8/4: Saratoga Steeplechase Race 1 - NW2L

[Flatterer]

A field of 7 that never won 2 life over jumps attempts to clear 8 fences in Race 1.

Apprentice Parker Hendriks (51-5-8-11 $109K) was approved by NSA to ride at Saratoga.

5 of the 7 runners have a maiden win in their last race and all runners are rated 116 by the NSA ratings committee. First time I’ve ever seen a race where all the runners have the same rating.

The runners with the most impressive effort in a maiden score are #1 Withoutdestination and #3 Ritzy A.P. #1 Withoutdestination closed well at Middleburg, ran fast winning a flat and jump race during the spring point to point circuit and has pointed for this race. #3 Ritzy A.P. put it all together with a powerful finish at Colonial, ran 1 flat and 3 hurdle point to point races in the spring, and has the best flat track speed placing 3rd in the Grade II Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar in 2019.

Other maiden winners include light weight at 145 pounds #5 Keri’s Find who ran fast at Nashville. #4 Silver Crescent finished well over the undulating course at Tryon. #7 Chetzeron won a race of attrition at Tryon with only 1 other runner finishing after the other 5 either fell or pulled up.

#2 Perfect Tapatino beat #3 Ritzy A.P. while breaking his maiden and ran competitively against Smithwick winner Baltimore Bucko at Nashville. #6 Lemonade Thursday ran O.K. at Middleburg and will try to pick-up a check for Clancy.

Race shape will have #7 Chetzeron go to the front early and will try to go wire to wire. #2 Perfect Tapatino and #5 Keri’s Find will be in the first flight with #1 Withoutdestination and #6 Lemonade Thursday together then #3 Ritzy A.P. and #4 Silver Crescent trailing. There won’t be much change until fence 5 when the trailers will start their run. The trailing pack will bunch up entering the backstretch and #5 Keri’s Find, #1 Withoutdestination, #3 Ritzy A.P. and #2 Perfect Tapatino will all move and run past #7 Chetzeron approaching the last fence. The 9/16th flat run will favor #3 Ritzy A.P. but depending on how much energy he has expended, #5 Keri’s Find, #1 Withoutdestination and #2 Perfect Tapatino all have a chance.

The Selection:

A) 1 (DNF Off course ran inside final beacon) -3 (4th) -5 (2nd)

B) 2 (3rd)

Good Luck at the Races!