BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,058.25

Let’s Go Big Blue deserved to come down in Thursday’s Rick Violette Stakes. He came out and herded the runner-up several paths before edging that one by a head at the wire. I could’ve used Let’s Go Big Blue, and I have no problem saying that the DQ was a good one.

I think the majority of horseplayers feel that way. The problem is, New York stewards have let contact like this go in the past. I’d argue the incident that caused Jose Ortiz to be handed a three-day suspension was just as egregious as this matter was, and Jose’s horse inexplicably wasn’t taken down.

I’m not an Ortiz conspiracist. Having said that, there’s very little consistency coming from the stewards this meet, and that’s all we as horse racing fans want from officials. Enforce the rules consistently so that we, as bettors, have a good feeling of what’s about to happen during an inquiry or an objection. Can we honestly say that’s been happening on the NYRA circuit?

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: I scratched out of half of my action when the sixth was moved off the turf. The other half was blown up when Fatima’s Blessing never fired. I dropped $25.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: On a card without much else to really be excited about, I like #3 POWERFULLY BUILT a fair bit in the ninth. I’ll have a $30 win bet on that one, and I hope we get the 5-1 morning line price.

One note before moving on: Most of my picks and analysis below assume turf races are moved to the main track. The weather forecast looks awful, and I just hope whatever rain Saratoga gets doesn’t endanger grass races carded for the weekend.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Thursday: 1-for-10
Meet: 43-for-155

Best Bet: Powerfully Built, Race 9
Longshot: Western Lane, Race 3

R1

Corey and Quinn
White Chocolate
Spun Special

#3 COREY AND QUINN (7/2): Debuts for Brad Cox and sports a series of strong works ahead of her unveiling. This daughter of Uncle Mo hammered for $250,000 at auction and has every right to be a runner; #8 WHITE CHOCOLATE (3-1): Ran third in her debut at Fair Grounds back in December but hasn’t been seen since. A recent series of local drills looks encouraging, though, and the outside draw is a plus; #2 SPUN SPECIAL (5-1): Comes back to dirt after a few tries on the grass and is bred to handle the off track she may get here. She’s got plenty of speed and could be the one they have to run down.

R2

T Max
Accel Rose
Simple Sugar

#6 T MAX (even): Takes a massive class drop, and anything close to her late-2022 form would likely thump this bunch. Linda Rice’s barn is firing on all cylinders at this stand, and she’s a logical favorite; #4 ACCEL ROSE (6-1): Won going a bit longer last time out at Monmouth, so we know this distance won’t be what gets her beat. Her running style has some flexibility to it, and Dylan Davis should have a few options with her depending on the break; #7 SIMPLE SUGAR (8-1): Moves up on an off track and won over one of them back in January at Aqueduct. A mile may be more ground than she wants, but she’s got enough early speed to be a factor from the jump.

R3

Western Lane
Miss San Gabriel
Brown entry

#7 WESTERN LANE (8-1): Has a puncher’s chance on turf but looms large if they move it to the main track. Her lone win to date was over a good dirt track at Aqueduct, and I like that she knows how to pass others late; #4 MISS SAN GABRIEL (2-1): Is probably the most likely winner on turf, and I kept her in the mix for that reason. She’s been impressive in her last two starts, which were both wire-to-wire scores; BROWN ENTRY (5-1): I prefer #1 FROM HELLO, who won first time out on the dirt. She had a genuine excuse last time out given the troubled trip, and she’s got every right to move forward in this spot.

R4

Stunningly
Rhiannon
Revolving Credit

#4 STUNNINGLY (2-1): Has run second twice since coming back to New York and was flattered a bit when Portage came back to run reasonably well against winners. She ran well two back going a mile, so I don’t think this distance will be an issue; #6 RHIANNON (9/2): Debuts going a tricky distance, which is never easy, but the work tab looks very sharp and she’s bred in the purple. Irad Ortiz rides for Chad Brown, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she’s well-meant; #8 REVOLVING CREDIT (7/2): Was third in her debut and showed a bit of late interest that day. Her most recent five-furlong drill wasn’t bad, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if she improved enough to be a factor here.

R5

Paddington (MTO)
Crupi (MTO)
Oglethorpe

#11 PADDINGTON (8/5): Has jogged in each of his last two starts and is strictly the one to beat if this race comes off the turf. He hasn’t been headed in either of his last two starts, and I think he’ll be very tough to catch; #10 CRUPI (4-1): Broke through to graduate last time out and has danced some big dances. His running lines include some very talented horses, and perhaps the lightbulb has finally gone on; #8 OGLETHORPE (6-1): Was a distant second in an off-the-turf race last time out, but attracts Luis Saez, who rode him to victory three starts ago at Keeneland. He’s got some early speed and could sit an ideal stalking trip.

R6

Last Drink (MTO)
Dancing Mischief
Frozen Four

I’m going to be honest: This race is impossible. #12 LAST DRINK is the lone MTO entry, and that’s a large reason why I picked him on top. If this race comes off the grass and you insist on playing it, go as deep as you can.

R7

Speed Bias
Red Run
Costa Terra

#4 SPEED BIAS (2-1): Hasn’t won in a while, but has also run up against some tough customers. He was a hard-luck second in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special three starts ago, and he could get very comfortable up front given the likely race shape; #2 RED RUN (5/2): Is another looking to snap a long drought, but this spot represents some class relief. He was third in the Grade 2 Brooklyn two back, so we know he can handle a distance of ground; #5 COSTA TERRA (9/5): Has run well in a pair of off-the-turf events this meet, and both of those races came going a bit longer than this. This does seem like a significant step up in class, though, as a few of these runners are stakes-caliber horses.

R8

No Nay Mets
Antonio of Venice (MTO)
Fandom

#7 NO NAY METS (7/5): Has won two stakes races already this season and looms large in the Skidmore, assuming he runs. His lone misfire came at Royal Ascot, and I have no problem drawing a line through that clunker; #13 ANTONIO OF VENICE (10-1): Earned his diploma earlier this summer and seems like he has a big shot in the event this is moved off the turf. Rudy Rodriguez’s barn is starting to heat up, and the outside draw is a big plus; #9 FANDOM (5-1): Romped in his debut before misfiring at Ascot. However, his most recent drill is a very good one, John Velazquez sees fit to ride back for Wesley Ward, and I think there’s plenty to like.

R9

Powerfully Built
Prisoner
Thinkaboutit

#3 POWERFULLY BUILT (5-1): Ran a clunker last time out, and that effort was poor enough to where I have no problem drawing a line through it. Throw out that performance, and you’ve got a very sharp sprinter that should have every chance to run a big one; #2 PRISONER (7/2): Has found his form as a 5-year-old and has won four of six starts this season. Two of those wins were at Monmouth Park, which is a much different surface, but he’s absolutely a contender if his form travels north with him; #6 THINKABOUTIT (9/2): Rallied to win his local debut last time out despite enduring some trouble. In doing so, he beat a few rivals that also show up in this spot, and the last-out drill is pretty encouraging.

R10

Rally Squirrel
Cut the Cord (MTO)
Born Dancer

#1 RALLY SQUIRREL (5/2): Isn’t without a chance on turf but is strictly the one to beat on dirt judging by his two dirt tries this season. He romped by 10 lengths last time at Ellis Park, and while this is a higher-level group, Tom Amoss’s barn is going very well right now; #11 CUT THE CORD (4-1): Was second behind a nice horse in Dust Devil last time out and is a major contender if they switch surfaces. He’s got plenty of tactical speed, but he also doesn’t necessarily need the lead in order to run well; #7 BORN DANCER (8-1): Merits a long look at a price if they keep this on the grass. He graduated last time out and found more after setting reasonable fractions that day, and his lone local start saw him run third behind Dakota Gold in a stakes race.