July 25, 2024
Jeff Siegel’s What You Need to Know
Saratoga
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Saratoga 5th Race – Post: 3:27 ET. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 9-Masterwork.
Other Contenders: 1a-Unlimitedpotential.
Forecast: Making his first start since being gelded, Masterwork takes a significant but understandable class drop into a restricted (nw-2) $16,000 claimer in his first start in three months, and looks extremely well-meant in a modest race for the level. The T. Morley-trained four-year-old catches a field without much speed and seems likely to find himself on or near the lead, which is exactly where he prefers to be. The son of Mastery picks up one of the stable’s “go-to” riders, and with a recent healthy series of workouts he appears set for a career top effort at 5-1 on the morning line. The even money morning line favorite is Unlimitedpotential, another taking a nosedive in class but in his case he’s obviously being culled from the stable. His maiden win two races back at Keeneland wasn’t bad but after the clunker that came next trainer T. Pletcher clearly wants to move on. He can win, but at the price, who needs him?
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Saratoga 10th race – Post: 6:19 ET. Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 7-Koru.
Other Contenders>: 12-Dakota Country; 2-My Life Story.
Forecast: The class drop from straight maiden to maiden claiming) is one of the most influential angles that you can use when handicapping this type of race and making just his fourth career start Koru should find this field considerably softer than what’s faced so far. With rising speed figures in each of his starts and retaining regular pilot M. Franco, the C. Brown-trained gelding projects to settle in the second flight and then have dead aim from the quarter pole home. The addition of blinkers (the barn is a whopping 30% with this maneuver) is another plus, so at 7/2 on the morning line there’s value to be found in the win pool and in the various exotics.
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