JEFF SIEGEL’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – DEL MAR – 8/24/24
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Del Mar 4th Race – Post: 3:30 PT. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 5-Rehearsal.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Rehearsal found her best stride too late when a promising fourth (beaten just a length) in her U.S. debut over this course and distance last month and is highly likely to step forward considerably today for the always powerful Hernandez-D’Amato jockey-trrainer combo. The Irish bred filly has had four outings (the first three overseas) and has improved in each appearance, so we’re expecting the trend to continue. With a decent pace to set things up and with clear sailing from the head of the lane to wire, she should be along in time as a win play and main push in the various exotics.
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Del Mar 7th race – Post: 5:00 PT. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 7-Uptown Preacher
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Uptown Preacher finally makes it to the races at age four and does so in a soft California-bred maiden claiming sprint for older fillies and mares. She’s obviously had problems that have prevented her from starting until now, but her recent drills have been accomplished with ease and power and it’s clear that she has more than sufficient ability to handle this level of competition. The C. Gaines-trained daughter of Uptown Rythem picks up the barn’s “go to” jockey U. Rispoli, so it all adds up to a value play at or near her morning line of 3-1.
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JEFF SIEGEL’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – SARATOGA – 8/24/24
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Saratoga 7th Race – Post: 2:37 ET. Degree of confidence: A-
Top Selection: 2-Rookie Card.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Rookie Card has trained like a smoker for his racing debut, looking very much like a first out winner in this maiden six furlong dirt sprint for juveniles. After breezing a quarter mile in a sizzling :21 flat at the OBS June Sale and then bringing $165,000 through the ring, the son of Adios Charlie was considered so talented by his connections that he has been used as a work mate (and was able to stay even) with Travers Stakes favorite Dornoch earlier this month, and most recently was much the best in a team drill without being asked in a smart :47 flat bullet drill from the gate. A high quality athlete with quick, efficient action, this Florida-bred juvenile can leave this field behind with a clean break, and at 9/2 on the morning line offers an excellent gamble in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
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Saratoga 8th race – Post: 3:09 ET. Degree of confidence: A
Top Selection: 5-Rhetorical.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Rhetorical won like a future stakes star in his debut here last month and returns on four weeks rest with a series of breezing drills in the interim to tick him over. This jump to the first level allowance ranks will be tougher, but the manner in which he graduated despite a poor start and a wide trip throughout suggests this raise in class should be well within his scope. The 3-year-old son of Not This Time will add Lasix today while retaining I. Ortiz, Jr., and at 2-1 on the morning line (if you can get it) should be used with confidence as a win play and rolling exotic single.
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