The Saratoga summer meet continues with another week with an entertaining, but back heavy, Wednesday card.
Race 4: #2 Hoffenheim (7/5) has struggled of late and has not won in over a year, but is dangerous as he drops in class. I do think time passed this 7 year old, so I’m going with an exacta of #5 Street Trust (6/1) and #6 Curlin Grey (5/2). If Curlin Grey’s odds improve I would probably box it as well.
Race 5: #8 Financial System (8/5) is an absolute must play, along with the potential pace setter #5 McErin (9/2) who returns to the turf under the training of Todd Pletcher. The big decision will be who to include in the tri box — the coupled entry is dangerous due to #1 Another (5/1). Assuming he doesn’t scratch, that’s probably the move with #3 Willing to Spend (12/1) as the next horse up.
Race 6: #1 Rivendell (9/2) impressed in her debut win last time out but this is a loaded field with multiple horses than can win. #4 Joyous Times (6/1) has three straight seconds and has improved each time out this year so she gets the nod in a trifecta box as well. To round it out let’s go with #7 Kitten by the Sea (4/1) who has 2 wins and and a 3rd by a neck in 3 career races.
Race 7: Another painfully loaded field where 6 of the 8 running can conceivably win. I’m going to start with #6 Coach Villa (8/1) as the value play here, who has ran well last time out in a second place finish. Finishing 3rd in that race was that race’s favorite, #7 Big Thicket (7/2). Big Thicket has actually declined each of his three races, and star jockey Jose Ortiz is replaced by Luis Saez. I’m going to go with my gut and and include him in the trifecta as he does have 4 straight top 3s, and 8 in the last 10 races. I’m going to ignore the two favorites and actually go with #5 Quickflash (4/1) who is 6/6 in finishing top 3 in his career.
Race 8: I’m going to take a shot here with #1 Hara (15/1) as a long shot play. Hara ran extremely well in her first career win (in second career race) two races ago, and then finished 4th in a G3 last time out despite a mediocre speed number. #6 Tobys Heart (1/1) seems out of place in this field, as she ran a 102 speed rating in her only career race (a win) while the second highest in the field is #4 Queen Tifah (12/1) with a 92 in her first career race (followed up last race with a 55). I won’t include Tifa, but I will include #2 Joy’s Rocket (5/2) who has won in both career races. 6,2,1 is my prediction for the finish.
Race 9: This is a monster 16 race field, so there will be scratches. Depending on who is left, #1 Big Al’s Gal (5/1) and #8 Women Not Easy (4/1) are two potential plays, assuming they stay in the race.
Ponies and Bourbon 