BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,034.25

Wednesday’s card begins Travers week at Saratoga. With it comes logical speculation, given that the 3-year-old male picture is about as defined as a kaleidoscope at this point. The winners of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont are set to square off, which makes for a fun race.

If you think that makes for an opportunity for a horse to separate itself from the rest of the division, though, remember something. The Travers has housed the winners of those three races three times…and NONE of those races were won by any of those horses. This most recently happened in 2017, when West Coast beat Always Dreaming, Cloud Computing, and Tapwrit.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: I went against what I thought was a beatable favorite in the fifth. In that sense, I was right. However, that horse ran second and busted up $24 of exacta tickets. As losses go, I can live with that one.

WEDNESDAY’S PLAY: After the trip he had last time out, I need to bet #8 B D SAINTS in the sixth. I’ll have a $20 win bet on that one, and I’ll play $5 doubles singling him that finish with #4 PIONEERING SPIRIT and #8 SY DOG in the seventh (the John’s Call).

TOTAL WAGERED: $30.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Sunday: 4-for-10
Meet: 58-for-186

Best Bet: B D Saints, Race 6
Longshot: Cherokee Cottage, Race 10

R1

McTigue
L’Imperator
Jimmy P

#9 MCTIGUE (7/2): Romped in a minor stakes race over fences here a few weeks ago and looms a logical favorite in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard. This well-traveled gelding tried world-class company at Cheltenham earlier this year, and a repeat of the last-out effort gives him a big chance; #1 L’IMPERATOR (9/2): Did plenty of running during his flat career, when he won multiple stakes races, and he may be just as good over fences. He thumped a weaker group here earlier this summer, and he should get plenty of pace to chase; #2 JIMMY P (6-1): Had no trouble with handicap-level foes last time out, when he jogged by more than 10 lengths. That came at a longer distance, so we know stamina shouldn’t be an issue, and he’s another that should be going the right way late.

R2

Bustin Shout
Perfect Munnings
Unflappable Max

#3 BUSTIN SHOUT (5/2): Capitalized on a great trip last time out, when he scored by three lengths on a drop in class. He goes back to NY-bred company for this one, so while it’s for a higher claiming price, this is actually probably a weaker group; #4 PERFECT MUNNINGS (even): Is a major contender if he’s ready to run off of an eight-month break. He’s a stakes-winner that’s run up against some strong horses in the past, which begs the question, why is he in for a $25,000 tag?; #7 UNFLAPPABLE MAX (6-1): Flopped last time out going two turns at Finger Lakes, but ran very well to win two back going much shorter. I think he’s a better one-turn horse. That’s the route he gets, and he attracts Irad Ortiz, Jr., when that rider probably had several options.

R3

Jacobson entry
Bring Me a Check
Slipstream

JACOBSON ENTRY (5-1): I prefer #1 MID DAY IMAGE, who tired going two turns in the Lure last time out. That was over a yielding turf course he probably hated, and his turf sprints earlier in the year were very solid; #6 BRING ME A CHECK (9/2): Was a head away from winning his third start in a row in his local debut. He has tactical speed, but doesn’t necessarily need the lead in order to run well, which gives Tyler Gaffalione some options; #5 SLIPSTREAM (8-1): Is one of two trained by Christophe Clement and should be running well late beneath Joel Rosario. He hasn’t won in quite a while, but he got no pace to chase last time out and salvaged a good third.

R4

Slapintheface
Mission Hill
Tony O

#5 SLAPINTHEFACE (5/2): Had zero pace to chase last time out at Belmont, but he still managed to rally to finish beaten less than a length. That was his first start since November, to boot, and any sort of step forward would make this gelding tough to beat; #1 MISSION HILL (7/2): Ran second in an off-the-turf race last time out, but he’s bred to love the lawn. This son of Street Boss has turf pedigree on the top and the bottom, and Rosario sees fit to ride back for Bill Mott; #6 TONY O (4-1): Gets back to the turf, which is clearly his preferred surface. He’s had several chances, and this barn has been cold all summer long, but his usual race likely gets him a piece of this one.

R5

Red Moon
Kantarmaci entry
Disruption

#6 RED MOON (9/5): Drops back into allowance company after running against stakes foes in her last two starts. This barn has been sending out runners all summer long, and she might’ve moved a bit early last time out going two turns on turf; KANTARMACI ENTRY (7/2): I’m more bullish on #1 APRIL ANTICS, who did everything but win last time out going a bit longer. This one-mile distance almost certainly suits her better, and she should have enough tactical speed to sit a dream trip; #3 DISRUPTION (5/2): May have needed her last-out effort, which doubled as her first try since December. She gets both Lasix and blinkers in this spot, and a return to her fall-2022 form would likely give her a chance.

R6

B D Saints
Mischief Joke
Dixie Pharaoh

#8 B D SAINTS (7/2): Boasts the rarely-seen “horrific journey” running line from his last start, and that’s an accurate description. He’s since moved to Linda Rice’s barn and added blinkers, and a smooth trip here would make him strictly the one to beat; #3 MISCHIEF JOKE (9/5): Had every chance last time out, when he ranged up in mid-stretch and couldn’t get by the winner. On figures, he looms large, but I just can’t get that stretch run out of my head, and I can’t pick him on top; #5 DIXIE PHARAOH (8-1): Made up some ground late in his debut for a trainer whose first-time starters usually need a race. His pedigree says he wants more distance, which he gets here, and I think he’s sitting on a step forward at a bit of a price.

R7

Pioneering Spirit
Sy Dog
Burning Bright

#4 PIONEERING SPIRIT (5/2): Has found new life since being switched to the turf this past spring. He’s won his last four starts, including a race earlier this summer, and he makes a lot of sense in the John’s Call; #8 SY DOG (5-1): Hasn’t won in a while, but ran a strong race here last summer when fourth in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby. Maybe he hasn’t stepped forward since his first few starts, but he should like this marathon distance and has every right to run a big one here; #3 BURNING BRIGHT (12-1): Hasn’t found the winner’s circle since 2021, but he goes out for a scorching-hot barn and is bred to want this exact trip. He’s got enough speed to make the lead early on beneath Luis Saez, and he could be the one they have to catch.

R8

Rockstar Red
Sixwillberich
Mufrih

#4 ROCKSTAR RED (7/2): Comes back to turf after running third in a dirt race last time out. His two-back effort was very strong, as he ran second beaten just a head. Flavien Prat stays aboard, and this doesn’t seem like a field of world-beaters; #9 SIXWILLBERICH (8-1): Has stepped forward in his last two starts, including a last-out second at this level and route last month. I’m not sure how strong the field he ran against that day really was, but then again, he doesn’t have to run a massive race to be competitive against these, either; #10 MUFRIH (5-1): Comes north after five races at Gulfstream Park and has run competitive figures over that surface. It’s often tough for Gulfstream form to travel to New York, but Luis Saez climbs up for a high-percentage outfit.

R9

Radio Red
Aggregation
Straight Arrow

#6 RADIO RED (7/2): Ran second in the Mike Lee at Belmont and comes in off of a string of sharp drills downstate. His record looks miles better if you toss his efforts over muddy tracks, and his last two speed figures show he may be improving with age and experience; #4 AGGREGATION (5-1): Has been gelded since a last-out clunker, which looks a bit better now given that the top two finishers both came back to win again. He was favored in a $150,000 stakes race just two starts ago, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he found his form here; #1 STRAIGHT ARROW (8-1): Has won two in a row, and the last one was at this route a few weeks ago. This lightly-raced 4-year-old has improved with every start to date, and he could continue moving forward in what hits me as a wide-open event.

R10

Accept the Outcome
Cherokee Cottage
Negra Gata

#11 ACCEPT THE OUTCOME (7/2): Drops in for a tag off of a disappointing run last time out at Belmont. However, her two-back race at Aqueduct was pretty sharp, and I’m anticipating a bounce-back effort in the Wednesday finale; #9 CHEROKEE COTTAGE (12-1): Didn’t do much running in her debut on dirt, but she’s bred for turf and comes in off of a much-improved workout. I’m expecting improvement in her second career start, and I think we’ll get the morning line price; #8 NEGRA GATA (9/2): Ships up from Maryland, where she ran second against maiden special weight foes a few weeks ago. Her two turf sprints are the best races she’s run, and Saez landing here is a plus.