Saratoga Selections (Races 1-5)
July 24, 2008
Mushka makes her long awaited return to the track Friday at Saratoga.
Race 1- By Proxy has performed well in his two career starts. The cutback to 6 furlongs should be to his liking. I expect him to improve in his third career start. Look for this son of Tiznow to take the cake at 7/2. I’ll throw At Attention and Charging Hero in my exotics.
$1 Trifecta (2/1,7/1,3,5,7)
$2 Daily Double (2/1,6)
$2 Pick 3 2/1,6/1,3)
Race 2- I really love these 2-year-old maiden races! Todd Pletcher has a coupled entry in this race that looks very appealing, even at 2-1. Join The Dance, has two races under his belt, and his in last race he earned a monstrous ESF of 104. He was reeled in on the lead last time out, but I’m hoping he can go from flag fall to that’s all. His main competition will be the Asmussen and Bridgmahon combo on Unbridle’s Dream. Although heavily bet in his debut race, he sped to the lead and faded. I would stay away from the exotics in this race and place a straight win wager on the coupled entry of Join The Dance, and Forest Tango.
WIN on #1
$1 Pick 4 (1/1,3/1,4,6,10/2,6,12)
Race 3- This optional claimer brings about the return of the highly regarded Mushka. This filly was sidelined after a Grade 2 victory as a 2-year-old. She wont be my pick in this race. I’m going to go with One Carolina instead. I don’t think she will get much company up front, and she has been bulletproof in her two career starts. She has been tabbed at 3-1. My main reason for going against Mushka is the layoff. Many horses run well as two-year-olds only to fade away when they get older. I’m not saying this will be the case with her, but I want to see her race once as a three-year-old before I make up my mind.
$2 Exacta (1,3/1,3,4)
$1 Trifecta (1,3/1,3,4/1,3,4,6)
Race 4- While I am a bit concerned about his post position (10), I will go with Persian at 4-1. He has improved with every start, and will get an extra ½ furlong to get the job done today. Timothy Ritvo has two first time starters coupled as a single entry. Both have flashed some nice gate works and could get there at 8-1. The favorite is the Dutrow trainee Grimaldi. He has only a single race, and was 4 lengths behind my top choice Persian while finishing fourth.
$1 Exacta (1,6,10/1,4,6,10)
$1 Trifecta (10/1,4,6/1,3,4,6,7,8,9)
Race 5- Wow, this is such a large field that I don’t know where to begin. My top selection will be the Graham Motion trained Frenchman’s Cove. He is dropping into the claiming ranks for the first time, and has competed valiantly against allowance foes. Cross The Atlantic looks tough with Ramon Dominguez in the irons. His last race can be discarded due to the lack of pace and the fact that he was checked more than once. He fits well with this group at 10-1.
$1 Exacta (2,12/,2,6,9,12)
$1 Trifecta (2,12/2,6,9,12/1,2,6,9,12)