Saratoga Vulnerable Favorites, Live Longshots, and Spot Plays: July 22
SPOT PLAYS/LIVE LONGSHOTS
HILLHOUSE HIGH (#7, 7-2), a son of Exchange Rate, launches career for top turf and debut barn on the grass off an impressive looking half mile grass work in which she finished in :23 and change in company with a stablemate and galloped out very strongly into the turn. Lures Castellano for the assignment. - Mike Welsch
There are others in here that will take action and will help square the price on Clement firster SEA QUEEN (#2, 6-1), so play with confidence that the grass-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid will be prepared to roll at first asking. Few are better in just this kind of spot that Clement, who assumed her conditioning fairly recently; inside draw and alluring Rosario seal the deal. – Marty McGee
SKYLANDER (#1A, 3-1) was a little head strong and did not get the best of trips chasing the pace trying an overnight stakes in his last start downstate, looked real sharp breezing a half mile over the main track earlier this week, galloping out like a horse sitting on a huge effort. - Mike Welsch
STOP SIGN (#7, 4-1) was game in defeat in that last one, and though he cuts back a bit in distance he may still be the controlling speed in this six-furlong sprint; first start off the claim for trainer Randi Persaud. –Kenny Peck
Somewhat shocking that the French connections never tried this CORSAGE (#4, 8-1) on the grass with the pedigree this one has; Euro import lures Rosario for Clement.- Chuck Kuehhas
SHEERFLAKESOFGOLD (#3, 6/1) went off form at the end of last year before getting a break, but ran two good races on grass here last summer, including one off of a similar layoff at double-digit odds. - Mike Beer
Exactly one year ago today, SHEERFLAKESOFGOLD (#3, 6-1) returned from a similar layoff and ran a bang-up second at 10-1, earning the best Beyer Figure of her career. She ran deceptively well in three starts over Aqueduct’s inner-dirt track, but should relish getting back to the grass against probable favorite Starship Gambler, who has lost three in a row as the chalk.- Dave Litfin
VULNERABLE FAVORITES
READTHEBYLINE (#3, 9-5) regressed off big starter win at Aqueduct when trying open optional claiming and allowance company for the first time at Belmont five weeks later and perhaps subject to bounce again today stepping up into stakes company for the first time off well graded victory over ordinary field of optional claimers downstate. Figures to get pressed on the lead from the outset by Rosario and Groomedforvictory.- Mike Welsch