Where do we start? How about a very good lesson in “How to Fry Your Mount,” which was exactly what happened with our 2-year-old Pick last week as Beyond Ambition blew the doors off the gate and flew to a speed fueled lead, only to stop on a dime at the eighth pole to finish fourth. Meanwhile, our “gimmick play,” and race favorite Cause We Are Loyal, saved the day at $5.40.

Race 1:

Flash Trading (#2)
Was compromised by a moderate pace last time in a race that was won on the front end.
Has faced better fields in most of his recent starts.
Won at this distance over this racetrack last season.
15-1 on ML
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This is the first Saturday of Saratoga and Del Mar, meets that are obviously very good for the soul. But from a betting perspective, Saturday’s stakes offerings at these two tracks aren’t that special.

Among serious horseplayers, takeout, or the amount of money taken out of every bet, is a four-letter word. But how big a concern is it for the average player? Given its economic impact on anyone’s winnings, it should be high on the list of factors to consider for anyone making a wager.

AMI’S EXCHANGE
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Last race: July 16, 10th
Finish: Sixth by 5 3/4
Beyer: 64
After getting away slowly, he was rank on the backstretch and then raced in traffic before mounting a mild wide bid in his first turf start in a1 1/16-mile maiden special.

Each week, TimeformUS Chief Figure Maker Craig Milkowski takes a look back at the weekend’s graded stakes and releases the TimeformUS Speed Figures for these races.

Delaware

Grade 1 Delaware Handicap

1/2    133

1m    122

Fin    121

Top 3: Songbird 121, Martini Glass 120, Line of Best Fit 117

Note: Songbird improved from 116 in 2017 debut but did not look impressive visually; track has been on slow side all year

July 15

Belmont | Race 10 | Post Time 6:22 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs

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Race 2:

One Penny Piece (#6)
Was compromised by a very slow pace last time.
Has run well at this seven-furlong distance in the past.
Trainer Robertino Diodoro gets a 99 Trainer Rating second off the claim.
12-1 on ML
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Paul Lally

R1: 7-3-2-11

R2: 9-6-3-1

R3: 1-6-5-12

R4: 7-11-2-12

R5: 13-8-5-12

R6: 1-11-8-4

R7: 6-8-10-1

R8: 3-4-6-1

R9: 7-3-2-6

R10: 5-7-1-12

R11: 7-2-11-6

Best Bet: R7 N6 Winwin Ruby

Longshot: R10 N5 Fifty Fifty

Best Play: R10 QQP 1-5-7

Brett Davis

R1: 2-7-10-1

R2: 4-2-5-6

R3: 1-5-10-6

R4: 5-7-12-10

R5: 8-11-12-4

R6: 1-11-10-2

R7: 6-8-3-2

R8: 4-6-3-5

R9: 7-11-6-14

R10: 12-7-1-10

R11: 7-2-4-3