“WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW” – SARATOGA
By Jeff Siegel, 1stbet.com Handicapper & Analyst
(For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing).
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SARATOGA SPOTLIGHT RACES:
Seventh Race – Post: 4:29 ET
Top Pick: 5-Proven Hope (5-1)
This Mark Hennig-trained colt shows several angles that makes him appealing at 5-1 on the morning line. He’s dropping into the maiden claiming ranks for the first time while removing blinkers and stretching out to two turns and has sprint numbers that make him a solid fit at this level. Freshened since mid-June but with a healthy, steady series of recent workouts, the son of Street Boss seems primed to produce a significant forward move. Let’s try in him the win pool and in the horizonal and vertical exotics. Also worth considering are 8-The Prince’s Spur (another showing up in a seller for the first time and with speed figures that justify his morning line favorite’s role at 8/5) and 9-Drakon (poorly drawn outside but with solid form at the level and with steadily rising numbers).
Ninth Race: Post: 5:39 ET
Top Pick: 3-Tide of the Sea (2-1)
Here’s a proven marathoner who was wisely scratched out of a tougher middle distance allowance race on Sunday for this year’s edition of the restricted John’s Call Stakes over a mile and five furlongs on grass. He’s a dyed-in-the-wool front runner in a race without any real pace, so we’re expecting the son of English Channel to employ gate-to-wire tactics. Winless in six starts this year, he finds a suitable situation to regain his best form, so under these conditions the veteran gelding seems reasonably solid. The one he has to fear most is the French-bred hurdler 5-Sa’ad, who didn’t get the hang of things when finishing far back in a pair or recent maiden steeplechase affairs at Colonial Downs. However, his flat form overseas last year wasn’t bad considerably the quality of competition and makes him dangerous in this below standard stakes race for older horses.
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SARATOGA RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:
(Races 1-5)
1st race: Pass/No Play
2nd race: 3-Gambling Girl; 1-Sweet Blush
3rd race: 4-Built to Last; 5-Sharp Sensation
4th race: 5-Zen Master; 3-Cathedral Beach; 1-Never Early
5th race: 5-Roderick; 6-Kinetic Sky
(Races 6-10)
6th race: 5-King Angelo; 6-Thin White Duke; 3-Under Oath
7th race: 5-Proven Hope; 8-The Prince’s Spur; 9-Drakon
8th race: 6-Lastchanceatglory; 5-Lil Commissioner
9th race: 3-Tide of the Sea; 5-Sa’ad
10th race: 5-Stella Mars; 11-Dreamful; 10-Quaria Thunder
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SARATOGA WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
SECOND RACE:
Sweet Blush (August 19, Saratoga, 4f, :48bg). Grade: B
Best by more than a length over Amount (4f, :48.bg) for Billy Morey, opening up early and then being joined by workmate midway before edging clear in the final stages, mild coaxing only, solid gate work for daughter of Candy Ride. Should be competitive in debut when facing New York-bred competition. Seems fit.
View Workout Video
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SIXTH RACE:
Under Oath (August 14, 4f, :51.2b TT TC DU). Grade: B
Slow final time in turf drill around dogs but looked sharp and eager while wearing blinkers to prove best over Scottish Star (same time) for T. Pletcher, quite nice. Speightstown colt went straight and true and should improve considerably with the addition of the hood. Got over the grass course just fine, as well.
View Workout Video
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SEVENTH RACE:
The Prince’s Spur (August 17, Saratoga, 4f, :49.1b). Grade: B-
Maintenance breeze for Cairo Prince gelding, never asked in easy half mile breeze while even outside Nocturnal (same time) for T. Pletcher. Looks okay, should improve with the drop into the maiden claiming ranks.
View Workout Video
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