8/3: Saratoga ($77k C/O; Honorable Miss)

[Kasept]

Thought I was on the way to an enormous afternoon when the jumpers provided a boost via the $315 early double. Alas, leaving Zito's Tuvia Force out of the initial P3 anchor leg left $3,500+ on the table. Uggh. Still, the Chase results helped ensure a decent day when Danielle Hodgson booted home 25-1 Spy in the Sky for famed Canadian Olympic Equestrian Jim Day. I used Spy in the Sky strictly because of Hodgson who has long been associated with Jonathon Sheppard and the fact that she turned up on Day's veteran hopper made him worthy of inclusion. One would think the G1's thrilling finish made Steeplechase fans out of many indifferent observers.

The rest of the day's action was hit or miss with an OK triple bingo in the 4th with Slumber-Kindergarten Kid-Barocci ($63) and there were a couple of mundane P3's. My man Sciacca lit up the tote and helped trip Friday's $77k carryover when The Silver Machine wired the 8th as the longest shot on the board (33-1). The nice grey filly had been within 2 lengths of a win last time versus similar when stretched out in her 2nd career grass try and Irad Ortiz Jr. had told Sciacca after that race that the daughter of Drewman would be better on the lead. The good young rider who should have been the 2011 Apprentice Eclipse winner essentially authored the big score.

Hope everyone did OK Thursday. C/O Friday ahead of Whitney-Vanderbilt Weekend..


SARATOGA RACE COURSE


POST-SCRATCHES


1st: CLM, F&M-3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Good thing this race wasn't run yesterday on 'St. Patrick's Day in the August'.. My Irish Girl and Celtic Chant would have vied for favoritism. Joonbi goes first off claim for Pletcher-Repole and is OK, but needs to improve to beat several of these on their best. Playing against..

Most Likely: #1e Dubb ownership entry 3-1 2nd/5th
Next Best: #5 Emily Allstar 5-2 4th
Best Value: #7 Alaska Miss 10-1 6th
Exotics Use: #6 Joonbi 2-1 WON ($7.40)


2nd: NY-MSW, 2yo-F, 5.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #4 With Honorandgrace 5-2 3rd
Best Value: #5 Ariadna 15-1 8th
Next Best: #8 Neck of the Moon 3-1 WON ($4.10)
Exotics Use: #1 Carameaway 5-1 7th


3rd: MDN CLM, F&M-3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Greed and Fear 1-1 2nd
Best Value: #4 Mrs. Calabash 12-1 4th
Next Best: #2 Bronze Beauty 3-1 5th
Exotics Use: #5 Darnley Bay 10-1 6th


4th: OC/S-ALW, 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

No shortage of lick here..

Best Value: #8 Iron Lou 6-1 7th
Next Best: #6 Coaltown Legend 5-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #10 Off the Jak 7-2 4th
Super Add: #1 Harbor Breeze 3-1 8th


5th: MSW, 2yo, 5.5f (P6, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #7 Sky Commander 3-1 4th
Next Best: #9 Jocosity 2-1 WON ($3.60)
Exotics Use: #1 Central Banker 4-1 3rd
Super Add: #6 Midnight Taboo 5-2 2nd


<$75 P4 Play:

2: 1-2-4-5-8
3: 1-2-4
4: 1-6-7-8-10
5: 7-9

5x3x5x2 = 150 x .50 = $75


6th: NY-MSW, F&M-3+, 5.5f-T (G/S, P3, DD)

It's Your Dime a half to the OK Don't Fooli Houli and Azasecret's dam has dropped a couple of very good turf runners. Competitive race..

Best Value: #7 It's Your Dime 5-1 8th
Next Best: #9 A. P. Hutchy 9-5 3rd
Exotics Use: #4 Azasecret 7-2 8th
Super Add: #10 Bella Silver 15-1 5th

.10 SUPER: 7-9 with 2-3-4-7-9-10 with 2-3-4-7-9-10 with 2-3-4-7-9-10 (2x5x4x3 = 120 = $12.00)


7th: MDN CLM, 3yo, 1m-IT (P4, P3, DD)

Tricky start to the late P4 and no relief to P6 players. Will use FTS #9 Daunting (12-1) from the always-dangerous Goldberg defensively..

Most Likely: #4 Native Wave 5-1 2nd
Best Value: #6 Zajal 10-1 5th
Next Best: #5 Barrymore 3-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #1 Suns Out Guns Out 4-1 4th


8th: 9th John's Call, 3+, 13f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Tahoe Lake 9-5 2nd
Best Value: #4 Ballet Boy 5-1 6th
Next Best: #5 Hailstone 5-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #2 Harrods Creek 3-1 WON ($6.00)


9th: 21st Honorable Miss (G2), F&M-3+, 6f (DD)

Nice set for this including the tough It's Me Mom making her Spa debut. Tough assignment as she'll get lots of company today. Sure feels like CC's Pal gets a dream stalking trip..

Most Likely: #3 C C's Pal 5-2 WON ($8.50)
Best Value: #1 Island Bound 6-1 2nd
Next Best: #7 It's Me Mom 7-2 7th
Exotics Use: #5 Beat the Blues 8-1 3rd


10th: CLM, F&M-3+, 1m-IT

Obviously, favored Glory in Motion and Ultimate Class anchor your tickets here, but this is a competitive group with a few prices having reasons to believe including Aptphilly (12-1), Who Is Lady (12-1) and Viv's Tiara (15-1)..

Most Likely: #5 Glory in Motion 5-2 5th
Next Best: #9 Ultimate Class 3-1 WON ($5.90)
Best Value: #6 Who Is Lady 12-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #7 Viv's Tiara 15-1 9th


<$200 P6 Play:

5: 7-9
6: 7-9
7: 1-4-5-6
8: 1
9: 1-3-7
10: 5-9

2x2x4x1x3x2 = 96 x $2 = $192


<$75 P4 Play:

7: 1-4-5-6
8: 1-2-4-5
9: 1-3-7
10: 5-6-9

4x4x3x3 = 144 x .50 = $72


Good luck!
Steve