Saratoga Vulnerable Favorites, Live Longshots, and Spot Plays: August 5
SPOT PLAYS
1:00 Sar 1st
We’re just waiting for Gargan to pop with a price, something that’s not only overdue but bound to happen here at the Spa before long. Recent claim MARTINI MADNESS (#3, 6-1) was just 7-2 when claimed from that turf dud at Bel, but this is a new surface and a new day, and Irad has been enlisted to engineer the quick turnaround. Gelding who knows how to win is right back in for the same $20k tag while switching to a more preferred surface and liable to come rolling off all the other speed in here. – Marty McGee
1:32 SAR 2nd
Although first time starter Countercyclical has been working extremely well for his debut, experienced gelding SPINTASTIC (#8, 5-1) has also trained well since arriving locally and should outrun his odds in the second half of the daily double. - Mike Welsch
2:04 SAR 3rd
TIGHTLY BRIDLED (#4, 2-1) capped off a series of okay works with a bullet over the main track, might finally give barn its first 2yo winner of the meet if able to stay the distance as he should considering his breeding. - Mike Welsch
3:08 SAR 5th
DANCING FOR GLORY (#5, 4-1) is the "other" Chad Brown horse in the race, but she ran very well here last year, and caught some traffic when last seen down in Florida; may be a fair price in race that appears wide open. - Mike Beer
4:14 SAR 7th
FRONT (#9, 9-2) may have been overmatched in a seemingly deep Solar Splendor but he’s a much better fit here; tactical speed should mean a splendid trip behind expected speeds IMAGE OF DISCO, LAWYER JIM and MIA POPPY, as a much more favorable race flow than he got in that last one appears likely. –Kenny Peck
LIVE LONGSHOTS
5:20 SAR 9th
ANGEL TERRACE (#3, 12-1) been rained off last pair and race prior was non-threatening effort off 6 month layoff won by Augustinentrymate where top two exited to run 2-3 in G-3 Gallorette; Sheperd’s lone flat start at the meet missed by a head at 7-1 and Castellano gets rare call here for trainer. - Chuck Kuehhas
5:52 SAR 10TH
PAGAN PRIESTESS (#8, 10-1) had a productive 2012 with a 4-3-1 record from 11 starts, and appears to be approaching peak form for her third start of the year, after an improved effort at Delaware Park second time back. Exacta finishes 50% of the time on turf. - Dave Litfin
VULNERABLE FAVORITE
2:04 SAR 3rd
Expecting the power of Pletcher to make KING CYRUS (#6, 4-1) the favorite in his debut although he was beaten in his last work by Chisholm who finished off the board in his first try over the weekend. - Mike Welsch