Entering this summer's Saratoga meet, which commences Friday, trainer Todd Pletcher has already won 11 races for 2-year-olds, evidence that he could once again be in line for a stellar summer at the Spa.
Trip Notes for July 16-17: Delaware Handicap, Indiana Derby, Eddie Read, and more
Free: Del Mar horses to watch for week of July 18
DRF handicapper Dan Illman outlines his strategy for playing Sunday's card at Belmont Park.
There’s a nice card at Delaware Park on Saturday featuring the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap, but the first pick three sequence of the day entices most.
Liking the first half of Saturday’s card better than the second, I will try my hand at the 50-cent Pick 5 that begins the card at Belmont.
Sunday represents day three of the summer meeting at Del Mar, and it’s highlighted by the Grade 2 Eddie Read – a nine furlong turf event that features one of the saltiest fields Southern California has seen this year. I’ll look to play the late double on Saturday, linking the Eddie Read with the finale, a $16,000 claiming event for non-winners of two races lifetime.
A win wager on an improving turf colt in race 7, a win wager on a 2-year-old first-time starter in race 8, and a pick three that ends in race 9 will form the basis of this handicapper’s plan of attack Saturday at Del Mar.
BreezeFigs Quick-Pix for Saturday, July 16th, 2016 by Bob Fierro and Jay Kilgore
With graded stakes across the country Saturday, the Weekend Warrior plans to fire away from coast to coast and even in the Midwest. So, without further ado, let's get to some handicapping, starting, in order of preference, with the Indiana Derby, continuing with the Yellow Ribbon from Del Mar, and finishing with the Kent Stakes from Delaware Park.
