The James Marvin Stakes has drawn a Grade 2 quality field. Riley Tucker is the 2-1 ML favorite after a runner up finish behind Munnings in the Grade 2 Tom Fool Handicap. He is the likely pacesetter, but will catch pressure from Finallymadeit who finished a close fourth last out in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap. Pyro will be making his first start for Godolphin Stable. The son of Pulpit won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby last year.

There looks to be plenty of pace, so my top pick will be the midpack runner, Cassoulet at 15-1. His most recent effort was a second place finish behind Kodiak Kowboy in the Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap. The son of Distorted Humor earned a career best BRIS figure of 106 for that race. The four-year-old is lightly raced with just thirteen starts. He can only get better. Julien Leparoux fits his running style perfectly.I’m also giving a big look to UAE Derby winner Honour Devil.

The Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes drew a deep and contentious field. These two-year-old fillies are all fast, but I think Wesley Ward’s Aegean could be the fastest of them all at 6-1. The daughter of Northern Afleet beat the boys when she won the Grade 3 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes. Her last start was a 9th place finish at Royal Ascot against a field of 22 horses. I’m going to throw that start out and hope she gets back to business in this one. Cowgirl Mally is also an interesting option. She wonfirst out at Belmont, and will have Ramon Dominguez in the irons for this race. Who do you like in the opening day stakes at Saratoga? Leave a comment and let me know!

After regaining her swagger with an 11 length win in the Grade 3 Obeah Stakes, Unbridled Belle will seek to win the $1,000,000 Delaware Handicap, a race that she took in 2007. The six-year-old mare earned a massive 110 BRIS figure for her win last out. She finished third in the Deleware Handicap last year and it looked as if she had lost a step or two until her last outing.

Unbridled Belle is a daughter of Broken Vow. She is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Richard “The Mig” Migliore. She should benefit from a dawdling pace. The only horse who could pressure her on the front looks to be Swift Temper, a multiple Grade 3 winner. Second in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis last out, the Dale Romans trained Swift Temper has never been ten furlongs. Alan Garcia will be in the irons. The last time he piloted her, the filly ran a career best while finishing second to One Caroline in the Grade 3 Sabin Stakes.

Livin Lovin appears to have some tactical speed, but Ramon Dominguez would be wise to stay a few lengths away from the early action. The three-year-old daughter of Birdstone was fourth in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes last out. That race was her first start since winning the Grade 3 Tempted Stakes in November. She was widening in that victory and her pedigree tells me that she will love the ten furlongs distance. She has been working up a storm and should be ready for a career best effort.

Acoma has been on the board in 10 of her 11 starts and has won 7 times. She will need a good pace to close into, and if things are too slow up front she wont fire. She proved this with a dismal third place finish in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom two races back. The David Carroll trainee won a Grade 3 on the turf last out and looks to be back in peak condition.

Martin Wolfson has a very interesting entry in Icon Project. She romped home by 13 1/2 lengths under Jose Valdivia Jr. in the Grade 3 New York Stakes which was taken off the turf in her last trip to the track. The daughter of Empire Maker beat the highly regarded Criticism in that win. She has never raced over a fast dirt track and will be a true “X” factor.

The Delaware Handicap has a contentious and even field but I will go with Livin Lovin as my top selection. She should be rounding into a peak effort and I expect to get a square price on her. My second choice would be Icon Project. She could be any kind and may win with ease if she takes to the fast dirt track. If Unbridled Belle goes slow early nobody is going to beat her, but I’m banking on Swift Temper keeping her in check. Who do you like? Leave a comment and let me know.

I was singing his praises after winning the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap, and I’m still thrilled with trainer Mike Mitchell’s three-year-old colt Grazen. I believe he is the best three-year-old in training minus filly phenom Rachel Alexandra. I could be wrong, but the son of Benchmark has really impressed me with his front running victories.

I’m always one to second guess whether or not a horse is good, but I’m already sold on this colt. He has the services of who I believe to be the best jockey in America, Rafael Bejarano, and he can only get better from here on out. I love his pedigree. His sire, Benchmark, was a Grade 2 winner at 9 furlongs, and his mare was stakes placed. Grazen’s dam sire, Rubiano, was a champion sprinter.

The Swaps couldn’t set up any better than it does for Grazen. He looks to be the only speed in the race. As far as competition goes, his biggest threat is a horse that he already beat named Misremembered. The Baffert trainee is very similar to Grazen, but not quite as good. Misremembered’s pedigree indicates he will enjoy the extra ground. The chestnut ridgling son of Candy Ride worked 6 furlongs in 1:13 on July 12. That work was the fastest of 17 moves.

Grade 2 Lexington Stakes winner Advice will be making his first start since the Grade 2 Jefferson Cup in this race. Conservative, runnerup in the Lexington, will also be making the trip to California. Neither will pose a threat to my top selection. If I get am able to get odds of atleast 6/5, I will be making a large win wager on Grazen. Who do you like in the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes? Voice your opinion by leaving a comment below!

I’ve seen a horse win a race which he took in the previous year more than one time. It has been one year since Mast Track took the Hollywood Gold Cup. Since then he has raced just 5 times and has yet to win another race. His ML odds are set at 20-1. How quickly the public forgets.

Mast Track faded last out in the Chartlestown Classic after stalking one length from the pace. I can forgive that effort because of the funky setup of that track.  Prior to that he finished sixth on the turf at Santa Anita. I can also forgive that one because it was his first race in over four months. Trainer Robert Frankel worked the son of Mizzen Mast in :34 3/5 on Wednesday. That move checked in first of twenty four. I think he is set to round back into form. The price is certainly right at 20-1. Frankel has been ill lately, and I’m sure this winning this race (again) would lift his spirits. David Flores will ride.

Parading is the favorite for trainer Claude McGaughey and Phipps Stable. He trounced a field of washed up stakes horses at Keeneland in the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes two races back. He returned from that effort with a win on the turf. I’ve never been a fan of this one. I think he is a pretender and will suck up a lot of money. If I am wrong it wont be the first time, but I don’t like his chances.

Life Is Sweet looks good for jockey Garrett Gomez and trainer John Sherrifs. She has mastered everyone in her gender except for stablemate Zenyatta.  If the pace heats up, she would be one of the primary beneficiaries. I’ll be wagering across the board on Mast Track. Who do you like? Leave a comment and let me know.

Grade I Princess Rooney Stakes

Its hard to knock Indian Blessing in this spot. She is one of the best female sprinters we have seen in years, and her bounce last out can be attributed to her trip to Dubai. I expect the daughter of Indian Charlie to be ready to roll at 5/2. This is one of the most generous prices we have seen in her career. That is a tribute to her greatness. Dubai Majesty is also an interesting filly. She finished third behind Informed Decision two races ago in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff. She returned from that race with a victory in the Winning Colors. She looks ready to roll for jockey James Theriot.

UPDATE: I wrote this a few days ago, and Indian Blessing has been scratched. Disregard the above concerning her.

Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap

Defending champ Benny The Bull is obviously the horse to beat here. The pace situation sets up well for him, and he has a big class edge. I’m going to take a shot and hope he isn’t up to it in this race. My top selection is Hows Your Halo. He scored at 47-1 in a Grade 2 at Gulfstream in February. I expect him to sit just behind the pacesetters. Hopefully he can pounce early and hold off the chalk.

Grade 3 Azalea Stakes

I’ll take Underground at 5-2. Bob Baffert doesn’t ship from CA to FL to play around. His filly is a daughter of Indian Charlie. She won her debut with a fair bit of ease. Michael Baze will be up in place of his cousin Tyler Baze. I’m also giving a big look to Kays and Jays and First Passage.

Grade 2 Carry Back Stakes

There looks to be an excess of pace in this one, so I’ll go with Not For Silver. The daughter of Not For Love has won 3 of her 6 starts and has only finished worse than second on one occasion. Trainer Michael Trombetta does well with jockey Julian Pimentel. Truest Legend looked like his daddy (Songandaprayer) when he went wire to wire to break his maiden two races back. He has proved he can set a grueling pace and hold on, so he could be a viable option here.

PICK 4 (Calder Races 7-10)

AZALEA: 2,7,9

CARRY BACK: 1,3,5

PRINCESS ROONEY: 8,9

SMILE SPRINT: 2,4

If you want to cut the ticket price down, try singling Indian Blessing in the Princess Rooney. Good luck!