Illman: How I'd play Saratoga on Thursday, Aug. 7

How will I play today? I’ll try to beat the morning-line favorites in races 3 and 4.

The third is a statebred maiden special weight for 2-year-olds on turf. You can check out all of the pedigree and trainer information in this “Saratoga Babies” column.

#7 CHIEF KITTEN, the 5-2 morning-line chalk, looks very logical on paper as a son of Kitten’s Joy trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Javier Castellano. While the second dam was a Group 3 winner going long on turf in Japan, his dam was strictly a sprinter on the main track. Perhaps Chief Kitten will need a start before he’s ready to handle 1 1/16 miles. At a short price, he’s worth using as a backup in multiple-race wagers, but I don’t want to play him to win.

My preferred play is #3 BROTHER O’CONNELL, a New York-bred in name only, as he’s a son of Giant’s Causeway out of a turf stakes winner (she won the Waya at Saratoga with a 93 Beyer) by Seeking the Gold. He’s trained by Christophe Clement, who also conditioned the second dam, the very classy Coretta (by Caerleon). Coretta won four graded races on turf for Clement and earned six triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures from 12 North American starts.

Kin to two turf winners, Brother O’Connell worked in company with the older War Correspondent last week. He seems primed for a good effort and is fair value for a win bet at his 5-1 morning line.

I’ll also use #6 THIRST FOR GLORY, who ran well in his debut on dirt 18 days ago. Bet down to 9-5, Thirst for Glory was hung out wide and still finished with some energy. The dam, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Artemis Agrotera, won on turf. Thirst for Glory should appreciate the extra distance and surface switch.

SELECTIONS:
1. Brother O’Connell
2. Thirst for Glory
3. Chief Kitten

The fourth race is the $100,000 Birdstone Stakes, to be run at the unusual distance of 1 3/4 miles on dirt. While #5 MICROMANAGE looms the horse to beat off the cold dope for Todd Pletcher and Castellano, he’s not that dependable. He’s lost the last four times he was sent off as the favorite and is as much of a question mark as anyone else at this distance. Why not take a shot with a better-priced contender?

The key to the race is #1 SLIM SHADEY. If the veteran can transfer his good turf and wet-track form to a fast dirt surface, he could be long gone from a pace perspective. Slim Shadey has plenty of back class and has won at distances up to 10 furlongs. If they leave him alone up front, perhaps he can steal this race. He was no match for a very sharp runner in Guys Reward on turf two weeks ago at Monmouth, but he didn’t have the pace advantage that is available to him here. At 8-1 on the morning line, he is worth a play.

#4 DON DULCE is exiting a very live race, the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth on July 6. By clicking on the chart in Formulator and utilizing the “next race” filter, we see these results:
Itsmyluckyday – 107 Beyer – finished second
Bradester – 105 Beyer – finished second
Valid – 106 Beyer – finished first
Raging Daoust – 65 Beyer – finished ninth
Sailor’s Revenge – 92 Beyer – finished first

Don Dulce only finished two lengths behind Valid in the Salvator Mile. If he lasts this demanding distance, he could certainly factor in the outcome.

#2 IRSAAL is a solid campaigner but might need a wet track for his best effort.

Selections:
1. Slim Shadey
2. Irsaal
3. Don Dulce