Saratoga 7/25 Pick 5 Play

[ateamstupid]

1st: This race was drastically affected by scratches, with the likely favorite #5 Boalt Hall and fellow short price #6 Metal Magic coming out. That leaves #7 Moon King as the one to deny for Mark Casse. Owner John Oxley forked over $675,000 for this son of Malibu Moon after he worked :10 1/5 at OBS March and he's done nothing but light up the track in the morning since beginning training. If he runs to his works, he should be tough in here.

2nd: #5 Bam Bam, first time for Bill Mott, is very dangerous in a so-so N1X turf race by Saratoga standards. Group 1 placed in Brazil, he showed his ability 5/14 with a strong 3rd at 16-1 in an off-the-turf sprint at Santa Anita. He had little chance in his turf start after that, getting steadied going down the hill behind a slow pace. Mott worked this horse with stud miler Tourist two back and he reportedly held his own, which is bad news for the rest of this field. #6 Artie Crasher is a little interesting at a decent price stretching back out to a mile, while #7 Speeding Comet deserves a look after running a good closing 3rd last out despite being shuffled back awkwardly behind a slow pace. I prefer those two as alternatives to Bam Bam as opposed to #2 Adirondack Dancer and #4 English Minister, who both are a little camera-shy.

3rd: Nothing too clever in this first 2YO turf route of the meet, as Pletcher has a good-looking pair in #4 Jungle Jumble and #10 Dissident, while the master of these races, Chad Brown, has a Klaravich purchase in #6 Life Imitates Art. #2 Smarty Kitten is obviously a player for the Ramseys by Kitten's Joy out of a Smart Strike dam and he was bet down to 2-5 on debut, though it's interesting to see Luis Saez aboard instead of one of the barn's regular riders. #8 Little Schmo made a nice run in his debut after breaking slowly and being green throughout the first half-mile and looked like the one you wanted (other than the winner) out of that race.

4th: #1 Stay Tuned looks like he'd have to fall down to lose after two very fast races for the level to start his career. He could have stakes in his future after being debuted for a $50,000 tag. The rail is a little bit of a concern, but he simply lays over this field.

5th: Competitive-looking 2-year-old race (3rd of the sequence) where Pletcher's $360,000 Into Mischief baby is likely to go favored. Maybe he'll win, but it looks like there are some runners in here and both of Todd's heavily bet 2-year-olds were awful yesterday. #7 Show Bound ran very well to be 2nd in the Bashford Manor last out and to me is the horse to beat with two good efforts already under his belt. #8 Silvertown was solid in his debut, chasing winner of the aforementioned Bashford Manor He's Comin In Hot 5-wide and ranging up strongly before flattening out late. He also was bet very strongly that day, going off at 2.2-1 compared to the winner at 1.8-1 when that one was coming into the race with a 76 Beyer already on the page. Those are my three A's, but I'm using others as well. #9 Crosstown Route is a Rick Violette baby by Speightstown with fast works on the page, so he has to be respected. #10 Greenpointcrusader, half to Grade 1 winner Justin Philip, is dangerous for Dominick Schettino off a fast gate work downstate last Saturday. #3 Horner Man has reportedly been outworking Hammers Vision, a recent Brian Lynch debut winner and looks like a threat at a good price. #4 Voodoo Wave and #5 Condominium aren't without chances either.

Here's the ticket:



Total cost: $67.50
G/L!