Illman: How I'll play Saratoga for Saturday, Sept. 3

Let’s take a look at the late pick five sequence at Saratoga on the final Saturday of the 2016 meeting.

Race 8

NEOLITHIC (10) seems like a talented, but fragile type for trainer Todd Pletcher. He returned from a long layoff last month to post a 99 Beyer when second to the promising Summer Revolution, but was very green coming out of the gate, and gave up significant early position. Still, his late run was promising and he should be tough if able to build on that comeback effort.

EKHLAAS (13), GRAY SKY (12) and NEW YORK CHROME (9) all recently posted career-best figs on wet tracks. They figure in the mix, especially if the track comes up wet.

Deeper tickets might include recent maiden winner BEEKS (4), a lightly raced colt with some upside potential.

Race 9

In what looks to be a very strong renewal of the Grade 1 Spinaway, PRETTY CITY DANCER (6) might get a solid pace to attack, ala her closing victory in the $100,000 Debutante Stakes at Churchill for Mark Casse. A Tapit half-sister to Grade 1 winner Lear’s Princess, Pretty City Dancer shouldn’t have a problem with the additional furlong.

CHERRY LODGE (5) fought off a more experienced rival in a professional debut try for Pletcher. The half-sister to Grade 1 winner Stormello might have been on the kinder footing down inside, but appears to have a good amount of talent.

RUNWAY DOLL (3) dominated maidens over a speed-friendly, sloppy surface on July 31. She could be the one to catch and beat for Steve Asmussen. SWEET LORETTA (1) overcame a slow start to win the Schuylerville, but this seems like a slightly tougher group.

Race 10

FROSTED (3) returned from Dubai with two excellent efforts. He’s one of the better handicap horses in the country, will be a deserving short-priced favorite, and I’ll single him in the Woodward.

Race 11

I’ll try to beat favored GUAPAZA (3) with ITSONLYACTINGDAD (8), a good-trip winner of the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth, and SUFFUSED (6), who just missed to Guapaza in the Waya Stakes on Aug. 6. Itsonlyactingdad should handle the extra distance as she was a good second to Lady Eli in last year’s Belmont Oaks at 10 furlongs, and it appears she’s back in her good form for Pletcher. Suffused has really put it together in her last two starts for Bill Mott. She was forced widest in upper stretch in the Waya and that may have contributed to the narrow defeat.

Race 12

ANNALS OF TIME (4) hasn’t raced since beating stakes-class Inspector Lynley in a professional debut score at Aqueduct on Nov. 28. The layoff is worrisome, but I’ll trust Chad Brown to have this colt ready for his 3-year-old debut.

In case Annals of Time does need a race, FOREVER IN LOVE (5) is in razor-sharp form after running through his New York-bred conditions in rallying fashion for Linda Rice.

As backups, both TIZZARUNNER (1) and HOCKEY SCHOOL (2) exit a live race. Tizzarunner was very in that heat and seems like a candidate to move forward with blinkers on. Hockey School drew well and has the tactical speed to sit a good trip while close to the pace.

:: See Dan Illman’s pick five play in DRF TicketMaker and bet it with DRF Bets