7/17: Nick Tammaro's Saratoga Analysis presented by NYRA Bets

[Kasept]

SARATOGA – 7/17/2020

Race 1- 1 st #6 VALUE ENGINEERING 2 ND #5 BUNDIBUNAN 3 RD #4 LEGIT

#6 VALUE ENGINEERING is strictly the one to beat as he exits a game win against N1X foes at 10 panels
downstate. He can stay close to the pace today given the lack of pace in this field and he still has room to
improve. Trainer Chad Brown is deadly with these slower developing types with seemingly bottomless
stamina. #5 BUNDIBUNAN is a horse who has likely long wanted extra ground and he finally gets it in here.
He rallied well last time out in a tough N2X event at Churchill and is a fringe player who has a shot if the top
pick falters. #4 LEGIT is the one to catch in his turf debut, and speed is a weapon going long on the lawn. If
he gets clear he is a threat to go the distance and there’s enough turf pedigree to give him a second look.

Race 2- 1 st #10 BRUNATE 2 ND #8 ALWAYS FUNNY 3 RD #1 DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT

#10 BRUNATE made a strong off the pace move last time out behind a wire-to-wire winner and now makes
the third start of his form cycle. This son of Normandy Invasion landed on surfaces where the rail was strong
in each of his Belmont starts, and he was wide in both. Perhaps a cleaner run over his trainer’s home surface
will make the difference. #8 ALWAYS FUNNY gets Lasix for his second start after showing little on debut. He
was a rank outsider at 50-1 in a six horse field and he will benefit from the drop in class. That drop is often
enough to give a second look and the price here will be appealing. #1 DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT switches
surfaces for a barn that has been cold over the last few weeks. This guy comes out of a productive race, but
that all came on turf. You’re going to have to take a short price on a horse that’s drawn poorly for a cold barn.
No thanks.

Race 3- 1 st #4 THE ROCK SAYS 2 ND #5 GHOST GAME 3 RD #3 FIRST KATE

#4 THE ROCK SAYS is clearly the one to beat as he goes first off a claim for trainer Robertino Diodoro. This
barn is 27% with dirt routers off 180+ day breaks ($3.01 ROI) and he should be more alert early with the
blinkers going on. He was competitive here against much tougher last year as well. #5 GHOST GAME goes
first off a claim by Tyler Servis, who saddled a second place finisher in a N2L claimer at Belmont on Sunday
afternoon. This son of Ghostzapper was stuck behind a very slow pace last time out and still made a late
move to snag the show dough. He will have to improve, but there’s upside given the recent claim. #3 FIRST
KATE narrowly missed last time out against weaker and now goes 2 nd off a layoff. How the Saffie Joseph, Jr.
trainees fare at this met will be interesting to see.

Race 4- 1 st #2 LEAVEUWITHASMILE 2 ND #5 STUNNING MUNNINGS 3 RD #1 CUSTOMEREXPERIENCE

Perhaps it’s a bit of a panicky drop, but #2 LEAVEUWITHASMILE looks much too good for her rivals in this
field. She was at a big disadvantage pace-wise last time out when 4 th at 10-1 and now drops in for a tag for
trainer Jeremiah Englehart. With anything close to her best, she will lap this field. #5 STUNNING MUNNINGS
is the one to catch today given she was in range of a very strong pace last time out before checking in third.
This is her second start off a short layoff and she is in line to benefit from the expected race flow. #1
CUSTOMEREXPERIENCE rallied to win against lesser last time out and now returns to NY for trainer Saffie
Joseph, Jr. She will be in position to capitalize if the pace heats up, and she should be a decent price.

Race 5- OFF THE TURF: 7-5-10

#10 SANDRO THE GREAT was well off a hot pace last time out going 10 panels and wound up in traffic in
upper stretch. This is his first try against NY breds and the class drop is significant. The biggest concern here
is how far he may drop back given the lack of a great deal of pace signed up. #7 SCUTTLEBUZZ was an
unlucky second last time out after breaking poorly and making a big wide move in a race largely dominated on
the front end. Two runbacks from that race have not performed well since, but this gelding did all the running
that day and should be in line to improve second off a layoff. #2 VOLIERO was well back of a strong pace last
time out and now lands a cozy inside slot for a barn that generally does well at Saratoga. Look for him in the
late stages.



Race 6- 1 st #8 BIG THICKET 2 ND #3 MISSION WRAPITUP 3 RD #4 GIANT SHOES

#8 BIG THICKET found some traffic trouble in crunch time of his last outing and wound up a clear second to a
handy winner. This son of Union Rags has clearly improved since he was claimed by Rudy Rodriguez and this
is a far weaker event than the one he exits. If the top pick falters, it seems pretty clear #3 MISSION
WRAPITUP will get the job done. He drops in class today following a failed try in the Mike Lee and he is set
for improvement second off a layoff. There’s value to be had here given the support the top pick figures to get.
#4 GIANT SHOES switches surfaces and cuts back in distance for a high percentage barn. This son of Giant
Surprise has had only one opportunity on a fast dirt track and it was a very solid effort going farther than he
prefers. That makes him a threat here.

Race 7- 1 st #6 VIADERA 2 ND #1 CATCH A BID 3 RD #3 PASSING OUT

This is the right time to try #6 VIADERA on the potential rebound given her likely price. She broke from the
inside on a boggy course in her stateside debut and lost all chance shortly after the start. The distance here
should not be a problem, and having her last behind her will help as well. #1 CATCH A BID won last time out
at Churchill Downs when she set a glacial pace before kicking clear late. She is versatile and can be on the
lead again here, or up close saving ground early. There’s still tremendous upside here and she clearly has a
great deal of talent. #3 PASSING OUT was a clear 3 rd last time out in the Beaugay and now gets some class
relief. She has performed well here at Saratoga in the past and will appreciate the class relief today.

Race 8- 1 st #3 LADY LAWYER 2 ND #5 LADY WORTHINGTON 3 RD #2 OLENDON

#3 LADY LAWYER did everything but win last time out in her North American debut, and her stablemate that
was 3 rd that day came back to narrowly miss 12 days ago at a mile. This gal figures to be just off of #5 LADY
WORTHINGTON in the opening stages, set to pounce when ready. The aforementioned ‘Worthington is the
one to catch and her trainer is 26% with sprinters moving from synthetics to turf over the last 5 years ($2.18
ROI). Speed is always a weapon on the lawn. #2 OLENDON goes second off a layoff today after chasing a
fast pace and weakening last time out at Tampa Bay Downs. She was effective sprinting as a 2YO and can
benefit from the cutback in distance today.

Race 9- 1 st #5 INDIAN PRIDE 2 ND #2 RISKY MANDATE 3 RD #6 JOY EPIFORA

#5 INDIAN PRIDE looks to be a bit better than her rivals here as she goes 2 nd off a layoff for trainer Chad
Brown. She came back with a stylish and facile win against lesser and now figures to be a major pace player
from the outset. It’ll take improvement from any of her rivals to beat her here. #2 RISKY MANDATE came
back from a lengthy layoff in an allowance race on closing day at Churchill Downs and lost all chance at the
start. She came with a big late run to finish second and should move forward with that race behind her. #6
JOY EPIFORA is another coming in from Churchill as this filly made her North American debut in a race taken
off the turf at a mile. The cutback figures to do her some good and any kind of pace battle will help as well.

Race 10- OFF THE TURF: 14-10-11

#1 K.K. ICHIKAWA likely needed his debut when he made a brief middle move before flattening out late. With
that race behind him and Lasix for this try, he figures to improve enough to contend in a race with few win
candidates. #6 OPERATIVE takes the biggest class drop in racing for trainer Dave Donk after chasing a
strong pace and tiring last time out. This is the right spot from a class perspective, and he should be a square
price. #12 THE POSTMASTER hasn’t been seen in almost exactly 15 months, has drawn a horrific outside
post and is taking a panicky drop. That’s enough to go different directions, but his past efforts are easily good
enough to win and the negatives will drive some players other ways.

SARATOGA MEET STATS: 10-1-1-2 $7.70