SHERINI
Trainer: Graham Motion
Last race: Sept. 6, 6th
Finish: 4th by 6
Beyer: 57
Breaking from the rail in her career debut, this half-sister to Preakness and Met Mile winner Shackleford was away awkwardly after being bumped at the start, rallied wide into the stretch, and passed several rivals in a promising effort.

I love one horse in particular on Monday’s Labor Day card at Del Mar: TIRPITZ (7) in race 3. He is returning to a turf sprint after showing speed and fading when stretched out to two turns in his only other start this meet.

So my strategy for betting the race is to play him to win and to single him in the middle leg of a pick three, while going three to five horses deep in the other legs with the aim of catching a price and knocking out some bettors.

Normally, I would be previewing the Grade 1 Hopeful instead of the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch, the two features on closing day at Saratoga, but I don’t think I have a single helpful thing to say about the year’s first Grade 1 for 2-year-olds. 

Sept. 5

Saratoga

Saranac (race 8)

Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Monday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.

DRF Bets GamePlan

Consistent with our methodology throughout the Saratoga meeting, we will construct personal betting lines for our top three or four contenders in each race, and focus solely on horses that are going off at odds higher than our line. Last Monday’s highlight came when Proven Commodity went to the post as a significant overlay and recorded a wire-to-wire victory, paying $17.40.

Which horse(s) will the crowd underestimate on getaway day?

Race 1 – Generous Kitten (3-1); Coordinate (3-1); Burndines (5-1); Captain Moss (6-1)

Monday is closing day of the Del Mar summer meet. Everyone knows what that means – almost time for Los Alamitos!

The Los Alamitos fall meet begins Thursday for a 10-day season leading to Santa Anita, which opens Saturday, Sept. 26. While looking forward to five Grade 1’s on opening day at Santa Anita, and five stakes during the Los Alamitos meet, time for one last shot at Del Mar.

If I were playing the pick six today at Saratoga, one of the strongest potential singles in the sequence would be Cavorting, the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the featured Grade 2 Prioress. She may actually be an overlay at that price.

Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Sunday's races, including GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.

 GamePlan

Closer looks for Del Mar, Golden Gate, Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Presque Isle Downs, Saratoga, and Woodbine, and spot plays and live longshots for Arlington Park, Del Mar, and Saratoga. Picks are chronologically listed, so you can build and plan your wagering day.

Getaway day is often an opportune time to cash in on non-favorites. The past two closing day cards at Saratoga have produced seven winners that went off at odds between 5-1 and 38-1. With that in mind, I’m going to try and start a pick three with horses that figure to go off at double-digit odds.