8/20: Saratoga Steeplechase Race 1 - NY Turf Writers

[Flatterer]

The last Grade 1 of the steeplechase season with an Eclipse award on the line will have a field of 6 in the New York Turf Writers Handicap going 5 turns over 9 fences.

#4 Belisarius will scratch since he ran (and pulled up) Wednesday, so jockey Bernie Dalton will ride #2 Pravalaguna since jockey Kieran Norris retired Monday. Ricky Hendriks will scratch #7 Zanjabeel reducing the field to 6.

The race goes through 160 pound co-high weights #5 Moscato and #6 Optimus Prime. Both pick up weight from the A P Smithwick which is strange. I understand #5 Moscato picking up 4 pounds since he won, but assigning #6 Optimus Prime another 2 pounds after a loss does not make sense. They are giving the rest of the field 16-18 pounds. Both are rated at 159 with the rest of the field 143 or less.

#6 Optimus Prime needed his last race after a 13 month layoff, giving up the lead to #5 Moscato in the last 5 strides. Trainer Ricky Hendriks says Optimus Prime came out of the race well and has been training well.

#5 Moscato is going for his 3rd victory this year and the added distance will help. Top trainer Jack Fisher entered half the field and this is by far his best chance for victory.

#3 Redicean (2nd) is the most likely pace setter in a race that has no early pace. He also gets a 6 pound break in weights but he was DOA (dead on arrival) after the last fence in the Smithwick and the added distance will make him even more vulnerable.

#8 Gibralfaro has run well in both starts this year and gets a 4 pound break from #5 Moscato and 2 pounds from #6 Optimus Prime. Only 3 lengths back in the Smithwick, the weight break will help but the added distance is a concern. He does not have the late acceleration possessed by the top weights and will need both #5 Moscato and #6 Optimus Prime to falter late for any chance of victory. However, he can check in underneath in the exotics.

#1 Rashaan (1st) has the best chance to rally late and clunk up in the bottom of tris and supers.

There is no clear race pace so #3 Redicean will reluctantly inherent the lead. The dawdling first lap will have runners trying not to clip each other’s heels. The race will start and pace will pick up after the 4th to last fence. Jockey Mitchell on #5 Moscato and jockey Nagle on #6 Optimus Prime will do everything they can to save ground while staying clear for a clean run down the backstretch the last time. Over the last fence, #5 Moscato and #6 Optimus Prime will pull away and dual to the wire.

Selections:

A) 5 (3rd) -6

C) 8 (4th)

Good Luck at the races!