8/13: Saratoga R1 Walsh Novice steeplechase

[Flatterer]

The Walsh Novice stakes is 2 ⅜ miles around 5 turns over 9 jumps with an interesting mix of recent winners and steeplechase campaigners that are winless in 2025. #4 Evie’s Prince and #9 Quick Master will scratch while leading jump rider Graham Watters picks up the mount on #6 Roja Redemption. Red hot jockey Watters guided 6 winners from 8 mounts at Colonial this summer.

All the runners are coming off lasix except #5 Little Trilby (WON $36.60), who had his 2 worst US races without lasix and at Saratoga, and #7 Carloun who never uses lasix. Big unknown about how well runners will perform without lasix. No runners have won over jumps at Saratoga.

#7 Carloun is the lone Grade 1 winner, highest rated at 131 but has not finished his 2 races this year. #7 Carloun likes the turf hard and fast and will get the course condition he prefers. Trainer Keri Brion already scored with a jump winner at Saratoga and if #7 Carloun does not run off early, he may go coast to coast for the win.

#2 Walk The Warrior comes out of the classiest races, running a respectable 3rd at Nashville in his last and is rated at 126. Trainer Leslie Young’s stable rider James Bargary gets the call and will track the pace and get 1st run down the backstretch the final time. #2 Walk The Warrior has hit the board in 7 of 8 jump tries.

#6 Rojo Redemption ran huge in his last at Colonial winning in a fast time by 14 lengths. Leading trainer Jack Fisher gets leading jockey Graham Waters for the ride, has the highest flat track Beyer, hit the board in all three jump tries and will have his jump class tested today. #6 Rojo Redemption has the lowest handicap rating at 119.

#1 Travesuras (2nd) and #8 Clifton Down can run underneath in trifectas and superfectas.

Selection

A) 2-6 (3rd)
B) 7 - (fell last fence was in front)

Good luck at the races!