JEFF SIEGEL’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – SARATOGA – 7/27/24
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Saratoga 1st Race – Post: 12:35 ET. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 3-Atomic Age.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Atomic Age is a first timer by Justify from a graded stakes placed half-sister to Constitution, so he has the pedigree to be any kind and act on any surface. Actually, he has trained better on grass than on dirt, so it doesn’t surprise us that trainer C. Browns opts for a two-turn maiden turf affair to begin this colt’s career. A good athlete with smooth, easy action, he lands a lovely inside draw, attracts top rider F. Prat, and has done enough in the morning to be fit and ready for a major effort right now. This looks like just an average race for the level, so at 5/2 on the morning line he’ll offer solid value in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
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Saratoga 7th race – Post: 3:54 ET. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 4-Chancer McPatrick.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Chancer McPatrick was one of the most impressive previewers at the 2024 OBS April sale, where he breezed a quarter mile in a blazing :21 flat without need of any strong urging. He’s a tall, angular colt with plenty of scope and looks nothing like a sprinter, but the son of McKinzie clearly has a ton of zip, and his local work tab should have him plenty fit first crack out of the box. One of the barn’s “go to” riders, F. Prat, takes the call, so at 4-1 on the morning line, the C. Brown trained juvenile looks very much like a strong play win play and rolling exotic single.
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JEFF SIEGEL’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – DEL MAR – 7/27/24
Jeff Siegel’s What You Need to Know
Del Mar
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Del Mar 6th Race – Post: 3:53 PT. Degree of confidence: A-
Top Selection: 9-Ready to Dare.
Other Contenders: 1-Cloudy Women.
Forecast: The first timer Ready to Dare is a scopey filly with plenty of talent and on video looks to be a win early type for trainer P. Miller. She had done all of her preparation at San Luis Rey Downs prior to her first and only breeze over the Del Mar main track that caught the eye when she was much the best in a team drill eight days ago in a :47 and change drills that could have much faster if she had been asked at any stage. Drawn comfortably on the far outside in the five and one-half furlong dash, the daughter of Daredevil should be doing her best work in the final stages, so if she can maintain contact to the head of the lane she should be hard to contain late. The one she’ll have to fear most is Cloudy Women, a quick-actioned type leaving from the rail who has been quite impressive in her morning activity for the P. Eurton barn. The daughter of Cloud Computing is a “must use” in the various exotics.
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Del Mar 9th race – Post: 6:00 PT. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 3-Smart Code.
Other Contenders: 7-Halfway Line (GB); 9-Faustin.
Forecast: Smart Code returns as a first time gelding following an 11 month vacation, and while the possibility exists that he’ll be a bit rusty off the bench, the work tab – both here and at San Luis Rey Downs – says otherwise. The son of Honor Code was a cut below the good sophomores on this circuit last year but could easily be a better type this time around for the M. Glatt barn, which is noted for its powerful stats with the layoff angle. Drawn comfortably inside, he’ll likely inherit a second flight, stalking position, have every chance from the quarter pole home, and is worth a gamble at or near his morning line of 3-1.
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