Jeff Siegel’s “What You Need to Know” – Del Mar – 8/23/24
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Del Mar 5th Race – Post: 5:00 PT. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 9-Misty Muffet.
Other Contenders: 8-Nanci Griffith; 7-Toast to Lanie.
Forecast: Though she hasn’t been out since last December, Misty Muppet has trained like she’s fit and ready for a winning effort off the bench, and from her cozy outside draw the daughter of Tonalist should draft into a lovely stalking spot outside and then have every chance from the quarter pole home to wear down the leaders. She earned decent speed figures last year as a two-year-old and should be stronger and better this time around. Additionally, she’s a first time Lasix user and retains her “win rider” A. Ayuso so at 9/2 on the morning line in a difficult, competitive starter allowance affair we’ll make her a win play and main key in the various exotic plays.
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Del Mar 6th race – Post: 5:30 PT. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: Mr. Mustache.
Other Contenders: 2-Santarena.
Forecast: Let’s go with a fresh face in this maiden abbreviated sprint for older runners. Mr. Mustache has done everything in the morning effortlessly and with the style of a win early type, so in this grass grab bag he may be worth a reasonable gamble. From the high percentage J. Mullins barn (23% with massive ROI with debut runners), this sophomore son of Upstart lands top speed jockey E. Maldonado, so either as a pace presser or from a second flight, stalking position he should be highly competitive based on the ability he has flashed in the morning.
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Jeff Siegel’s “What You Need to Know” – Saratoga – 8/23/24
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Saratoga 7th race – Post: 3:54 ET. Degree of confidence: A-
Top Selection: 6-Force of Law.
Other Contenders: 9-Good Conduct; 10-Leaner and Meaner.
Forecast: There’s a few nice fillies in this maiden two turn turf affair for 2-year-olds and it should require a good one – maybe even a stakes type – to win it. The first timer Force of Law has trained like a quality type for top connections, always breezing in hand and finishing with plenty left, though never breaking any stop watches in the process, hence her 6-1 morning line. The C. Clement-trained youngster has been given a solid foundation to have her fit and ready for a trainer whose debut runners often run better than they work. The daughter of Constitution from multiple stakes winner Power Gal is worth a gamble. Also to be usied on your tick is Good Conduct, a promising fifth in her sprint debut here last month before galloping out in front in a better-than-looked effort and likely to improve a bunch over a distance of ground for C. DeVaux, and Leaner and Meaner, poorly drawn outside but quite impressive in a series of grass breezes for the C. Brown/F. Prat connection.
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