Litfin's Saratoga plays for Wednesday, August 16
Let's quickly catch up on some bookkeeping from the last couple of days.
On Sunday, we had a good idea about linking the entire field from race 5 with our two win selections in a pick three, because Kon Krete Kid lit up the toteboard like a Christmas tree, paying $95 to win after Giant Chieftan snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by veering out sharply in midstretch; these 2-year-old turf routes produce more than their fair share of longshot winners.
Unfortunately, Dixieland Squall, our $20 win bet in race 4, had the lead after a half-mile but faded to wind up fifth at 7-1, so we lost $10 on the $1 wheel.
At least Massoud won race 6, paying $5.80, so our $20 win bet got us out for the day with a profit of $8.
Those who managed to sniff out first-time starter Montauk Daisy ($10.20) in race 4 could've easily reeled in a $2,042 pick three by wheeling race 5 and anchoring the play with Massoud.
On Monday, we had $20 to win on Sheer Silk ($6.40) in the opener, but lost a $30 win bet on Mr. Antagonizer in race 3, for a net gain of $14 on the day.
Profits of $8 and $14 aren't exactly life-changing scores, but at least that makes three straight days in the plus column, and gives us a little momentum as the second half of the meet gets underway.
RACE 9
This game can be as complicated or as simple as you care to make it. The simple version of this race is that Bachelornumberone ran a figure superior to his rivals when last on turf at Belmont on June 15, and did so despite racing in traffic through the stretch run. He comes off a throw-out race in an off-the-turf route 12 days ago, and is listed at 6-1 on the morning line set by the NYRA's Eric Donovan. We'll settle for less than half that. Simple, eh?
The bet: $50 to win on Bachelornumberone (turf only; minimum odds 5-2).
Total wagers Sunday & Monday: $100
Total return Sunday & Monday: $122
Total win/loss Sunday & Monday: plus $22
Total wagers for meet: $822
Total return for meet: $633
Total win/loss for meet: minus $189