BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,009.25

The Wilson chute was built prior to last year’s meet for a few different reasons. It was supposed to cater to milers who would otherwise have to cut back to seven furlongs or, horror of all horrors, stretch out to a mile and an eighth.

In the opinion of this handicapper/writer, Saratoga is overusing it. I said from the outset that I hoped NYRA wouldn’t be cutting back on two-turn dirt racing. Admittedly, the Wilson chute has seen the lion’s share of the off-the-turf races this summer (LOTS of them), but it sure seems like we’re not seeing as many nine-furlong races as we used to at the Spa.

Stuff like this, and the new uphill turf course at Santa Anita, gives me pause. I like quirky courses. They’re fun. Having said that, it sure seems like tracks will literally do ANYTHING to make sure most thoroughbreds campaigned in 2023 don’t have to run two turns.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS: Many of my top picks ran second or third, and that’s what happened to B D Saints. After scratches, I dropped $25.

THURSDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the fifth, which houses my live longshot of the day. 6-1 isn’t an insane price, but it hits me as a considerable overlay on #6 SUN AND WIND. I’ll have a $30 win ticket on that one, and I’ll key her up and down in $5 exactas that also use #3 LADY ARWEN and #4 AWESOME CZECH.

TOTAL WAGERED: $50.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Wednesday: 1-for-10
Meet: 59-for-196

Best Bet: Technical Analysis, Race 9
Longshot: Sun and Wind, Race 5

R1

Alterina
Cause I’m Elegant
Strange Fruit

We start off with a puzzler where I just don’t have a strong opinion. I think it’s possible #6 ALTERINA (9/2) improves second time out for a hot barn. Beyond that, I’ve got nothing for you here.

R2

Instamatic
Adelphi entry
Detective Tom

#7 INSTAMATIC (7/2): Didn’t break well in his debut, where he was favored. He did at least do some running late for a barn whose first-time starters often need a race to get going, and I’m expecting a big step forward; ADELPHI ENTRY (4-1): I most prefer #1A HARD PAR, who needs a scratch to draw into the field. He ran second in his unveiling at a big price, and any sort of improvement would give him a big shot; #4 DETECTIVE TOM (3-1): Comes in off of a strong gate drill and is bred to love the lawn. He’s a son of The Factor, whose offspring tend to prefer the turf, and Jose Ortiz sees fit to ride.

R3

Bold Endeavor (MTO)
Kuramata
Easter

#6 KURAMATA (6/5): Had every right to need his last-out effort off a long break, but ran very well and was beaten just a neck. It’s safe to assume he’s had some issues in his career, but he’s a sharp horse when he’s right and he’s a very logical favorite; #3 EASTER (2-1): Was third in the race my top pick exits and has danced some big dances. He was fourth in last year’s Grade 1 Man o’ War, and he’d benefit from a fast pace up front; #4 MAIN EVENT (6-1): Also ran in that July 30th race and set the pace before tiring late. That was his first run in nearly a year, and this barn’s been winning races at a very strong clip lately. He could go early and prove tough to catch.

R4

Classic Mark
Complete Agenda
Big Bobby

#3 CLASSIC MARK (2-1): Drops back in for a tag after a win over starter allowance foes downstate. The Linda Rice barn must be respected, and I like horses cutting back in distance at these one-mile races, rather than ones stretching out; #6 COMPLETE AGENDA (9/5): Hasn’t won in a while but has faced significantly better horses of late. He chased the likes of Ouster last time out going much longer, and his last victory came at this one-mile distance; #7 BIG BOBBY (9/2): Is a puzzling sort coming in off of an 83-length defeat (yes, you read that correctly). The drop off of a few clunkers is a concern, but he’s run well over this surface in the past and is a contender on his best day.

R5

Sun and Wind
Lady Arwen
Awesome Czech

#6 SUN AND WIND (6-1): Ran well to be a close-up third in her debut and may have simply bounced last time out (an unlucky trip didn’t help matters). The August 9th work jumps off the page, and I think she presents real value at or near the morning line price; #3 LADY ARWEN (even): Tired in her debut earlier this summer, when she rushed up after a tardy start. She has every right to move forward at second asking, and it’s encouraging that Luis Saez opts to ride back; #4 AWESOME CZECH (5/2): Didn’t do much running in her unveiling last month, but she had every right to need that debut. She’s bred to get better with distance and experience, and the stretch-out to seven furlongs should help her.

R6

High Oak (MTO)
Dubb entry
Sosua Summer

DUBB ENTRY (2-1): Both runners can win, but I prefer #2B OXYMORE. He owns a stakes win at this route in last summer’s Skidmore, and if he’s ready to run in his 3-year-old debut, I think he’s the most likely winner; #5 SOSUA SUMMER (6-1): Is a different animal at Saratoga, where he moved to 2-for-2 after a score in an allowance race last month. That was a career-best effort, and while this is a pretty tough spot, he seems to be going the right way for trainer Bill Mott; #9 FAUCI (8-1): Hasn’t won in more than two years, but was a good second last time out and hasn’t been worse than third in five local starts. Flavien Prat hopping aboard is a good sign, and he should be moving late at a bit of a price.

R7

Bustin Bay
Sweet Mystery
Mia Bea Star

#1 BUSTIN BAY (even): Has won three of her last four starts, including a score in the first race of the meet going two turns. She’s won three of six local starts, and is a candidate to notch her 11th win overall in 34 lifetime outings; #6 SWEET MYSTERY (2-1): Cuts back to a mile after finishing second going two turns last time out. She hasn’t won in a while, but she can make up ground late and draws well in this particular spot; #4 MIA BEA STAR (6-1): Ran well to win going a mile downstate two starts ago and wasn’t far behind my top pick last time out. Her record looks far better if you toss her races over wet tracks, and the faster they go early, the better her chances figure to be.

R8

Vitaemi
To a T
Meraviglioso

#8 VITAEMI (3-1): Makes her second start off a brief layoff in this spot and draws a cushy outside post. David Jacobson’s barn has heated up in the back half of the meet, and she seems like the one they’ll have to catch; #2 TO A T (9/5): Hasn’t won in quite a while, but has also been running against higher-quality competition. The drop in class could easily wak her up, and Irad Ortiz, Jr., lands here when he likely had several options; #7 MERAVIGLIOSO (6-1): Is another without a trip to the winner’s circle recently, but she ran well last time out to finish second against similar stock. A similar effort in this race puts her right there with a chance to break the drought.

R9

Technical Analysis
Consumer Spending
Fluffy Socks

#8 TECHNICAL ANALYSIS (9/5): Has never looked like a loser in any of her three local starts and looms large in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa. She’s one of several contenders in here trained by Chad Brown, and she should be able to dictate terms from the jump in an attempt to win this race for the second year in a row; #2 CONSUMER SPENDING (3-1): Comes in off of two stakes wins in a row at Monmouth Park. She’s won three graded stakes races, retains the services of Joel Rosario, and could have every chance to come running late; #4 FLUFFY SOCKS (9/2): Gets significant class relief after chasing tough rivals in the Grade 1 Diana last time out. She won a Grade 2 at Churchill Downs two starts ago and was second in this very race last year behind my top pick.

R10

Toofareastiswest
War Officer
Sacred Rhyme

#9 TOOFAREASTISWEST (5/2): Has run well in all four of his career starts and may have moved too soon going a bit longer last time out. The cutback in distance should suit him here, and it doesn’t seem like he’s tackling any monsters in the Thursday finale; #5 WAR OFFICER (5-1): Debuted with a clunker in an off-the-turf race, but he’s bred to love the lawn and is eligible to take a big step forward. This son of War Front is out of a Galileo mare, and I think he’s doing what he wants to do here; #2 SACRED RHYME (4-1): Had a rough start last time out and didn’t do much running, but his debut was fine and he’s a contender if he runs back to that. The recent Monmouth Works are a question mark, but if you liked him at 7/2 last time out, you may want to give him another shot at a slightly bigger price here.