would be helpfull to me

thank you very much

Ridge Royale was making his turf debut. He only had 4 previous lifetime starts all of which were dirt sprints.

Happy to take the 3 consos ($665.40), but this was so close. Fun sequence. Made up for my poor wagering decisions earlier today.

Well done :tro:

And the one you missed wouldn't have fit in the budget but I'm sure you had at least considered him, even with the terrible meet Baffert has been having.

Nice job, you don't have to be so modest.