Saratoga Vulnerable Favorites, Live Longshots, and Spot Plays: August 14
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SPOT PLAYS AND LIVE LONGSHOTS
ISN’TSHEWONDERFULL (#6, 7-2) Chestnut filly has been something of a disappointment for Derby-winning connections but look at some of the excuses she can be granted, surface-wise and distance-wise, including turf (7/21), mud (6/8), and a too-short 6 panels (5/5) since returning for her 3yo season. Money's been showing for this miss, so the talent's there somewhere; seven-eighths, a fast track, and a favorable outside post should leave her with dead aim once they straighten away. – Marty McGee
HARD RUMOR (#3, 4-1) Looked okay over wet track from the gate last weekend in the last of a series of works that could have the New York bred ready for a big effort off the bench for hot barn. - Mike Welsch
MALLORY STREET (#2, 5-1) Comes into her debut off a trio of sharp looking trials both on the main and training tracks, may be a nice alternative for those logically leaning in the direction of Pletcher's Cynical Storm. - Mike Welsch
I'LL CALL (#8, 6-1) looks as if he could be the speed in this paceless race. The fractions in his last race were solid and he finished pretty well. Will play to win at 5-1 or greater and exacta box with #4 FEAR THE KITTEN, who ran ok despite being wide throughout in the Virginia Derby, his lone turf try. - Chuck Kuehhas
Saratoga Race 7, (4:14 ET) - LIVE LONGSHOT
LA STRADA (#2, 10-1) After a maiden win at Belmont first time on turf in her seasonal bow for a new barn, she was the 3-2 favorite in a restricted claimer at Monmouth on July 27, and finished willingly for second while compromised by a lack of early pace. - Dave Litfin
Saratoga Race 7, (4:14 ET) - LIVE LONGSHOT
LA STRADA (#2, 10-1) was a clear-cut winner of turf debut over yielding ground, and finished gamely from behind a slow pace when beaten as the favorite last time; feels like a big price in this wide open affair and has a chance to spice up the exotics. - Mike Beer
HOGY (#8, 9-2) could be overlooked in the Troy Stakes despite having won 9 of 17 starts; he invades from the Chicago circuit, where he won the Grade 3 Hanshin on the Poly and just missed in the Arlington Sprint after a slow start. - Byron King
TRIPSKI (#3, 12-1) gets a little more distance here, and that could prove to be the difference; proven turf sprinter was sharp in defeat on the green two back, and the last effort, on a sloppy main track, was decent even though he's much more comfortable on the grass. - Kenny Peck
VULNERABLE FAVORITES
GREAT MILLS (#4, 3-1) is a high class sprinter but has always been a one-dimensional speedball, resulting in him sometimes getting cooked in hot paces; now he returns from a layoff, not having raced since Jan. 20; potential fitness disadvantage. - Byron King
