Jeff Siegel’s What You Need to Know – Saratoga – 8/28/24
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Saratoga 3rd Race – Post: 2:18 ET. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 6-Baricci.
Other Contenders: Get a Job.
Forecast: This New York-bred main track maiden miler for older horses doesn’t have much depth to it among the known element, so let’s take a shot with a new face at a nice price. The first timer Baricci displayed reasonable ability in a pair of gate workouts that we viewed on xbtv.com, always going without pressure and finishing with some left while proving best in both instances over a workmate. Maidens from 007’s barn often run better than they breeze, and we suspect this colt will as well. He projects to enjoy a pace-stalking trip right behind the logical and deserving favorite Get a Job and then have his chance from the quarter pole home. The main attraction here is the price (8-1 morning line) and at that number there’s a reasonable gamble available on the tote and in the various exotics.
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Saratoga 8th race – Post: 5:10 ET. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 5-Second Chance.
Other Contenders: 2-Virgin Colada; 7-Totally Justified.
Forecast: Second Chance offers a good long shot chance in a wide open renewal of the P. G. Johnson Stakes for juvenile fillies. A clever debut winner from state-bred foes sprinting over the local lawn last month, she’s undoubtedly facing tougher rivals today while stretching out to two turns, but she might be the controlling speed, and if she can make the running without pressure the daughter of The Factor will take this field a very long way. The Bill Mott barn has strong stats with the stretch out angle and based strictly on pedigree this daughter of The Factor should be able to stay a middle distance, so there’s hope. Yes, according to speed figures, she has some work to do, but that’s why she’ll be such a big number on the tote. Let’s take a flyer at 20-1 on the morning line.
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