Jeff Siegel’s What You Need to Know – Del Mar – 8/25/24
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Del Mar 3rd race – Post: 3:00 PT. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 2-The Scent.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Let’s take a flier with The Scent, a second time starter at 12-1 on the morning line in this state-bred maiden sprint for older horses. The son of Enticed had trained pretty well leading up to his debut but didn’t break well, made a bit of a move midway, but never mounted a rally through the lane when fifth of nine in a race he surely needed. He’ll add blinkers while retaining A. Aguilar, so the P. Aguirre-trained gelding seems likely to produce a forward move, one that makes him an attractive price chance in a wide open affair.
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Del Mar 5th Race – Post: 4:00 PT. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: Zip Om.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Zip Om, out of the high class turf mare Unzip Me, made his debut sprinting on grass earlier this month over this course and distance and was a visually pleasing winner with a huge speed figure, one that makes him very tough to beat right back despite the raise into the first level allowance ranks. The C. Gaines-trained son of Om displayed good tactical speed to stalk the pace in hand and then came away when given his cue to graduate with plenty left by three widening lengths. From the rail he’s guaranteed a ground-saving, pressing trip which we expect he’ll take full advantage of. At 2-1 on the morning line, he’s an aggressive win play and rolling exotic single.
Jeff Siegel’s What You Need to Know – Saratoga – 8/25/24
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Saratoga 2nd Race – Post: 1:42 ET. Degree of confidence: A-
Top Selection: 1-Annexperience.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Maiden state bred juvenile fillies square off in this turf dash that should be made to order for the debuting Annexperience, listed at 5/2 on the morning line. The daughter of Instagrand shows a sharp gate breeze earlier this month in :47.4bg, the fourth fastest of 182 for the distance, and while we didn’t view that workout we did see her at the Timonium Sale in May in an eye catching :10 2/5 preview move in which she displayed sharp action and a nice, athletic stride. Out of a mare by More Than Ready, the J. Englehart-trained filly certainly is bred for turf, so in an open fray let’s play her with a good degree of enthusiasm in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics.
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Saratoga 11th race – Post: 6:49 ET. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 3-Gallant Greta.
Other Contenders: none.
Forecast: Gallant Greta was given an educational run when a solid fourth in her debut sprinting on dirt in what already has proven to be a productive affair and should deliver a significant forward move with that bit of experience behind her. Certainly bred to enjoy two turns and grass, the sophomore daughter of Twirling Candy from a mare by Empire Maker is a smart looking filly with plenty of substance and actually moves quite well for a filly of her size. This stretch out in trip should allow this first time Lasix user to secure a comfortable early position and then provide her with every chance when the pressure is turned on from the quarter pole home. The M. Maker-trained New York bred filly retains T. Gaffalione and looks like a good gamble on the tote and in the exotics at or near her morning line of 6-1.
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