TimeformUS Saratoga Horses in Focus for Thursday, July 14, 2022

RACE 4: AFJAN (#7)

Likely favorite #3 Remote appears to be putting things together as the distances increase. He dropped his jockey at the start two back, but quite professionally ran around the track riderless, finishing alongside winner Balthus. He managed to run a proper race with a jockey last time, making an early move off cover to contest the pace into the turn before getting overhauled by a Chad Brown trainee in the stretch. He’s logical, but I just wonder if he’ll get overbet going out for the potent duo of Christophe Clement and Joel Rosario. I’m most interested in a couple of Kentucky shippers as the alternatives. One of those is #8 Good Soldier. He appeared to take a step forward with the switch to grass last time, working out a fantastic trip from post 12. He was staying on well in the late stages, and he’s bred to stretch out. His dam is a half-sister to John’s Call (1 5/8 miles) winner Summer Patriot, as well as 12-furlong Laurel Turf Cup winner St. Alban's Boy. My top pick is #7 Afjan. It’s a little curious that this guy hasn’t yet gotten a chance on turf. Uncle Mo is a solid turf influence and the dam won on turf, finishing second in both the Grade 1 Chandelier on synthetic and the Grade 2 Honeymoon on grass. The best sibling to race is Group 3 turf winner Toro Strike, who primarily ran overseas. Yet Todd Pletcher ran this horse on dirt, and even Mike Maker kept him on dirt after Three Diamonds purchased him for $210k in April. Maker is a solid 15 for 96 (16%, $2.71 ROI) with maidens switching to turf for the first time over the past five years. He looks like one who should relish both the surface switch and added distance. He also could play out as one of the speeds in a race lacking pace.

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RACE 8: CUSTOMER LIST (#6)

This N1X allowance affair has attracted a wide-open field of 3-year-old fillies, including a couple of dangerous Clement runners drawn towards the inside. #3 Myriskyaffair obviously kept good company in her last race, finishing second to Consumer Spending, who just rallied for third last weekend’s Grade 1 Belmont Oaks. She’s yet to win on the turf, but has run well in both of her starts on the surface. She’s perfectly logical, but I’m more intrigued by Clement’s other runner #1 Canisy. She was a bit of a surprise when she won her debut at 15-1 in May, upsetting a couple of highly regarded Brown trainees. She lost her second start at this level last month, but was unlucky, as she got stymied behind a wall of traffic for much of the stretch drive before shaking free too late. She figures to get a better trip from her advantageous rail draw this time and is arguably the one to beat. I’m taking a shot against these two with #6 Customer List. She’s coming off a poor effort in her return at Penn National last month, but she clearly didn’t handle the boggy turf course that day after stumbling at the start. She showed real promise in her lone appearance as a 2-year-old, inhaling an overmatched group to win her debut at Monmouth Park. This daughter of Wootton Bassett still has upside as she makes her second start off the layoff, and I’m encouraged that Brown is running here with four encouraging turf works showing since that return.

RACE 9: ADORA (#3)

There is a ton of early speed signed on in the Schuylerville, which should help the case of #1 Just Cindy. This daughter of Triple Crown winner Justify did not disappoint at 6-5 in her debut. She got a little keen early, but just rolled home on the outside once steered into the clear. The victory was even more impressive due to the fact she closed into a slow pace. Eddie Kenneally is 3 for 7 (43%, $2.40 ROI) with last-out debut winners making their second starts in dirt sprints over five years. She’s the horse to beat, but there are many other promising runners to consider. The Impeccably bred #9 Summer Promise is out of Grade 1 Apple Blossom winner Dream of Summer, making her a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Vexatious and Creative Cause, as well as Belmont Stakes runner-up Destin. Despite that stamina-oriented pedigree, she showed plenty of speed on debut. She’s wheeling back in just 19 days, but it doesn’t seem like that first race should have taken too much out of her. The bigger concern is the sheer volume of early speed in this field, as she may be forced to stalk from the outside. Mark Casse has entered a trio of runners, including impressive Woodbine debut winner #6 Me and My Shadow. Yet I’m most intrigued by his other Woodbine shipper, #3 Adora. This expensive yearling purchase broke sharply from the outside and dueled early before drawing clear impressively in her debut. I liked the way she dealt with a contested pace, which she will face again here. Mark Casse is 4 for 12 (33%, $2.59 ROI) with last-out maiden winners going from synthetic to dirt over five years. This daughter of Into Mischief has quality on the dam’s side of her pedigree, and looks like one who shouldn’t have too much trouble making the transition to dirt.