Saratoga: Spa Babies 2-year-old picks and analysis for July 21

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RACE 1

5 1/2 Furlongs

Maiden Special Weight (New York-breds)

Purse $70,000

1. Cool It (Repent - Pierpont Account, by Private Account)
1/2 SP Livin Large (221K, 1-16 sprint) by 13-199 (7%) 2yo FTS sire; mud/route-winning dam (13K, 0-4 sprint) has 8 winners from 11 runners (2-5 2yos, 1 FTS winner, 7-11 sprinters); 6/22 work matches Hangingwithsonny (FTS - Fri. 5th); barn 1-25 past 5 years 2yo FTS NYB MSW dirt sprints (1-9 at Spa).

2. Fox Rox (Officer - Shesastonecoldfox, by Foxhound)
1/2 SP 2yo Elusive Fox (168K, FTS winner, 1-11 sprint), SW router Fox Rules (252K, 1-5 at 2, 0-3 sprint) by 31-238 (13%) 2yo FTS sire; multiple 2yo sprint SW dam (216K, FTS winner) has 4 winners from 4 runners (2-4 2yos, 1 FTS winner, 3-4 sprinters); 2 works match Aspree (FTS - Fri. 5th); barn 0-11 past 5 years 2yo FTS dirt sprint MSW.

3. Thug Daddy (Scat Daddy - As Promised, by Century City)
40K 2yo after 1F work 10.4; sire 14-89 (16%) 2yo FTS; 1st starter from turf-placed dam (0-2 sprint); dam 1/2 multiple SP Diamond Anchor (577K), SW router Daytime Promise (215K); barn 1-12 (8%, $2.94 ROI) past 5 years 2yo FTS NYB MSW dirt sprints Spa; barn 0-40 past year all FTS.

4. Sing the Dream (Songandaprayer - Out of My Dreams, by Two Punch)
21K yrlng, 44K 2yo after 1F work 10.1; sire 44-357 (12%) 2yo FTS; 1st starter from winning dam (45K, 1-7 at 2, 1-9 sprint); dam full SP sprinter General Tommy (292K); barn 2-26 (8%) past 5 years 2yo FTS dirt sprint MSW.

5. Empire Dreams (Patriot Act - Ascended Dreams, by Thunder Gulch)
35K 2yo after 2F work 21.4; 1/2 SP 2yo Court of Dreams (67K, 0-2 sprint) by 0-16 2yo FTS sire; unraced dam has 3 winners from 3 runners (3-3 2yos, 1-3 sprinters); dam 1/2 G2 SW router Oratory; barn 0-15 past 5 years 2yo FTS NYB MSW dirt sprint.

6. Double Gold (Posse - Avie's Fancy, by Lord Avie)
9K RNA yrlng, 52K 2yo after 1F work 10.1; 1/2 SW 2yo sprinter Our Cozzette (82K, FTS winner), G2 SW St Averil (328K, 1-2 at 2, FTS winner, 2-5 sprint) by 23-222 (10%) 2yo FTS sire; dam G2 turf SW (402K, 3-7 at 2, FTS winner, 3-6 sprint) with 3 winners from 10 runners (2-4 2yos, 2 FTS winners, 2-7 sprinters); barn 48-358 (13%) past 5 years 2yo MSW dirt sprints (1-6 NYB MSW at Spa).

7. Cat Squad (Posse - Nice Kitty Kitty, by Forest Wildcat)
Sire 23-222 (10%) 2yo FTS; unraced dam has 1 winner from 2 runners (0-2 2yos, 1-1 sprinters); dam 1/2 SW Deodar (162K), SW router Bema (146K), G3 SP router Morada Key (180K); barn 3-39 (8%) past 5 years 2yo FTS dirt sprint MSW.

8. American Creed (Quiet American - Thin Disguise, by Yes It's True)
115K wnlng, 155K RNA yrlng by 21-394 (5%) 2yo FTS sire; 1st starter from route winning dam (45K, 0-2 sprint); dam 1/2 G3 SW Naughty New Yorker (1M); barn 3-80 (4%) past 5 years 2yo FTS dirt sprint MSW; 5/6, 5/13 works match barn 2yo Tall Boy (31 Beyer as FTS at CD 6/21); jock's 1st call

9. Tapidor (Tapit - Adorahy, by Rahy)
450k yrlng; 1/2 multiple SW Icabad Crane (585K, 1-1 at 2, 1-1 sprint) and turf SW Our Golden Dream (149K, 1-4 at 2, FTS winner) by 31-247 (13%) 2yo FTS sire; sprint-winning dam (46K) has 7 winners from 8 runners (2-6 2yos, 2 FTS winners, 2-5 sprinters); barn 15-136 (11%) past 5 years 2yo FTS dirt sprint MSW; 7/17 work match barn 3yo Roman's Avenue (54 Beyer); jock's 2nd call.

10. Slew's Brew (Suave - Seattle Ash, by Seattle Sleet)
14K yrlng by 28-323 (9%) 2yo sire; sprint-winning dam (94K, 1-1 at 2) has 2 winners from 5 runners (0-2 2yos, 2-5 sprinters); barn 1-4 (25%, $15.85 ROI) past 5 years 2nd-time 2yo dirt sprint MSW; outsprinted early vs. Sanford entrant, but passed tired foes late; needs forward move.

Selections:
1. Double Gold
2. Empire Dreams
3. Thug Daddy

The Play:
Double Gold - Empire Dreams EXACTA
Double Gold - Thug Daddy EXACTA

RACE 9

6 Furlongs

Sanford Stakes (G2)

2-year-olds

Purse $200,000

1. All in Blue (More Than Ready - Cloud Rise, by Buddha)
After being looped by favored Patent entering the turn, this gray attacked from the outside, opened up decisively, and coasted home under a hand ride; barn won 2011 Sanford with BEL FTS winner Overdriven; quick from gate, but must work out trip from rail with other speed outside; respect.

2. Southern Blessing (Dixie Union - Yolie's Choice, by Silver Deputy)
No surprise at CD, but worked hard off tracking trip to win slow heat; 2nd-finisher came back to place twice (64, 62 Beyers at DEL, MTH respectively); 3rd-finisher returned to run 1st, but was dq'd at CD, then placed 4th in Bashford Manor behind Debt Ceiling; has upside and benefits from fast pace; needs Beyer boost.

3. Debt Ceiling (Discreet Cat - Top Marks, by Marquetry)
Versatile and battle-tested colt tracked blistering pace duel in fast-early, slow-late Bashford Manor before attacking 3 wide on turn; opened up at will, drifted out a bit in upper stretch, and was geared down in final sixteenth; capable of good trip tracking speeds and shouldn't be ignored.

4. Wired Bryan (Stormy Atlantic - Red Melody, by Runaway Groom)
Brushed away two pace challengers en route to impressive hand-ridden debut at Belmont; takes big step up in class, however, as 2 of the 5 NY-breds he beat were fillies (both entered in Friday's 5th); expect another speedy try from this intriguing gray colt.

5. Jake's Magic Hat (Tiz Wonderful - Tico Breeze, by Carson City)
Imposing colt broke outward, but soon righted himself to prompt tpace while 3 wide. took over midstretch, was kept to task, and galloped out nicely; both 3rd- and 4th-finishers came back to lose at short odds (57, 66 Beyers respectively); with alert break, may work out good stalking trip from outside; not out of this at solid odds.

6. Hollywood Talent (Talent Search - Intrinsic Value, by Johannesburg)
Although he was part of hot pace in Bashford Manor, it's worth noting that late-runners never made impact; pressed from outside, but seemed to take a bad step over wet going and was steadied; lost momentum and was looped by winner, but re-rallied gamely for 2nd; figures part of early picture, but must avoid prolonged duel.

7. Yes Liz (Yes It's True - For Scarlett, by Red Ransom)
16K short yearling resold for 200K in April; filly looked good at BEL; battled with 2nd-choice (finished last) early and had that one off bridle after 2F; immediately faced and rebuffed Majestic Serenade's challenge under confident handling; draws nice attack post and should be respected despite facing males.

Selections:
1. All in Blue
2. Wired Bryan
3. Debt Ceiling

The Play:
All in Blue - Wired Bryan EXACTA
All in Blue - Debt Ceiling EXACTA