BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,071.50

Family day at the track Friday was awesome. I came to the track with my dad as a kid, fell in love with the sport from a young age, and now get to help my two nieces do the same thing. I’m incredibly tired from a long day of being the fun uncle, but that’s a pretty great gig.

It was also very cool to spend some time with so many people I’ve gotten a chance to get to know online over the years. Matt DeSantis had me on as part of a NYRA Bets video, which was a lot of fun (even though that aged like spoiled milk because General Jim ran terribly!), and my dad remarked that the stream of visitors was akin to the Pope having an audience. I always get a kick out of that.

If I’ve seen you, know that I think you’re awesome. If I haven’t, I’ve got two days left!

FRIDAY’S RESULTS: My key horse in the seventh was nowhere. I dropped $40.

SATURDAY’S PLAY: I’m going to wait until the finale, where I think #10 RHEAUME is very live at a bit of a price. I’ll have a $26 win bet on that one, and I’ll put her and #1 SPINNING COLORS on top of $3 exactas that use those two, #2 WATERVILLE, #4 STELLA MARS, and #7 LATEST EDITION underneath.

TOTAL WAGERED: $50.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Friday: 4-for-11
Meet: 33-for-115

Best Bet: Ocean Mermaid, Race 2
Longshot: Mim, Race 6

R1

Tall Paul
Quiet Wisdom
Apollo Code

#5 TALL PAUL (8/5): It’s not often Bob Baffert ships east for something other than a stakes race, but he’s got a promising NY-bred that fits this condition, so here we go. He debuted running third at Del Mar, and any sort of a step forward will make him tough to beat; #8 QUIET WISDOM (4-1): Seems the most logical of the first-time starters. The Todd Pletcher trainee draws a cushy outside post, comes in off of a bullet drill downstate, and has every right to be a runner; #3 APOLLO CODE (4-1): Was second beaten a neck in his unveiling at Monmouth Park. He adds blinkers for this one and has every right to improve at second asking (though he probably has to in what seems like a loaded field for the level).

R2

Ocean Mermaid
Three Diamonds entry
Glacial Power

#7 OCEAN MERMAID (8/5): Debuted running second in a $100,000 stakes race at Gulfstream, one that had a trip to Royal Ascot on the line. That day’s winner came right back to win again, and this one was nearly a half-dozen lengths clear of the third-place finisher; THREE DIAMONDS ENTRY (5-1): I prefer #1A BETTER LUCK, who’s bred up and down for turf. This barn has already won several times at this stand, and the last few workouts from the gate seem decent enough; #8 GLACIAL POWER (10-1): Rallied to be fourth in his debut despite losing all chance at the break that day. I like it when a first-time starter shows an ability to make up ground late. He did that, and I wouldn’t ignore him in your vertical exotics wagers.

R3

Sa Foradada
Mursal
Freudian

#2 SA FORADADA (3-1): Has run second five times in a row, but was flattered when the last-out winner came right back to win again. She didn’t have the easiest of trips that afternoon and might benefit from stretching back out to a one-mile trip; #6 MURSAL (4-1): Completes a formidable 1-2 punch for Rick Dutrow and was third in the race my top pick exits. She’ll likely be up close early and might sit an ideal stalking trip just behind what figures to be a solid pace; #3 FREUDIAN (5/2): Got pretty good at Aqueduct earlier this year, where she won two in a row before a pair of failed turf experiments. Her last-out second at Monmouth was fine, but I think this field might be a bit tougher, and the morning line price hits me as an underlay.

R4

One Giant Leap
Kupp
Dangerous Ride

#6 ONE GIANT LEAP (2-1): Has won two in a row and comes in off of a freshening for Wesley Ward. He’s been gelded since his most recent effort, which was a sharp victory against $50,000 claimers at Keeneland, and this field might be a bit weaker; #5 KUPP (4-1): Has won two in a row and ships in for Ron Moquett to run in this spot. The two races he exits came back pretty fast on figures, and I like that he sat back a bit last time out and showed some versatility; #1 DANGEROUS RIDE (6-1): Has come up against a bunch of really strong fields in the past and drops to the weakest level he’s ever run at. He’s got some early speed and could be the one they have to catch turning for home.

R5

Deterministic
Informed Patriot
Eliminate

#5 DETERMINISTIC (5-1): Hammered for $625,000 at Keeneland last year and sports a work tab with several very strong drills over the Oklahoma training track. Debuting going seven furlongs isn’t an easy ask, but only one of these horses has experience and he’s bred to want this trip; #8 INFORMED PATRIOT (6-1): Sports a few strong five-furlong workouts and has the Asmussen work tab I love to see, with a strong two-back work followed by a maintenance move. The outside draw should be a plus, and we might get a bit of a price here, too; #1 ELIMINATE (9/5): Has every right to be a runner and comes in off of a series of strong drills for Todd Pletcher. My hesitation is that none of those workouts came at longer than four furlongs, and the rail draw isn’t ideal. Still, he’s absolutely a contender, even if my reservations mean I won’t take him on top at a short price.

R6

Richies Princess
Mim
Nolita

#11 RICHIES PRINCESS (7/2): Debuts here for Larry Rivelli, who doesn’t run many on this circuit but has a NY-bred that fits the condition. The lone local drill was a lights-out move on August 5th, and this seems like a pretty soft spot for the level; #9 MIM (8-1): Gets Lasix for the first time and had the second-fastest work behind my top pick on that morning last week. She goes third off the bench here and could be sitting on a bigger effort at a square price; #2 NOLITA (5-1): Debuted by rallying to finish third in the mud at Belmont and could improve off of that effort. The rail draw is a concern given how she started that day, but she’s got a chance to graduate at second asking with a smooth trip.

R7

Obrigada (MTO)
Love Reigns
Stone Silent

#8 LOVE REIGNS (5/2): Has a record that looks far better if you draw a line through her clunker on Breeders’ Cup Day last year. She doesn’t run a whole lot, but on her best day, she’s an extremely talented filly, and she looms large in the Galway; #9 STONE SILENT (9/2): Seems like the main speed in a rare turf sprint that’s otherwise pretty light on it. Her last-out score in Indiana was very sharp, and her game plan seems pretty straightforward; #4 LOVE APPEALS (6-1): Had a genuine excuse last time out, when she blew the break against several of these at Monmouth and still rallied to finish third by just a neck. Her early-2023 races were sharp, and she’s a contender if the race sets up for a closer.

R8

Rhyme Schemes
Haul
Edified

#6 RHYME SCHEMES (4/5): Is an obvious favorite given his impressive last-out score at Ellis Park, where he earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. If he can run back to that performance, he’s going to be very tough to beat in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special; #4 HAUL (3-1): Stalked and pounced to win his debut last month at Belmont and makes a logical step up into stakes company. Pletcher and Ortiz must be respected, and the recent local works look pretty sharp; #5 EDIFIED (7/2): Won at first asking going six furlongs, which isn’t usually something offspring of Tapit are ready to do. Everything says he’ll get better with more distance and experience, so perhaps improvement is in the cards here.

R9

Casa Creed
Emmanuel
Annapolis

#6 CASA CREED (7/5): Has probably turned into the top turf horse on the East Coast and is attempting to win the Grade 1 Fourstardave for the second year in a row. He absolutely loves this turf course, comes in off of a win in the Grade 3 Kelso, and seems ready to put forth another strong effort; #1 EMMANUEL (3-1): Rallied from last to first to win the Grade 3 Poker downstate and comes back to two turns here. He’s won three graded stakes this year and has more tactical speed than he showed last time out; #4 ANNAPOLIS (8/5): May be the shorter-priced Pletcher, but I’ve got some doubts. His second-place finish behind my top pick wasn’t bad, but he’s a grinding type that likes very firm going. That’s probably not the turf course or setup he’ll get on Saturday afternoon.

R10

Ice Road
Cicciobello
Forrest City

Being honest? Other than thinking #10 ICE ROAD (8-1) may get a favorable setup as a closer in a race full of speed, I’ve got no strong lean here. If you’re playing, go as deep as you can.

R11

Charge Nurse (MTO)
Rheaume
Spinning Colors

#10 RHEAUME (6-1): Won first time out and has since mostly been going marathon distances. I think this distance might suit him, and I’m willing to give him one more shot. The outside draw on the inner turf isn’t ideal, but this seems like a soft spot for the level and we might get the morning line price; #1 SPINNING COLORS (8-1): Graduated last time out, tries winners for the first time, and probably doesn’t have to be too much to make it two in a row. She’s been gradually stretched out in distance, and it’s possible she’s now doing what she wants to do; #4 STELLA MARS (5-1): Has won two in a row after a long drought and popped at a price last month downstate. I’m not quite sure two turns is what she really wants, but it’s also possible she’s in career-best form and is sitting on another big effort.