TimeformUS Saratoga Horses in Focus for Sunday, July 21, 2019
Race 3: Skywriting (#2)
DRF Formulator Fact: Over the past five years, Linda Rice is 10 for 38 (26 percent, $3.04 ROI) first off the claim in turf routes.
Is bred to handle turf, being out of a dam who was a turf horse and is a half-sister to turf stakes winner Buddy’s Humor.
Has good tactical speed in a race that lacks a confirmed front-runner.
6-1 on ML
Race 5: Scars Are Cool (#4)
The Pace Projector is predicting he will be close to the pace in a race that does not feature much speed.
Should have won last time when he had to alter course multiple times over the final three furlongs.
DRF Formulator Fact: Since his return to training, Stanley Hough is 7 for 21 (33 percent, $3.50 ROI) in dirt routes.
6-1 on ML
Race 8: Yankee Empire (#3)
Had a nightmarish trip in his debut, getting caught in traffic behind a slow pace while throwing his head about.
His 93 TimeformUS Speed Figure from that start makes him fast enough to win many races at this level.
Has worked well since that debut effort.
6-1 on ML
Race 9: Halladay (#8)
The 109 TimeformUS Speed Figure that he earned for his maiden win makes him competitive here and was validated by runner-up Sayyaaf’s next-out win.
Handled a route distance better than it might appear last year when crossing the wire ahead of turf stakes winner Seismic Wave.
DRF Formulator Fact: Over the past five years, Todd Pletcher is 6 for 24 (25 percent, $2.88 ROI) with last-out maiden winners second off a layoff on turf.
5-1 on ML
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Race 10: Borracho (#8)
Might have won the Grade 1 Woody Stephens had Jose Lezcano been able to find an outside path.
Has clearly improved since his connections decided to focus on sprint races.
That bullet 45 4/5-second workout last week suggests he’s maintaining top form.
7-2 on ML