“WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW” – SARATOGA
By Jeff Siegel, 1stbet.com Handicapper & Analyst
(For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing).
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SARATOGA SPOTLIGHT RACES:
Third Race – Post: 2:13 ET
Top Pick: 7-Boss Jim (5-1)
Here’s a below standard maiden special weight juvenile sprint on turf that should be won by a fresh face, and this son of Tapizar fits the bill nicely. A $70,000 Saratoga yearling purchase, the Carlos Martin-trained colt hasn’t recorded any flashy times but was visually pleasing in a gate work last month while displaying enough ability to be highly competitive first time out. We’re expecting a second flight, stalking trip and then a sufficient kick that can be capable of tagging the leaders close home. At 5-1 on the morning line, he’s worth a gamble in the win pool and in the various rolling exotics. Exotic players should also consider on their ticket 8-King of Comedy and 3-General Baker. The former apparently has done some decent work at Belmont Park while preparing for his debut and won’t have to be a world beater to be a major player, while the latter has the benefit of a prior run over the local lawn last month – a moderate runner-up effort in a soft race – and has a right to produce enough of a forward move to at least hit the board.
Sixth Race: Post: 3:55 ET
Top Pick-8-Maple Leaf Mel (5/2)
This daughter of Cross Traffic brought $150,000 at the spring Timonium 2-year-old in training sale, where she breezed a furlong in a quick 10 2/5 seconds and has been prepared nicely for her racing debut with a series of solid local drills, including a sharp gate move July 24 when best of a team (see below). She followed up that work with a bullet half mile training track breeze (:48 2/5) that was best of 22 for the distance, so this Jeremiah Englehart-trained juvenile appears fit and ready. 7-Security Code is another first-timer with credentials to run well and in fact may even quicker than ‘Mel. The daughter of Frosted shows a solid foundation of workouts to have her plenty fit and is a “must use” somewhere on your ticket at 5-1 on the morning line. 1-Love My Candy has been training at Belmont Park and vans up for this affair with a good work for M. Maker. She failed to change leads when breezing a furlong in 10 2/5 at the Timonium preview but displayed enough ability to warrant an $80,000 bid and seems likely to be competitive in an open fray.
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SARATOA RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:
(Races 1-5)
1st race: Pass/No Play
2nd race: 3-Offutt Cole; 5-Drink the Wind
3rd race: 7-Boss Jim; 8-King of Comedy; 3-General Banker
4th race: 3-Mexican Wonder Boy; 1-Montauk Daddy
5th race: 4-Be the Boss; 2-Parquetry; 9-Inflation Adjusted
(Races 6-10)
6th race: 8-Maple Leaf Mel; 7-Security Code; 1-Love My Candy
7th race: 10-Stainless Steel; 2-Just Say When; 5-Starrystarryknight; 6-King Moonracer
8th race: 3-Southern District; 2-Awesome Gerry
9th race: 8-Front Line Dancer; 6-Battle Scars; 11-Timbuktu
10th race: 7-Running Bee; 9Cloud Forest; 4-Evan Harlan
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SARATOGA WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
THIRD RACE:
Boss Jim (July 27, Saratoga, 4f, :49.2bg). Grade: B-
Settled into a stalking position in a three-horse gate drill with Gustiano (same time) and Marpin (4f, :49.4b) and then accelerated when asked to draw clear in the closing stages of this half mile drill to prove clearly bet for a barn whose maidens generally run a bit better than they work. Probably not a quick type but is worth a good look in a modest state-bred maiden affair.
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SIXTH RACE:
Security Code (July 27, Saratoga, 4f, :49.2bg). Grade: B
Broke quickly from the gate and easily outran Derwin’s Paynter (3f, :37.4bg) while strictly on his own, able to go faster if permitted, while gearing up for her debut. Juvenile daughter of Frosted is a nice mover with some ability and should be competitive with state-bred foes. Seems fit enough.
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Maple Leaf Mel (July 24, Saratoga, 5f, 1:01bg). Grade: B
Broke well and displayed pretty good speed throughout in this five furlong gate drill while outrunning American Halite (same time), opening up three lengths early, getting challenged midway, but then finding more to hold sway at the completion of the move. Looks to have enough speed to be a legitimate threat with state-bred juvenile fillies.
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SEVENTH RACE:
Stainless Steel (July 23, Saratoga, July 23, 4f, :48.1b TT). Grade: B+
Breezing through the lane looking quite sharp for new trainer J. Sharp in solo training track drill, final quarter mile in a smart :23.4 without being asked at any stage. Freshened since May, have to expect an improved effort based on this drill.
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NINTH RACE:
War Terminator (July 31, Saratoga, 4f, :48.4b TT). Grade: B-
In blinkers, much best over Scott Alaia (4f, :49.2b TT) in training track drill for J. Thomas, head-and-head to the top but then drawing clear under mild coaxing through the lane, final quarter mile in a sharp :24 flat. Away since December but seems to be coming back in good shape. Returning as a first-time gelding.
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