Saratoga Babies for Sunday, Aug. 24
Race 2
6 ½ Furlongs
Funny Cide Stakes (New York-breds)
2-year-olds
Purse: $200,000
Tax Package
Gave a workmanlike performance in capturing his maiden in ordinary time last month; chased the pace from the outside, came with a 3-wide bid from in between horses and grinded out the win; dam was a stakes-placed 2-year-old and he is certainly in the right hands; just not sure he beat a great bunch as the runner-up came back to place fourth with a 57 Beyer; tough inside post; prefer others on top.
Upstart
This fellow showed some moxie here nine days ago in a popular and fast maiden victory; didn't break very well and was bottled up in the pocket entering the turn; waited for room, split horses turning for home, and drew away along the rail; barn is 4 for 12 (33%, $1.70 return on investment) over the past 5 years with 2nd-time 2-year-olds off maiden victories in dirt sprints; think he has some talent and must be respected.
Good Luck Gus
The lone main-track-only entrant on July 28 took advantage of some turf-meant maidens in the slop; chased a quick filly from the outside, attacked 3 wide, and drew away; imposing colt shouldn't have an issue with the additional furlong, but he's still green as he hopped back to his left lead late in the game; trainer Rudy Rodriguez is 6 for 12 (50%, $2.75 ROI) over the past 5 years with 2-year-olds off maiden wins in dirt sprints; prefer others on top.
Bullheaded Boy
Before we get too excited about the solid Beyer, remember that it came over a sealed, sloppy track; he did his share of running, however, as he lost ground after pressing the pace while 3 wide; it took him until the eighth pole to switch leads, but he was game to rebuff the runner-up; barn 15 for 52 (29%, $1.39 ROI) past 5 years with 2nd-out 2-year-olds off a maiden win in dirt sprints; shouldn't be too far off the lead; contender.
Bustin It
Chased a decent Kentucky-bred in the debut (Nonna's Boy, who was beaten only two lengths in the Grade 3 Sanford) and then won by seven vs. statebreds; broke like a shot, but came to hand nicely while racing off the rail; opened up again on the turn and was merely coasting in the stretch; probably didn't beat much, but did it the right way; must stretch out, but have to respect him as the one to catch.
SELECTIONS
1. Upstart
2. Bustin It
3. Bullheaded Boy
THE PLAY
Upstart – Bustin It EXACTA
Upstart – Bullheaded Boy EXACTA
Race 4
6 ½ furlongs
Seeking the Ante Stakes (New York-breds)
2-year-old fillies
Purse: $200,000
Evrybdymstgetstonz
Pulled off a speedy 23-1 shocker at Belmont, but don't think she beat the strongest field in the world (5 foes have gone 5-0-0-2 in subsequent outings; lost all chance at the break when perhaps in over her head in the Schuylerville as she was pinched back and then rushed along the rail; her speed should play well, but others entice more on the win end.
Hard to Stay Notgo
Half-sister to multiple turf stakes winner Mark My Way gave a visually impressive performance 18 days ago; was simply too fast for her foes and opened up a clear early lead; drew off nicely when given her cue in upper stretch, and was geared down nearing the wire; may get a tougher pace scenario here, but looks promising indeed.
Graeme Crackers
This filly showed a good amount of courage in her debut; she pressed the pace from the outside, took over turning for home, was passed by a larger foe in midstretch, and came roaring back along the rail to win going away; note that the runner-up regressed 10 Beyer points as a beaten chalk 8/14; barn does good work with 2nd-out 2-year-olds off maiden wins; faces a much-tougher task this afternoon; exotics factor.
Quick Reward
She beat seven fillies when entered for a tag at Gulfstream; the highest next-out Beyer for those runners was a 29; won't hold the Cassidy debacle against her as she was probably overmatched at 77-1 odds; shows quick works and will face statebred-only company for the first time; needs a good amount of improvement to threaten.
Nonna Jo
Prompted Myfourchix while in between rivals on the turn and gradually wore that one down to win her debut in solid time; the issue is that no one else in the race seemed to do any running; those fractions were certainly legitimate, however, and she draws a nice outside post position to lead or stalk; bullet work in preparation for this spot; contender.
Myfourchix
Took a good amount of money and was hustled up along the inside to set the pace entering the turn; was hounded by Nonna Jo and succumbed to that foe in the final eighth; all in all, it was a good performance and she might assume the role of stalker/presser from the far outside post; expect her to be in the thick of things when the real racing begins.
SELECTIONS
1. Nonna Jo
2. Hard to Stay Notgo
3. Myfourchix
THE PLAY
Nonna Jo – Hard to Stay Notgo EXACTA
Nonna Jo – Myfourchix EXACTA