Lots of claiming races on the first half of this Saratoga card. I don’t have a problem playing claiming races generally, but it’s not what I’m looking for at Saratoga. Worse than that, I can’t find a comfortable toehold in any of the early races.
DRF handicapper Randy Goulding provides his analysis of a pick four on Sunday's card at Del Mar.
DRF handicapper Joe DeVivo outlines a pick four play on Monday's program at Saratoga.
Let's take a swing at the late pick four Sunday as we get ready for the excitement of Travers week up here in Saratoga.
Perhaps there are horseplayers able to grind out a profit based on volume of winners. If so, they will like the Sunday card at Del Mar. It’s a program that includes a handful of “can’t miss” favorites.
Today’s featured Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga brings together the winners of the five most prestigious Grade 1 races for 3-year-old dirt fillies that have been run this year – Curalina (Acorn, Coaching Club American Oaks), Lovely Maria (Ashland, Kentucky Oaks), and Include Betty (Mother Goose), as well as graded stakes winner I’m a Chatterbox, who finished first in the CCA Oaks but was disqualified and placed second for bothering Curalina nearing the wire. Three intriguing but probably overmatched maiden/allowance winners complete the field of seven.
DRF handicapper Dave Litfin provides his insights for the late pick four on Saturday's card at Saratoga.
Pacific Classic day is a good time to take a shot at the pick six on races 6-11. The $100 ticket includes three stand-alone singles (no backups). The three remaining races will use TicketMaker strategy.
DRF handicapper Michael Hammersly provides his best plays on Saturday's program at Del Mar.
Dido (#3, ML 5-2) returns in Friday’s sixth race at Del Mar, the 1 3/8-mile CTT and TOC Handicap on turf. It will be her first start since finishing second by 2 ½ lengths in the River Memories Stakes on July 5 at Belmont Park. The first-, third-, and seventh-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts. Get the Key Race report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
