Saratoga R8 on Wed 8/29
 

Does anyone have a strong opinion in this one? I really like the 5 horse for Clemente, Da Mi Basia Mille. Hopefully, Ward's charge and Pletcher's top gun in here hook up on the front and both wilt on the stretchout. Opinions on this interesting race? Anyone?

Wow, what a nice/tough race. It seems like every time that we've expected a speed duel this meet, the colony has let someone steal it on the front end.

Ward's-Almost an Angel is also entered in the With Anticipation (GII-vs the boys) the next day as well. Gotta think that her price will be more appealing that the Pletcher breaking from the rail.

The Brown horse is the one I'm having trouble with, just not sure what to do with about her.

While I agree that the Clement horse could pick up the pieces if this thing falls apart, the horse that really intriuges me is the Ward/Ramsey horse breaking from the outside. I feel like she will appreciate the stretchout at an attractive price.

So I would probably be 4 deep in exotics and play around with the 9 a bit (meaning that the Pletcher will roll at 6/5).

Definitely an interesting race to discuss, I'm curious to hear other opinions too, thanks for bringing it up Mikey.

The races she is coming out of in Ireland have come back pretty weak. In her first race, aside from her, only two horses have come back to win. The place horse Infanta Branca came back two weeks later to beat an even worse maiden field who hasn't seen one horse win a race since then. The 4th place horse that day Katchy Lady came back two weeks later to beat a 3 horse field and hasn't won since.

In her maiden win, no one has come back to win and only two horses have even hit the board.

Now that I say this, she'll probably win by the length of the stretch, but I'm against her tomorrow.

I think a case can be made for pretty much everyone in the race and I'm going to make one for Oscar Party. A bit wide into the first turn, but she was able to fall into a nice trip. What I like about her is that the race kind of fell apart late and she was still there, just getting passed for place late. I think Rosario will be forced to take her back early and come with one run, maybe it'll be enough.

I also think the less heralded of the Pletcher's Skyfall, deserves a look. Her pedigree is turf and her dam is a half to a couple nice turf runners. You know she'll be taken back with Leparoux riding in a race that might collapse.

Keep an eye on what happens the race before if you like Da Mi Basia Mille. The horse who was third in her maiden win is back in an equally head scratching maiden race.

I like Oscar Party too. I thought Da Mi Basia Mille's win was heavily pace-aided and the fact that Citizen Emma came back to run so poorly is not a great sign.

Going to take a flyer w/ this horse for that reason. . . Big page for turf. More Than Ready on top is obvious and she's from the family of Raven's Pass, Rainbow View, No Matter What, E Dubai, etc.

Then again didn't the right horse coming out of that race in Broken Spell win that Citizen Emma race? I'm not totally discounting Broken Spell although she's back quick.

Big scratches from race.
1 Almost an Angel Early--Steward
1A Sweet Shirley Mae Early--Main Track Only
2 Oscar Party Early--Steward
2B Incredible Journey Early--Steward

Sums up my meet pretty well.

:zz:

Being cheap and indecisive in this leg, and being swamped at work cost my friend and I the pick 4. Hitting this thing would've been just as satisfying as the money. All boils down to ticket structuring, yet again.