SARATOGA: Meet's Middle Ends..

[Kasept]

Picking a winner in a single race is hard enough, but chasing the Pick Six is a category all its' own when it comes to difficulty factor. Matt Dugger ('Hooves' around Derby Trail), Sam Hubbard (my Godson) and Barry Frey (Barbecue Patriarch) played a moderately-priced sextet ducat Sunday, which came as close to a $30,000+ score as any you will ever see... The 7th race nose photo between Zito's Debbie Got Even and Tale of the Queen (a single on their ticket) was the difference between 6 of 6 and 5 of 6.

For the 2nd time of this meet, heavy early rain forced races off the turf but found the main track listed as 'fast' by the start of the 5th which kicked off the big multi-race play. Streaking Barclay Tagg got another win there when firster Nehantic Cat (4-1) bested Rausenbach's Halo (3-2), and came back with the day's best bet in the John's Call (8th) with Lael's Auguri (2-1); Shug McGaughey and Edgar Prado teamed to get Carriage Trail (5-2) to the winner's circle over Madame Diva in the 6th; 10-1 Ok to Pay was a daring use in the 9th over 1-2 Citronnade, and Treasured Song was the obvious winner of the 10th. $39,039 was the P6 payout, and the blanket finish beat of the 7th was the only misstep for our pals...

Several exactas were sprinkled among Sunday's tabs, but our own view of the P6 was botched by Carriage Trail and scratches. The Pacific Classic at Del Mar was a score though with the 4 selections (Super Frolic; Lava Man' Perfect Drift; Good Reward) finishing 3rd, 1st, 4th and 2nd respectively. Boxes of the quartet returned $33.00 (EX); $207.60 (TRI) and $746.00 (SUPER)...

Hope you did well this weekend... Monday's card ends the 2nd fortnight of the meet and is very attractive.. Having played sparingly over the weekend, we're anxious to dive into the races here...


SELECTIONS -- Saratoga, Monday, August 21, 2006

Superfectas in the 4th and 9th today...

1st: CLM, 3yo, 1m-IT

1. #1a (poe) Taken Not Given 6-1: 2nd of Contessa pair goes first for a tag
2. #2 Titled 2-1: Mott teams with J.R. on grey offered for sale first time too
A. #7 Trailing Twelve 9-2: Five Star Day ridgling can chase, stalk or close
B. #4 Maroon 5-1: Menifee bay gets big jock switch from Blanc to Castellano

(NOTE -- #3 Smoke'n Cherokee 7-2: Inclined to add steadily-developing Dutrow runner to deep trifecta key plays..)


2nd: MDN CLM, 3+, 9f

1. #7 That's Our Point 1-1: A horse so plainly obvious that it's suspect
2. #4 Elshaan 6-1: KMc Shadwell 5yo has been a consistant disappointment
A. #5 Pratt 5-1: Wilmott FuPeg homebred beaten combined 40 lengths last 2
B. #8 Festival Hall 8-1: Darley-bred Gone West gelding improving for Russo


3rd: CLM, F&M-3+, 7f

1. #3 Game Card 8-5: Everything points to Contessa mare with hot Cornelio
2. #7 Factual Contender 8-1: Inviting tote on outside stalker from 0-fer Lewis
A. #5 Jules for A.J. 5-2: Klesaris nabbed Jules bay last; Adds $10k to tag
B. #6 Fuego Grande 15-1: BIG overlay on bay who's been facing better last 2


4th: MSW, 2yo, 5.5f-T (SUPER)

1. #4 Mucho Gusto 7-2: Much to like about Forest Camp bay from Blasi
2. #6 Narthax 8-1: Nicks (7/0-0-0) gets Prado for firster by Pulpit
A. #5 Longley 5-1: Motion bay may want longer, but works say go
B. #2 Westwon 6-1: Pricey Lukas chestnut has win early profile
C. #1 Thunder Rising 8-1: Toner 2nd time starter lost irons in tossout debut


5th: ALW/N2L, F&M-3+, 6.5f

1. #6 Veneti 5-2: Albertrani filly by Old Trieste scratched Sunday for this
2. #2 El Raabi 10-1: KMc FuPeg red responded to Santos when gaining diploma
A. #4 Generosity 5-1: Levine has been quietly doing fine at meet; Turf to dirt
B. #5 Good Witch Glenda 3-1: Blasi bay got up first start at three


6th: NYB-MSW, 2yo, 6.5f

1. #3 Freudian 5-2: Sometimes a favorite is just a favorite..
2. #6 Motor West 4-1: "Take that California trip"..
A. #7 Mor Chances 8-1: Bay drilled nice after debut flop
B. #8 Raven H 8-1: Hard to exclude ANY runner from Tom Bush right now


7th: NYB-OC/N2X, 3+, 5.5f-T

1. #6 Wave the Baton 3-1: Velasquez-Clement 3 of 5 at meet; Imposing
2. #1 (poe) Macklenin 12-1: Araya famous for picking spots well
A. #2 A. Dutrow entry 4-1: Pair of good ones from slick "other" Dutrow
B. #4 Tough Shipmate 9-2: Schosberg Good and Tough has speed, Edgar


8th: 3rd Union Avenue, $70,000, NYB-F&M, 3+, 6f

1. #6 Gold Like U 8-5: Deserving favorite fits race scenario; 3rd off break
2. #1 Fighting Speedy 5-1: Winless Leah sends fast working chestnut
A. #5 Royal Fudge 8-1: Note identical 3rd off break pattern from '05
B. #4 Sweet Sweet 5-2: Hushion-Mig candidate could get loose on front end


9th: NYB-MSW, 3+, 8.5f-IT (SUPER)

1. #8 Jelly Roll Rumble 9-2: Duggan chestnut gelding sitting on a good one
2. #10 Speaking Out 5-2: Logical choice under Desormeaux takes off goggles
A. #12 Chosen Aptitude 6-1: Aptitude bay's best tries have come this going 8.5-9 panels
B. #2 L C Winston 10-1: Figure Grand Slam bay gets lost on board; Was 7-2 in bow

LONGSHOT ALERT/SUPER ADD: #5 In No Time (20-1) has been running from outside last three; Improves post and may catch bottom of exotics..


Good luck..
Steve