Decent start to the racing week yesterday with a few nice prices underneath and a great 8/1 winner in the 7th. Fast and firm again today, the weather gods are now being nice to Saratoga. The Conductor needs the pony gods to do the same. Let’s Ride.
Race 1: 5 ½ Furlongs. (Turf) Clm 30000n2L
#4 El Dulce (8/5) – Taking a big class drop, this colt is wickedly quick early. The Conductor won’t try to beat him with his early pace edge.
Race 2: 1 1/8 Mile. MC 40000
#1 Burn and Turn (10/1) – The Conductor will get a little crazy and play the Zito entry. This 1st time gelding is lightly raced, faced tough fields in Oaklawn and Keeneland and drops to the claiming ranks today. He gets a weight break with the bug aboard, who hit with a bomb for Zito earlier in the meet.
Race 3: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Alw 60000n1x
#3 Halstaat (15/1) – The allowance he’s exiting at Belmont came back very fast. The Conductor sees this race as wide open and will try to sneak him into the exacta at a bomb.
Race 4: 5 ½ Furlongs. (Turf) S.Mdn 78k
#4 Very Replaceable (15/1) – In a wide-open race, this colt is drawn well, posting solid works and bred for the grass. Shipping up from Finger lakes, trainer Anthony Ferraro’s runners have been live at Saratoga with a 2nd and 3rd in two starts.
Race 5: 1 1/8 Mile. OC 62500n2x
*Never a Doubt Friday Night Bottle Service Lock of the Day #2 Spinoff (2/1) – They tried the turf last time and he didn’t care for it. Getting back to the dirt and adding blinkers today, he’s had tough trips in his last few and hasn’t faced this weak of competition. His Louisiana Derby effort makes him the clear one to beat.
Race 6: 5 ½ Furlongs. (Turf) F.Mdn 90k
#5 Our Little Jewel (15/1) – Rosario almost never rides for Trombetta and when he does, they’re usually live. Trombetta is also 10% with a +$0.70 ROI debuting turf runners this year.
Race 7: 7 Furlongs. Clm 25000
*Gullet Shot of the Day #2 Hollywood Critic (10/1) – 1st off the claim for trainer Joe Sharp, this gelding is taking a big class drop and cutting back to a sprint after setting the pace going longer. This is the distance he’s best at with 3 win in 5 starts and never missing the board.
Race 8: 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) F.OC 62500n2x
#2 Malakeh (2/1) – She was rank early and still closed well into a moderate pace last start. With Castellano back aboard, the Conductor sees her getting the job done.
Race 9: 6 Furlongs. Tale of the Cat Stakes 100k
#2 Bellybegs Captain (5/2) – Dropping out of G2 company where he ran a solid 3rd, the Conductor sees him as the one to beat.
Race 10: 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) F.OC 80000n1x
#1 Foolish Living (7/2), #8 Dancing Vega (3/1) – The Conductor will use the two Chad Brown runners to end all of his horizontal wagers. If he’s alive in the last, he’s guaranteed victory.
