Jeff Siegel’s What You Need to Know – Del Mar – 8/22/24
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Del Mar 3rd Race – Post: 3:00 PT. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 1-Concord Bridge
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Concord Bridge didn’t impress in a pair of outings last year during his two year old campaign but it’s entirely possible as a first-time Lasix user that he’s a much better type this time around based on what he’s looked like in recent morning drills. The J. Sadler-trained sophomore breezed a strong solo six furlongs 10 days ago that should have him fit and ready, and from his favorable rail draw the son of Medaglia d’Oro may try to employ gate-to-wire tactics in a field without any runaway speed types. H. Berrios, who has ridden quite a few live runners for this stable this season, takes the call, so in a small field of six and at 3-1 on the morning line we’ll make him a win play and main push in the various exotics.
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Del Mar 4th race – Post: 3:30 PT. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 1-Flamengo’s Queen (Ire).
Other Contenders: 9-Twirling Light.
Forecast: Flamengo’s Queen (Ire) had a promising debut run in May sprinting over a straightaway five furlong trip at Naas, and although she received no action (50-1) on the tote she did well to rally late and wind up fourth before galloping out in front. Purchased privately after the race and now in trainer R. Baltas’ barn, she makes her U.S. debut in a moderate straight maiden affair and should be quite competitive at this level on this circuit. If she can maintain contact from the rail and avoid trouble along the way, the Irish-bred filly could prove troublesome from off the pace in the final stages, so at 7/2 on the morning line she’ll offer a reasonable gamble in a race that appears to lack depth.
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Jeff Siegel’s What You Need to Know – Saratoga – 8/22/24
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Saratoga 1st Race – Post: 1:10 ET. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 8-With the Angels.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: We didn’t get to see With the Angels in that quick :47 flat gate drill over the Oklahoma training track last Friday but based strictly on time it had to be impressive, the clocking being the second fastest of 33 for the distance in a move that points her out in this maiden dash for fillies. Actually, we saw all that we needed to see when viewing her :09 4/5 breeze at the OBS April Preview session that was nothing short of sensational. The daughter of Omaha Beach did it almost entirely on her own while displaying a long, fluid stride that appeared to barely touch the ground. Afterwards, she brought $350,000 through the ring despite being light in the first dam, though the family traces well. In a race in which the known element looks suspect, the Linda Rice-trained juvenile appears primed for win at first asking, though her morning line of 6-1 certainly is inflated.
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Saratoga 10th race – Post: 6:19 ET. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 1-Unbridled Gem (Ire).
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Unbridled Gem (Ire) was supposed to be a good thing in her debut at Belmont Park a year ago June but missed at even money in an abbreviated grass sprint for juvenile fillies and then disappeared. The Three Chimneys homebred returns for trainer W. Ward (strong stats with comebackers) in this grass dash for older maiden fillies and mares and should be a live item after a series of easy drills in which she displayed excellent speed despite being hard held. She’ll add Lasix, remove blinkers, and pick up Frankie, so it appears all systems are go for the daughter of More Than Ready. We doubt well get close to her morning line of 8-1 on the tote but will be happy if we can.
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