8/7: Saratoga (Day 14-Whitney; $53k C/O)

[Kasept]

First of anticipated weekend series unfurled at Saratoga Friday as cool, beautiful weather opened the turnstiles (24k) and infused the patronage to a high energy race day. The special Spa atmosphere was clearly palpable Friday with August having arrived, and the Whitney-Vanderbilt feels like it has potential to rival the meet's showcase Travers-Personal Ensign in three weeks.

Storybook endings made it a highly memorable Friday as well between a pair of stake victories that produced cheers and tears. Early in the day, Tim Snyder and his 'spirited' Lisa's Booby Trap demolished the Loudonville to the complete delight of the appreciative patrons. Snyder's hard luck story, replete with the $4k filly possibly inhabited by the soul of his late wife, has already become fodder for a film script. The filly is 100% bona fide after a 94 Beyer effort under Kent Desormeaux that displayed an added dimension to her earlier displays of a front-running style. The story around her and Snyder has potential to get more magical and capture mainstream media interest.

Later in the day, venerable Tom Voss sent Always First out in the John's Call, the race named for the wonderful hard-trying multiple G1 winner he conditioned and who was fatally injured at 19 earlier this year in a paddock accident. Voss told me on Friday's "At the Races" that he liked having a horse ready for the John's Call, but that today wasn't the day for his 9yo no matter how much he wished it was. Always First of course rallied to win the John's Call and set off the day's 2nd tearful winner's circle celebration. I should have been as tearful myself after dropping Always First from consideration based on Voss' earnest cold-watering.

All in all a great day at Saratoga, and the race weekend is further enhanced by Zenyatta and a big carryover at Del Mar and a terrific series of stakes at Mountaineer on the West Virginia Derby Night card. Hope you did well Friday and are geared up for a superb weekend of summer racing!


SARATOGA RACE COURSE


POST-SCRATCHES


1st: ALW/N2L, 3+, 7f (P3, DD, Super)

Challenging kickoff to Whitney-Test card with cast (7 of 8) of later developing sophomores..

Most Likely: #6 Pistols at Dawn 5-2: Debuted big, working sharp; Style suits race flow.. 3rd
Best Value: #5 Lubango 10-1: Displayed stalking gear; Cuts back an eighth.. 5th
Next Best: #8 Brother Bird 7-2; Better whole time trying to break MDN; Underlaid but OK.. WON ($14.20)
Super Add: #2 Mad for Smarty 6-1: Honest Jerkens bay returns to diploma pilot.. 4th


2nd: MDN CLM, 3+, 1m-IT (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Note that Serpe's #11 (AE) Naughty You (3-1) would move into tabs should he draw in..

Most Likely: #2 High Prize: One of the ones here that hasn't exhausted hope.. 2nd
Best Value: #6 Pagan Ruler 10-1: Barker red 0/12 but alternating efforts and due.. WON ($18.40)
Next Best: #9 Military Star 9-2 7th
Super Add: #8 Maloof Magic 10-1 6th


3rd: NY-MSW, 3+, 5.5f-T (P3, DD, Super)

Turf sprint so Rice's #7 Hear the Footsteps (7-2), who hasn't developed at all and needs to improve to contend, sure to be overbet..

#4 Payout SCR'd

Most Likely: #2 Dougie 3-1 2nd
Next Best: #10 Dirt Track Demon 6-1 6th
Best Value: #1 Magnificent Tiger 12-1 3rd
Super Add: #7 Hear the Footnotes 7-2 WON ($8.80)


4th: MSW, 3+, 7f (P3, DD)

Intriguing '2nd Division' of card opener with clues available there on runners featured here: #4 Ae Pit (Mad for Smarty); #5 Jaguar Paw (Pistols at Dawn); #7 Bank Heist (Delong Road); #8 Just Hold On (Brother Bird & Mad for Smarty); #9 Bellhouse (Monsignor)..

Most Likely: #5 Jaguar Paw 4-1: Good candidate to be Mott's 4,000th career winner.. 8th
Best Value: #6 Enclosure 9-2: Attended pace (1m) last, adds blinks; Race lacks true speed.. 11th
Next Best: #4 Ae Pit 7-2 5th
Exotics Use: #9 Bellhouse 8-1 4th


5th: CLM/N2L, 3+, 5.5f-T (P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #6 Montana Knight 10-1: Steady forward mover; Square number.. WON ($21.60)
Next Best: #9 Macho Joe 5-2: Next opp for Mott's 4,000th; Gate SCR'd last.. 2nd
Exotics Use: #4 Jockey Ridge 5-1: Eligible 2nd off long break for Tagg.. 4th
Super Add: #1 Where Is'em 3-1: Class edge dropping in for Casse.. 9th


<$75 P4 Play:

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

2x2x6x3 = $72


6th: MSW, 2yo, 6.5f (P6, P3, DD)

$53k P6 Carryover Stats Here..

Very tough start to the sextet sequence with indistinguishable group of first and second time starters..

Best Value: #2 Favorite Hour 10-1: Trombetta 2nd timer half to Eddington 2yo winner.. 7th
Next Best: #4 Justin Phillip 3-1: Zayat namesake half to fast early SW's Keyed Entry, Successful Mission..
Exotics Use: #8 Tiz Blessed 4-1: C. Brown better 2nd out with 2yo's but respect drills.. WON ($6.90)
Consider: #1e WinStar entry 5-1: Mott Pulpit number better of pair; Doubt price holds.. 4th/11th


7th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 9f-T (G/S, P3, DD, Super)

Tremendous betting race with 7/2 Yankee Empire and 4-1 Livin Large not appreciably better than many here..

Best Value: #10 Prince Wil I Am 6-1: Turf move a Nihei positive; From a Dynaformer mare.. 3rd
Next Best: #3 Mystic 8-1: Beat elders breaking MDN 2 back; Developing.. WON ($12.60)
Exotics Use: #12 Alcomatch 15-1: Needs trip from outpost, but price worthwhile.. 4th
Super Add: #7 Leipzig 10-1: Light-raced Sheppard 5yo OK back from 450 day break.. 6th


8th: Hattie Mosely, 3yo-F, 1m-IT (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Snow Top Mountain 5-2 2nd
Best Value: #2 Protesting 8-1 5th
Next Best: #3 Barracks Road 3-1 3rd
Super Add: #1 Ambitioness 30-1 10th


9th: 85th Test S. (G1), 3yo-F, 7f (P3, DD, Super)

Loss of Franny Freud further open wild affair that will likely prove the more exciting of the day's G1 events; Offer rock solid cast of proven gal dashers and several newer faces that emerged in recent weeks..

Best Value: #4 Bonnie Blue Flag 6-1: Return to Cinemine effort likely enough here.. 2nd
Next Best: #2 Buckleupbuttercup 6-1: Soph version of Kenneally's Warbling; Fits race dynamic.. 7th
Exotics Use: #1 Pica Slew 7-2: Respect until she fulfills upside; CRC to SAR historical plus.. 8th
Super Add: #3 Champagne d'Oro 8-1: Showed added dimension in gutty Prioress try.. WON ($12.40)


10th: 83rd Whitney H. (G1), 3+, 9f (DD, Super)

Most august of handicap division standards at Spa showcases Ned Evans' homebred star that according to Pletcher, appears poised for signature effort..

Most Likely: #3 Quality Road 2-5: 4yo building HOY resume with careful handling.. 2nd
Best Value: #4 Haynesfield 12-1: Honest NY-bred stays around if pace doesn't sizzle.. 4th
Next Best: #2 Blame 4-1: Stall-Claiborne colt has never been off the board.. WON ($8.80)
Super Add: #1 Mine That Bird 12-1: If pace hot, Derby winner comes late; 2nd off break.. 5th


11th: NY-MSW, 3+, 1m-IT (Super)

Major draw-in as AE #12 Roaring Conquest WILL RUN and is a serious win candidate..

Best Value: #5 Gotta Go Round 8-1: Improving considerably 1st turf a good sign.. 5th
Next Best: #9 City Train 10-1: Has come close and turf move may suit.. 2nd
Exotics Use: #12 Roaring Conquest 8-1 6th
Super Add: #10 Talk Therapy 6-5 WON ($6.00)


<$200 P6 Play:

6: 2-4
7: 3-10
8: 1-2-3-4
9: 2-4
10: 3
11: 5-9-12

2x2x4x2x1x3 = 96 x $2 = $192


<$50, $75 or $100 P4 Play:

8: 1-2-3-4
9: 1-2-3-4 (B: 8-9) [C: 7-10]
10: 3
11: 5-9-12

Main: 4x4x1x3 = $48
B: 4x(6)x1x3 = $72
C: 4x[8]x1x3 = $96


Good luck!
Steve