Litfin: How I'd play Saratoga on Monday, Aug. 25

There are a number of key scratches or additions on Monday’s card that make a bit of re-handicapping necessary.

The scratch of Broadway Bay in race 2 reduces the field to six, and bear in mind that because the rescheduled New York Turf Writers Cup is the opener, the pick five begins in race 2. I’m thinking about trying to get through the first couple legs with minimal coverage, and feel pretty confident about getting through this first leg with first-time gelding Swell, Giantinthemoonlite, and Cuantos.

In race 3, Double the Energy was 12-1 on the morning line, but figured to have a major impact on the early pace. Her withdrawal makes things a bit easier for Indian Splendor up front, and could work against my top pick, Magical Moon, unless she reverts back to the aggressive tactics she used in a runner-up finish in last year’s Coronation Cup here. The only other filly I’m using in this second leg is Good So Far, who was caught behind slow paces as the favorite twice at Belmont.

In race 4, two of the top three choices on the morning line, Overthespeedlinit (7-2) and G Five (5-1), are out, which makes things easier for Mr Classic Seneca. His trainer, Steve Asmussen, has picked it up this week, and this 2-year-old looks like a very well-meant shipper dropping out of a $75,000 stake at Prairie Meadows against Private Prospect, who is unbeaten through three starts. He’s my “A” in the pick five, and the “B” horses will be the three first-time starters – Banker’s Boss, Kool Kat Strut and Grandpa’s King.

I’ve got to get a little “spready” in race 5, a turf route for 2-year-old maidens, where the scratch of Mozambique Gold has made room for my top pick, Thebeatofthestreet, to get in from the also-eligible list. I’m essentially “buying” the race, dividing them into Column A and Column B as follows:

A: Thebeatofthestreet, Complicated, Classy Teacher, My Senses, Puca

B: Everyone else

In race 6, the cash-out leg, Bruce Brown has scratched Readthebyline, who looked like the stronger half of an entry with Ancient Rome.

Also scratched is Able Baker Charlie, who was my wise-guy top choice.

As a result, I’ve double-scratched into Bemata, and it’s anyone’s guess whether the deep closer will fire after being claimed from a suspicious class drop on July 23 and sitting out the 30-day jail period for new trainer Mike Maker.

Chopping up the seven who are left as follows:

A’s: Bemata, Love to Run, Joan’s Choice

B’s: Ancient Rome, Road Agent

C’s: Capital City, Volastic

The plan is to hit the pick five, and then come right back and hit the late pick four with the following “caveman” ticket on races 7 through 10:

1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 with 2, 9, 10, 11 with 3, 8, 9 with 1, 10