Saratoga Vulnerable Favorites, Live Longshots, and Spot Plays: August 4
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SPOT PLAYS AND LIVE LONGSHOTS
STRIKE IT BIG (#3, 6-1) Catalano ships in with this Arch colt out of a Chester House mare; trainer's slow start at meet could mean we'll see listed price at post. - Chuck Kuehhas
FIERCE BOOTS (#6, 4-1) Looks best of the two Pletcher firsters in this lineup although she brought less at the sales than uncoupled mate Dance Tap, gets nod over another new face, Le Reine Bourbon, in intriguing 2yo maiden special weight test on the grass.- Mike WelschBarn usually does not push on young horses in their debuts but like the way this GUILTY VERDICT (#3, 4-1) looked in her final prep for career bow and fact Castellano takes the call another good sign.- Mike Welsch
BOURBON TWIST (#2, 6/1) ran a very good race to win first out here last summer, and feels set to go forward in third start of her 3yo season.- Mike Beer
GIULIO’S JEWEL (#5, 7-2) was a smashing winner in her turf debut, a sprint, and though it “only” came against maiden claimers the resulting Beyer makes her a threat in her first start against winners; she has speed but can also rate and she should be well spotted behind the leaders. –Kenny Peck
Assuming this 2x/opt-claimer stays on grass, the very vulnerable Tahoe Lake will take major play, and therein lies value elsewhere, such as with hard-trying 6yo BELL BY THE RIDGE (#1, 4-1),whose misfire in latest came versus solid company in a veritable downpour (before grass went yielding for Wise Dan). Has rail, Javier, Maker, and the prospect of a nice stalking trip in his favor; winning type worth a long, long look. – Marty McGee
Several contenders are closely matched on their turf form, all of which is only fair to middling, so KEY DECISION (#8, 15-1), who trailed in a dirt sprint in his first and only start last year, rates a look for a new trainer based on his pedigree. Half-brother Key Event was a multiple winner of $170,000 on grass. -Dave Litfin
VULNERABLE FAVORITES
DELAUNAY (#3, 8-5) figures to go postward the choice again despite hiccup at Prairie Meadows but he has not done anything special in the a.m. since shipping locally while arguably facing the stiffest overall test of his career. Once invincible looking sprinter may prove vulnerable once again at a short price. - Mike Welsch
Haven’t the chalkers had enough of FACE THE RACE (#1, 5-2) already, with his back-to-back 4ths in NY-bred maiden turf races in which he seemed to face lighter foes than today (and was therefore 4-5 and 2-1)?? Presence of Rosario and the rail insure he’ll be well-backed today, but c’mon, you’ve got to bring a little more game than that. Plenty of other more imaginative options with which to end the Sunday card. – Marty McGee
