7/25: Saratoga (Day 3-Sanford)

[Kasept]

The skies cleared for day two of Saratoga, and while the temperature soared, the prices fell to earth markedly with but winners of 5-1, 6-1 and 9-1 the exceptions. The racing was good for this awkward early Saturday on the meet calendar, with a P6 carryover adding intrigue. The Coaching Club American Oaks seems to have found a home and purpose with its' new placement, and went to Todd Pletcher and the Greathouse's increasingly impressive Devil May Care. This filly may be far better than anyone knows, and should only gain wider laurels and renown when moving to the 10f Alabama in 4 weeks where Blind Luck will need help from the rest of the cast to win.

Winners were plentiful, but the one I needed most, Asmussen 2yo MSW stunner Wine Police, was left off the sextet ducat costing the $7k return, and the $83.50 consolation didn't exactly assuage. The hit on the early P4 was OK at $359, but the Asmussen steamer stymied the late P4 as well as the P6. Overall, a very solid day. Hope you did well!

Sunday at Saratoga marks several milestones for our Dee Tee Stables group, as when we send our first 2yo to the post in the 2nd race. Ausable Chasm materialized as the anticipated NY bred so many partners were anxious to campaign, and is an old-fashioned Empire product being by Hook and Ladder out of the Comet Shine mare Ausable. Picked out as a sale weanling by our partner Joe Volpe, she has developed 'on time' while doing everything right from the time Ocala-based Ken Lejeune started on her last fall. Gary Sciacca and his team have built her further into a bruising looking juvy miss that passes physically as a sophomore. She drew the undesirable rail post for today, and faces a daunting foe as well in John Kimmel's Risk a Chance who has been garnering 'freak' chatter for weeks on end.

More important than the race outcome later this afternoon is the fulfillment of dreams of those that have longed to make it to a place like Saratoga as the owner of a racehorse. As we collectively learned from our experience with Sumwonlovesyou in 2007, being in the paddock at Saratoga, or being able to watch from an OTB with friends and family as a partner, is a moment that helps make the travails of work and life more worthwhile. I want to thank Joe and Ann Volpe, Ken Lejeune, Gary Sciacca, Chuck Simon and every member of Derby Trail and Dee Tee (whether in on Ausable Chasm or not), for making another opportunity like today possible. Together we're all making a difference in racing's present and future by actively committing our time, resources and passion as stakeholders. I hope you enjoy today and that your commitment is amply rewarded with a lasting memory.


SARATOGA


PRE-SCRATCHES


NOTE: RACES 5, 7 & 10 ARE OFF THE TURF


1st: NY-ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 8.5fIT (P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #7 Rumors of Glory 6-1: Jumped up first turf; Regularly a positive.. 4th
Next Best: #6 Frivolous Buck 3-1: Return was career best; Repeat less likely in a 5yo.. 3rd
Exotics Use: #1 (POE) Sounds Familiar 7-2 7th
Super Add: #11 (AE) SCR


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

Most Likely: #3 Risk a Chance 5-2: Broman A.P. Indy a half to Minerologist; Buzz horse.. 4th
Best Value: #1 Ausable Chasm 10-1: Dee Tee's 1st juvy starter doing everything right; Post hurts.. 6th
Next Best: #4 Yawkey Way 2-1 WON ($7.60)
Super Add: #2 Copious Notes 8-1 5th


3rd: NY-ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 7f (P3, DD, Super)

Difficult group to get a handle on with returnee from Morrison having best race on paper and rest of field 'feeling' suspect..

Best Value: #7 A Smart Judge 15-1: Taking shot off win, jock upgrade.. 2nd
Next Best:#4 Cody Samora 2-1: Would prefer if Morrison was better with comebackers.. WON ($3.80)
Exotics Use: #1 Team Plan 4-1 8th
Super Add: #9 Catchapenny K. 12-1 6th

$1 Exacta (4-7) Paid $38.00


4th: OC/N2X, 3+, 6f (P3, DD, Super)

Like the state bred ALW before it, this conditional is quirky and treacherous but for different reasons. Four of the starters enter this off barn moves to the likes of Todd Pletcher, Tony Dutrow, Al Stall and Frank Alexander... outstanding horsemen all. Literally a race where no opinion should be seen as unlikely..

Best Value: #5 Mesa Sunrise 5-1: Steady drills for first as a 4yo and under A. Dutrow.. 3rd
Next Best: #1 Desert Key: Has back class if close to right 3rd off layoff.. WON
Exotics Use: #2 American Classic 9-2 6th
Super Add: #3 Overbid 20-1 7th


5th: NY-MSW, 3+, 5.5f-OFF THE TURF (P6, P3, DD, Super)

OFF THE TURF: 1 - WON ($5.10)-5-3-11


<$75 P4 Play:

2: 1-3-(5) -- Sorry about transcribing error here from selections of the 2nd.. Meant the 4..
3: 1-4-7
4: 1-2-3-5
5: 1-3

3x3x4x2 = $72


6th: MDN CLM, 3+, 6f (G/S, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #11 Artie's Chapter 9-2: Needs clever trip from Lezcano from tough launch.. 3rd
Best Value: #4 Splendid Behavior 6-16-1: Moves to Baker who adds hood (20% W's).. 5th
Next Best: #8 Mr. Benjamin 10-1 4th
Super Add: #2 Scary Good 3-1 7th


7th: CLM, 3+, 5.5f-OFF THE TURF (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Somewhat non-descript bunch of turf sprinting $25k claimers with some class droppers adding to the intrigue. Both cross-entered Little Nick (2-1) and Moose Man (10-1) passed on the similar event at MTH yesterday for this..

OFF THE TURF: 4-1a-2-9


8th: OC/N2X, 3+, 8.5f-IT

Best Value: #5 Peace Wine 10-1: Expect better off solid comebacker.. 9th
Next Best: #9 Mikoshi 3-1: Reasonable favorite but Ramon needs trip.. 3rd
Exotics Use: #1 War Hoot 4-1 4th
Super Add: #4 Slambino 8-1 8th

OFF THE TURF: 12-10-3


9th: 96th Sanford (G2), 2yo, 6f (DD, Super)

Best Value: #3 Nacho Saint 10-1: Maiden but accomplished as the rest; Arrives late.. 2nd
Next Best: #2 Maybemaybenot 6-1: Adds Leparoux; Has already gone three quarters.. WON ($21.20)
Exotics Use: #6 Chipshot 7-2 5th
Super Add: #4 Bail Out the Cat 2-1 6th

$1 Exacta (2-3) Paid $61.75


10th: CLM/N2L, F&M-3+, 5.5f-OFF THE TURF (Super)

OFF THE TURF: 15 - WON ($12.40)-14 - 3rd-9-1 - 2nd

$1 Exacta (15-1) Paid $36.25
$1 Trifecta (15-1-14) Paid $157.75


@$75 P4 Play:

7: 1-2-4
8: 5-9
9: 1-2-3-4-5-6
10: 14-15

3x2x6x2 = $72


Good luck!
Steve