Empire 6 pool should reach $7 million on mandatory payout Sunday
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There is a mandatory payout of the Empire 6 on Sunday at Saratoga, where the pool is likely to exceed $7 million, since there was no unique winning ticket Friday or Saturday. The wager has not been hit since the meet began July 16.
The sequence begins with race 5 (3:28 p.m. Eastern) and includes the $85,000 Alydar Stakes for older males going 1 1/8 miles on dirt. Endorsed, runner-up to Code of Honor in the Grade 3 Westchester two starts back, could be the closest thing to a single there is, though Spinoff is a worthy rival.
Dry conditions are expected Sunday, so the three Empire 6 turf races should stay on the grass.
Here’s a look at the sequence:
Race 5: Seven are scheduled to run, provided this maiden special weight event stays on turf at 1 1/16 miles.
Windfall Profit has improved with the addition of Lasix, getting beat a nose at Tampa in April and a head when third to the Chad Brown trainees Cost Benefit and Dovima in June. She showed good tactical speed in both races, and that should serve her well in a race lacking clear-cut pace.
Bastet set the pace in her debut for Bill Mott, who noted that he would prefer to be running this filly shorter than 1 1/16 miles.
L’Indiscret improved from her first start and showed late interest when beaten three lengths July 4 at Belmont.
Race 6: Seven of the 10 in this first-level allowance are coming off maiden wins, including three who were victorious first time out.
Primacy, trained by Brown, beat only four rivals when winning her debut by 4 1/4 lengths at 1-5 at Belmont, but should get the right setup.
Henrys Deal, despite breaking slowly from the outside post, reeled in 1-5 favorite Comic to win her debut at first asking at Lone Star Park for Robertino Diodoro. This filly has been in Saratoga for several weeks and fired a bullet work over the main track on July 30.
Don’t know what to do with Pop a Choc, who earned a big number winning a maiden race impressively July 9 at Belmont. Trainer Mark Casse went into Saturday’s card 0 for 20 at this meet.
Race 7: Turf sprint for nonwinners of two lifetime in for $40,000 boils down to the trio of Aunt Nadine, Mo Me Mo My, and Stretchthestory.
Aunt Nadine was second in this condition here on opening day in her first start for Steve Asmussen after previously being in the barn Jorge Navarro.
Mo Me Mo My is running for the lowest level of her career and gets Joel Rosario while removing blinkers.
Stretchthestory is a New York-bred trying open claimers for Christophe Clement.
Race 8: Mr Jaggers comes off a maiden win going this same 1 1/8 miles at Belmont Park after having a troubled start and losing early position two starts back going a mile.
“It looked like the nine furlongs was suitable for him, and that’s what’s going on Sunday, too,” Mott said.
Clement’s uncoupled pair of Shamrocket and City Man are contenders. Two starts back, Shamrocket was just beaten a neck in his first start against winners. City Man was only beaten three-quarters of a length when fourth in the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland.
Would like to give Buy Me Candy one more chance as the potential lone speed.
Race 9: Endorsed drops into the listed Alydar Stakes after a runner-up finish to Code of Honor in the Grade 3 Westchester and a seventh-place finish, albeit only 4 1/2 lengths behind Vekoma, in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap.
In addition to those being difficult races, they also were run around one turn. The Alydar is run around two turns, and Endorsed’s last two victories came in races around two turns.
“I think he’s fine either way,” Mott said. “He ran good in the Westchester, second best to Code of Honor. I think we’ve got a nice individual. Hopefully, we’re in a winnable spot on Sunday.”
Spinoff is another getting back out around two turns. He won a second-level allowance by 5 3/4 lengths here last summer at 1 1/8 miles. He is coming off a seventh-place finish in a one-mile allowance at Belmont in which trainer Todd Pletcher felt he had a “messy” trip.
“He had a good win here last year going a mile and an eighth,” Pletcher said. “Two turns suit him a little better.”
Race 10: A maiden $25,000 claimer going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt ends the sequence. Imperio D and Brunate were separated by a neck when second and third, respectively, in this same condition July 17.
Boston Billy, third in a maiden special July 10 at Charles Town, could offer some value. Trainer Corby Caiazzo is a career 1 for 12 at Saratoga, the lone win coming in a maiden $25,000 claimer two years ago with 5-1 Lightworker.