JEFF SIEGEL’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – SARATOGA – 8/1/24
August 1, 2024
Jeff Siegel’s What You Need to Know
Saratoga
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Saratoga 2nd Race – Post: 1:44 ET. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 7-Letter Perfect.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Letter Perfect finally makes it to the races in August of his 3-year-old, and if he’s the same colt that we saw breeze so impressively in the OBS 2023 March Sale he’ll be a major player in this turf sprint for older maidens. The son of Audible has local drills that aren’t flashy but hint of ability similar to what he displayed when previewing in :10 flat before bringing $425,000 through the ring. Trainer Christophe Clement has started off slowly at the Spa this year and is due to heat up, especially with a live first timer that’s always been a high percentage play for this stable. We’ll back this good moving, athletic colt in the win pool and in the various despite the late surface switch from turf to dirt.
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Saratoga 9th race – Post: 5:45 ET. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 5-Eternal Hope (Ire).
Other Contenders: 3-Chop Chop.
Forecast: Eternal Hope (GB) has been away since last October when she registered a solid victory facing sophomore fillies in the Sands Point S.G2 at nine furlongs at the Big A. She’s proven she can handle a marathon trip as well, having won across the pond last year at this 12 furlong journey in the Oaks Trial S. at Lingfield on synthetic. From the spectacular Charlie Appleby stable, the daughter of Teofilo has been training locally for several weeks to have her fit and ready and has proven quite capable of firing a big shot fresh (she won her debut) while also capturing the Jockey Club Oaks Inv.-G3 in her U.S. debut fresh off the plane from Great Britain. If she returns as well as she left – and her breeze July 26 over the Saratoga turf training track (5f, 1:00.3b TC TT) was spectacular besting European Group-2 stakes winner English Rose (Ire) – the Irish-bred filly should outclass this field under F. Prat.
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JEFF SIEGEL’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – DEL MAR – 8/1/24
August 1, 2024
Jeff Siegel’s What You Need to Know
Del Mar
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Del Mar 5th Race – Post: 4:00 PT. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 5-Slam Diego.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Slam Diego has not been out for 11 months and it’s entirely possible the veteran mare will be rusty and in need of the race in this six furlong sprint for restricted (nw-3) $20,000 fillies and mares but she has trained well enough for a capable outfit to be dangerous in a wide open affair. Her numbers are good enough for this level and she’s always been partial to the Del Mar main track, so if she can get some help up front the daughter of Cairo Prince has reasonable look at it from off the pace. In a wide open affair, give her a good look in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
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Del Mar 7th race – Post: 5:05 ET. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 2-Loretta Lynn.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: In a race loaded with front-running speed and a projected race shape that gives the late runners a good shot, let’s go with the lightly raced Loretta Lynn to tag the leaders close him in this main track miler for first level allowance fillies and mares. The daughter of Grazen has raced only four times, most recently when a respectable third in the Melair Stakes in late May at Santa Anita that produced a career top speed figure, and with another forward move today the P. D’Amato-trained sophomore should regain her winning form. Jockey K. Frey has had considerable success with this stable, lands the mount, and should give this developing filly the patient ride she requires.
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