8/11: Saratoga (Day 20; Fourstardave)

[Kasept]

Hard to believe a sloppy/off turf day could turn into one of the better afternoons of the meet so far, but that's what transpired Friday. I patiently waited out the onslaught of changes after the decision was made to abandon the grass runs and other than missing one of the singles in the P6, everything fell into place for a series of bankroll enhancements. One element of the good afternoon was several horses fell into needed money slots after watching similar punts fall a notch shy the last few days. In the early P4, Haldane was the best price option available in the 3rd leg, and came through at 7-1 to boost the payoff to $152. Morrison FTS Ampa's Girl (11-1) was corraled by a neck in the 6th but still spurred a $172 trifecta and $715 Super. In the thrilling Hall of Fame, $23.80 Quick Wit was the best price of the tabs and charged all the exotics that including a $101 tri, $278 P4 hit and late P3's that totaled $264. Amazing what can happen when the horses win photos or simply run where you need them to.

The deadly tactical error came in the P6 try and while the consolation of $324 was OK, I'd sure like to have the single of Mela Dramatically back. As Andy Serling stressed pre-race, Royal Suspicion was the most logical off-track player in the overly grass-oriented group and her 4-1 status as fourth choice was another example of the public having trouble re-evaluating the casts when races move to the main. Still, paired with Wednesday's outcomes at Del Mar, Friday's returns helped bring the summer coffers back towards the right side of the ledger and on good timing with the meets reaching the hair halfway point. Hope everyone did well. Waiting for turf decisions this morning. Expect one race on each course, the ALW 10th and the stake 11th. Main track will start out muddy.


SARATOGA RACE COURSE


POST-SCRATCHES


1st: CLM/N2L, F&M-3+, 9f-OFF THE TURF (P3, DD)

Best Value: #4 La Billos 2nd
Next Best: #10 Private Councel WON ($11.00)
Exotics Use: #8 Skips Prospect 5th
Super Add: #3 Audington 3rd


2nd: MSW, 2yo, 7f-OFF THE TURF (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #12 Indy's Illusion 4-1 2nd
Next Best: #13 Transparent 5-2 6th
Exotics Use: #2 SCR
Super Add: #9 Bernie the Jet 6-1 WON ($11.00)


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

Most Likely: #2 Bayshore Blaze 7-2 4th
Next Best: #1 Centrique 5-2 2nd
Exotics Use: #8 Theatre Queen 3-1 3rd
Super Add: #4 Paws Up 12-1 5th


4th: NY-MSW, 2yo, 8.5f-OFF THE TURF (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Drivenbychocolate 2-1 4th
Next Best: #8 Read the Proposal 5-1 WON ($5.20)
Exotics Use: #5 Sunlover 4-1 3rd
Super Add: #2 Flattermewithroses 20-1 7th


5th: NY-MDN CLM, 3+, 7f (P3, DD)

Best Value: #1 Ali's Winner 12-1 5th
Next Best: #6 Reggie D 5-2 8th
Exotics Use: #2 Geantor 7-2 6th
Super Add: #3 Pure Nature 4-1 2nd


<$75 P4 Play:

2: 2-12-13
3: 1-2-4-7-8
4: 1-8
5: 1-2-3-6

3x5x2x4 =120 x .50 = $60


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

Best Value: #1 Overwhelming 12-1 5th
Next Best: #3 Rugged 3-1 7th
Exotics Use: #7 Hotter N Blazes 8-1 6th
Super Add: #5 Casino Day 15-1 2nd


7th: CLM/N2L, 3+, 5.5f-OFF THE TURF (G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #15 Nick Rules 7-2 5th
Best Value: #13 Dylan Dangerous 8-1 6th
Next Best: #14 Grand Contender 5-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #2 To Dubai 3-1 WON ($9.40)


8th: MDN CLM, 3+, 7f (P4, P3, DD)

Best Value: #9 Speight Me 12-1 6th
Next Best: #12 Marine 5-1 5th
Exotics Use: #13 Distinct Humor 9-2 10th
Super Add: #11 P J's Magical Wink 15-1 WON ($21.20)


9th: CLM, 3+, 7f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #4 Overcommunication 8-5 4th
Next Best: #8 Bomber Boy 9-2 5th
Best Value: #2 Shankopotamus 8-1 WON ($8.30)
Exotics Use: #1 Same Old Wish 6-1 7th


10th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 9f-OFF THE TURF (DD)

Most Likely: #16 Hoist 3-1 WON ($6.90)
Best Value: #13 Thunder Chief 6-1 5th
Next Best: #15 Majestic Hope 2-1 6th
Exotics Use: #6 Irish Lion 20-1 4th


11th: 28th Fourstardave H. (G2), 3+, 1m-IT

Best Value: #7 Corporate Jungle 6-1 2nd
Next Best: 4 Guys Reward 6-1 4th
Exotics Use: #3 Get Stormy 4-1 3rd
Super Add: #2 Wise Dan 5-2 WON ($5.00)


<$50 P4 Play:

8: 2-6-8-9-11-12-13
9: 4-8
10: 2-4-6-13-14-15-16
11: 7

7x2x7x1 = 98 x .50 = $49


Good luck!
Steve