BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $243

As we finish out an incredible week of racing at Saratoga, here’s a reminder: Enjoy things like this. Not every track is celebrating right now.

Golden Gate Fields, about a 20-minute drive from my home in Northern California, runs its last card today. For multiple reasons, this did not need to happen. However, a venue that once welcomed legends like Noor and Citation, plus more contemporary stars like Lost in the Fog, Shared Belief, and Rombauer, is set to close up shop as 1/ST Racing further consolidates its business to Gulfstream and Santa Anita.

If you want to read more about the consequences of this move, Dan Ross and Steve Anderson wrote fantastic articles for the TDN and Daily Racing Form, respectively. For now, one last word before I reconnect with you in July: If racing fails in California, it can fail anywhere. Support what the Northern California fairs are doing, this summer and beyond, and help us protect a circuit that deserves far, far better than it’s getting.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS: After a lot of second-place finishes by top picks in the pick box, Measured Time saved the day. My $36 Grand Slam ticket connected for $125.60, and a $14 win bet returned $57.40.

SUNDAY’S PLAY: I’ve got two plays for this section before we close up shop for a month. First, I’ll punch a cold $20 double starting in the third with #1 ANTONIO OF VENICE and finishing with #6 SPEIGHTFUL LILY in the fourth. Next, we’ll go to the seventh, where I’ll have a $20 win bet on #10 ROZAY SUMMER.

TOTAL WAGERED: $40.

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SELECTIONS/ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Rozay Summer, Race 7
Longshot: Sunday Girl, Race 11

R1

Awakened
Freddy Flintshire
Abaan

#4 AWAKENED (9/2): Comes back to Saratoga, the site of his greatest triumph. He won last year’s Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard at this route, and unlike many in here, he’s shown he doesn’t need Lasix in order to run well; #6 FREDDY FLINTSHIRE (7/2): Makes his first start in 11 months but has shown an affinity for this course. Trainer Keri Brion is one of the top conditioners on the jump circuit, and this one will do his best running late; #5 ABAAN (5/2): Switched to the steeplechase ranks last summer and has reeled off four wins in a row working his way up the class ladder. This is another step up, and the lack of Lasix is a concern, but perhaps he’s a star on the rise.

R2

Dubb entry
Emerald Forest
Kneedeepinsnow

DUBB ENTRY (5/2): I prefer #1A EXCELLENT TIMING, who chased much better horses in a stakes race last time out and drops way down the class ladder for aggressive connections. He seems like the controlling speed, and I think he’s a wire-to-wire threat; #2 EMERALD FOREST (5-1): Is another class-dropper, and in this case, he’s coming back to what’s probably the right level. His last two have come against tough optional claiming foes, but his last three races against straight claimers have been very good and Javier Castellano sees fit to ride back; #7 KNEEDEEPINSNOW (3-1): Was once one of the better sprinters in the country and ran second in the 2022 Vanderbilt behind Jackie’s Warrior. However, he hasn’t won in nearly two years, and while his rest race crushes these, the presence of just one workout since his last start in mid-April is a bit of a red flag.

R3

Antonio of Venice
Elysian Meadows
Doc Sullivan

#1 ANTONIO OF VENICE (6/5): Sure seems like the controlling speed in the Mike Lee and comes in off of two impressive victories at this level downstate. When this barn gets horses on the right track, they tend to stay there, and assuming things stay dry, I think he’ll be tough to beat; #3 ELYSIAN MEADOWS (6-1): Has run against open stakes company in his last three starts and gets a bit of class relief. He also cuts back to one turn, which is probably his best game, and he’d benefit if someone keeps my top pick honest early on; #4 DOC SULLIVAN (5/2): Comes in off a win at Aqueduct and chased my top pick two back at this level. Castellano rides back off the last-out score, and perhaps he’s improving with experience, but he seems like a better horse with Lasix, and that makes his likely price a bit tough to swallow.

R4

Speightful Lily
Scoring Chance
Mysaria

#6 SPEIGHTFUL LILY (1-1): Was very impressive first time out and didn’t run badly in her first try against winners. She’s been training well since shipping up to Saratoga, and I don’t think she runs up against any world-beaters in this spot; #8 SCORING CHANCE (8-1): Cuts back to seven furlongs, a distance she showed a fondness for in her first-out score at Aqueduct. I think you can make some excuses for each of her last two tries, and Flavien Prat hopping aboard is a big plus; #9 MYSARIA (20-1): Exits a failed turf experiment that may drive her price up considerably. Her dirt races downstate haven’t been terrible, and a repeat of either the two-back or three-back efforts would give her a shot to hit the board at a big number.

R5

Dancinginthepark
Az U Chase Me
Malibu Margarita

#7 DANCINGINTHEPARK (8-1): Gets a reluctant nod in a race where I truly don’t love any runner. Unlike many in here that have had lots of chances, this one is a first-time starter. He’s got some bottom-side turf pedigree, and the presence of John Velazquez may be a clue; #5 AZ U CHASE ME (9/2): Comes back to the NY-bred ranks, where he ran some of his best races late last year. His expedition to Florida didn’t go well, but this sure seems like the right level and he’s shown he can pass others late; #2 MALIBU MARGARITA (10-1): Tried to get on turf last time out, but the race was moved to the main track. He’s a son of Malibu Moon and a Frost Giant mare, so there’s reason to think he’ll like the grass, and Prat riding back is a positive.

R6

Drake’s Passage
Dr Ardito
Sheriff Bianco

#2 DRAKE’S PASSAGE (7/5): Goes second off the bench in the Commentator and should sit an ideal trip. There isn’t much early speed in here at all, and that means the winner of last year’s Albany at this route could get very comfortable in the opening stages; #3 DR ARDITO (5-1): Comes back to the NY-bred ranks after a dud in the Grade 3 Westchester against much better horses. He won last year’s Evan Shipman out of the chute, and I’d like him a lot more if there was more early zip in this field; #1 SHERIFF BIANCO (6-1): Hasn’t won in a long, long time, but has hit the board in 25 of 30 lifetime starts and probably needed his last start (which was shorter than his preferred trip). He was second in last year’s Empire Classic at this distance, and his usual effort could get him a big piece of this.

R7

Rozay Summer
Rainingatthebeach
Tour Jete

#10 ROZAY SUMMER (4-1): Debuted with a fourth-place finish at Tampa Bay Downs and takes a big drop in class at second asking for Christophe Clement. She goes from an open maiden special weight event to a state-bred maiden claimer, and if she’s ready to run off a three-month break, she’s strictly the one to beat; #8 RAININGATTHEBEACH (10-1): Responded to a drop in class when second in an off-the-turf event last month. She’s had some gate issues, but the blinkers go on, Prat stays on, and perhaps she’ll move forward if this stays on the lawn; #6 TOUR JETE (6-1): Ran well to be second in her debut, then lost all chance at the break in a $500,000 stakes race. She hasn’t been seen since and comes back in a maiden claimer, which is puzzling, but the turf pedigree is certainly there, Irad Ortiz, Jr., has been attracted to ride, and she’s got every chance if she’s ready to run.

R8

Fingal’s Cave
Bustin Bay
Venti Valentine

#8 FINGAL’S CAVE (2-1): Gets two things she’ll appreciate in the Critical Eye: Class relief and two turns. She’s been running against graded stakes competition going shorter downstate and is 2-for-2 at this route. Add in a recent five-furlong bullet drill, and I think she’s a formidable favorite; #9 BUSTIN BAY (4-1): Likes the Spa and is an easy horse to root for given her consistency and longevity. She’s won 13 of 43 starts, banked more than $740,000 in career earnings, and has plenty of tactical speed. I’m not sure two turns is quite what she wants, but she does have a win at this distance; #2 VENTI VALENTINE (3-1): Hasn’t won since October, but ran second in the Serena’s Song at Monmouth against open company and won a stakes race here last summer. This is another that seems to run pretty much the same race every time out, and that sort of effort gives her a chance in here.

R9

The Paddock Pastor
Miracle Mike
Slapintheface

#2 THE PADDOCK PASTOR (6-1): Almost certainly needed his last-out effort, given that it was his first start since November. He should get much more pace to chase in this spot, and Irad rides back when he likely had several options in this wide-open allowance event; #3 MIRACLE MIKE (10-1): Got his nose down last time out and looks much better if you simply toss all the dirt races. He’ll benefit from the likely race shape, and he’s another that should be heard from in the late stages; #5 SLAPINTHEFACE (8-1): Hasn’t run since November, but turned in several sharp efforts in 2023 and has enough tactical speed to sit a stalking trip. That could give him first run going into the far turn, and that would make him the one to catch.

R10

Tough Street (MTO)
Silver Skillet
Overacting

#1 SILVER SKILLET (2-1): Won here twice a year ago and gets reunited with Joel Rosario, who piloted her to both of those victories. I can excuse her 2024 debut easily enough, as that was her first race since a competitive fourth in the Grade 3 Pebbles; #8 OVERACTING (9/2): Has yet to run a bad race in four lifetime starts and goes second off the bench for Chad Brown, who excels with similar stock. Her 2024 debut downstate was a winning one, and a step forward from that would give her a big chance; #5 MARVELOUS MAUDE (5/2): Was a distant third against open company last time out and returns to NY-bred competition here. She’ll take plenty of money, and she does have a win over this turf course, but I can’t help thinking she’s just a bit better downstate.

R11

Sunday Girl
Caldwell Luvs Gold
La Banquera

#4 SUNDAY GIRL (8-1): Is a perfect 2-for-2 to this point and has yet to be seriously challenged. The third-place finisher from her last-out score in an April stakes race came back to win, and I think this one presents some real value at or near the morning line price; #3 CALDWELL LUVS GOLD (6-1): Started her career with two wins at the Spa last summer, and I’m drawing a line straight through the last-out turf experiment. She’s a dirt horse, and she’ll likely get plenty of pace to chase over her favorite track; #5 LA BANQUERA (4-1): Dueled throughout in a swiftly-run first-out score and takes a significant class jump here. However, I like seeing a horse show heart on debut, and she figures to once again be prominent early.

R12

Spirit of St Louis
City Man
Conman

#1 SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS (8/5): Has been managed very well by his connections en route to six wins and two seconds in eight tries. He comes in on a three-race win streak, including one against open company, and he’s a logical favorite in the race named for this handicapper’s old stomping grounds, the Kingston; #9 CITY MAN (5/2): Hasn’t been since in almost eight months, but he’s shown he can run well fresh and that he loves this turf course. He’s a multiple graded stakes winner with Christophe Clement and Joel Rosario in his corner, and he merits respect; #7 CONMAN (30-1): Is a contender to blow up the exotics at a big price. He almost certainly needed the last-out try at Aqueduct and won an open stakes race at Woodbine last summer. John Velazquez rides for Mark Casse, and if you’re looking for a longshot to throw into exactas and trifectas, I think this is the one you want.