BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,033

Other things took precedent Wednesday and Thursday, but I’ll use this space to lobby for a change in the NYRA calendar. This year’s Curlin Stakes was contested Thursday, just two days before the Grade 2 Jim Dandy. The latter race attracted just a five-horse field. Why put the Curlin there and potentially siphon horses from an event that’s been struggling for entries the past few seasons?

My idea, which I’ve expressed in this space before, would be to move the Curlin to Travers Day. I’d rather lose 20-1 shots from that race than lose horses who may take some money in the Jim Dandy, a race that’s also competing with races like Monmouth Park’s Haskell. Nobody benefits from this race, as it’s currently scheduled. Can we please move it?

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: My cold double was alive into the fourth race, but heavy favorite New Attitude did his best Hulk Hogan impression and put forth an equine interpretation of the phrase, “that doesn’t work for me, brother.” I dropped $25.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: When a Finger Lakes shipper in good form comes with a rider from that track in tow, I pay attention. That happens in the sixth race, where I’ll focus on #5 STYNER. In addition to a $20 win bet, I’ll have $5 doubles starting there that single Styner and end with #4 MAIORA and #6 RED VIOLET in the seventh.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30.

SARATOGA SELECTIONS AND ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Macho Music, Race 9
Longshot: Styner, Race 6

R1

Manhattan Beauty
Lady Angelina
Miss Im Pulsive

#5 MANHATTAN BEAUTY (2-1): Is one of two Bill Mott-trained firsters in the Friday opener, and while she’s not necessarily bred to be precocious, she fetched $180,000 at auction and has been working very well. First-call rider Junior Alvarado opts to pilot this one, too; #6 LADY ANGELINA (8-1): Is the “other” Mott, and she’s also got some solid works on her tab. This barn’s first-time starters often need a race, but they both look ready to go against a short field; #1 MISS IM PULSIVE (9/5): Was second in her debut downstate before a failed turf experiment here last month. Of the ones with experience, she’s clearly the most impressive, but her likely price hits me as a bit of an underlay.

R2

Miss Lao
Killy Start
Altered Shot

#6 MISS LAO (9/2): Goes first off the claim for Linda Rice, who’s one of the best in the game with new acquisitions. She should have plenty of speed to rate behind, and if she steps forward with that favorable setup, I think she provides plenty of value; #2 KILLY START (2-1): Comes back into the claiming ranks and would be a contender if she can channel her two and three-back form at this level. Irad Ortiz Jr. hops aboard for a smaller outfit, which is always notable; #3 ALTERED SHOT (8-1): Took a step forward last time when third against slightly weaker company earlier in the meet. She’s got plenty of back class, and perhaps she’s started to find her form again for a streaky barn that tends to win races in spurts.

R3

Ashes and Diamonds
Bourbon Milk Punch
Athaliah

#4 ASHES AND DIAMONDS (3-1): Comes back to turf and drops in for a tag for just the second time in her career. She’s had some adventurous trips to this point, but it seems like this distance is what she wants and Joe Sharp’s been winning a ton to this point in the meet; #5 BOURBON MILK PUNCH (3-1): Ran well to be third last time out before being claimed by a barn that, comparatively, doesn’t tend to reach into those races very often. She was second against straight maidens in her debut, and she figures to be prominent early; #6 ATHALIAH (4-1): Drops into the maiden claiming ranks after a last-out clunker at Churchill Downs. Her two-back effort at Keeneland wasn’t bad, but it’s worth noting this barn’s preferred riders wind up in other spots here.

R4

Who’s the King
Bob John Ray
Ultimate Strike

#5 WHO’S THE KING (8/5): Takes a massive class drop for very aggressive connections who aren’t afraid to lose horses via the claim box. He hasn’t won in a while, but he tried last year’s Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and his 2025 races feature plenty of next-out winners at higher levels; #2 BOB JOHN RAY (8-1): May provide some value underneath after almost certainly needing his last-out effort. That was his first try since September, and seven furlongs is probably a bit shorter than his desired trip. He gets more distance here and may be a bit of a price; #1 ULTIMATE STRIKE (4-1): Comes back to dirt after a failed turf experiment first off the claim, and he’s another dropping in class. He started to find his form late last year, and his two most recent works weren’t bad.

R5

New Issue
Parade Ring
Silver Pearls

#5 NEW ISSUE (5/2): Ran third in her debut downstate and was claimed out of that race by Linda Rice. Between the barn change and this being her second start, I think she’s got plenty of room to move forward here; #3 PARADE RING (9/5): Comes back to the lawn in her first try since April, and her turf races from 2024 are solid. However, I’m concerned about the voided claim last time out, followed by a layoff of more than three months. She may win as a favorite but there are red flags here; #7 SILVER PEARLS (5/2): Beat my top pick last time out when second at this level and makes her first start for new trainer John Terranova. Irad rides back for the new barn, and she’d benefit from a contested early pace.

R6

Styner
Catch the Smoke
J J’s Joker

#5 STYNER (9/2): Comes in from Finger Lakes and brings her barn’s preferred rider, which is always something I like seeing. His wire-to-wire score last time out was a sharp one, and I think he could get comfortable on a pretty easy lead here; #2 CATCH THE SMOKE (7/2): Comes back to what’s probably the right level after a failed shot against starter allowance foes earlier in the meet. His spring form was pretty solid, and this is certainly a significant class drop from his race less than 10 days ago; #4 J J’S JOKER (6-1): Goes first off the claim for a barn that knows how to move horses forward, and he tries two turns for the first time in a while. This will already be the 11th start of the season for this gelding, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we see an improved effort.

R7

So Vain (MTO)
Red Violet
Maiora

#6 RED VIOLET (3-1): Debuts for Chad Brown, gets Flavien Prat, and is bred to be a good one. This daughter of Justify is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Rubilinda, she’s been working well, and she hits me as the one to beat in her unveiling; #4 MAIORA (4-1): Was green before her initial outing last month, but she ran well enough to be second going shorter. The bottom side of her pedigree is all-distance, and she’s got an experience edge on most of the other contenders; PLETCHER ENTRY (9/2): I prefer #2B TIME TO DREAM, who hammered for $750,000 across the street last summer. She’s out of a Street Sense mare, which is a clue she may want turf, and Jose Ortiz sees fit to climb aboard.

R8

Cara’s Chianti
Darty Time
Circuit Court

#4 CARA’S CHIANTI (9/2): Is a tepid top pick in a truly puzzling maiden claimer. She lost all chance at the break last time, but showed speed against straight maidens twice before that, and perhaps the drop in class is what will wake her up; #6 DARTY TIME (3-1): Was a pace factor in the slop in her unveiling before finishing seventh of eight, and the drop is probably the right move. Prat will ride for Al Stall, who usually means business with the string he brings from Kentucky; #7 CIRCUIT COURT (8-1): Stepped forward last time out, when she was third beaten less than a length at Aqueduct. This barn’s been through some turmoil lately, but a repeat of that effort may be good enough to get it done here.

R9

Macho Music
Uncaged
Gate to Wire

#1 MACHO MUSIC (2-1): Seems like the main speed in the Grade 2 Amsterdam, and he’s shown he’s a handful when those stars align. His effort in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens was disappointing, but perhaps he bounced off a career-best performance two back in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile; #8 UNCAGED (15-1): Merits a look at a big price getting back to what he wants to do. He simply didn’t belong in the Grade 1 Belmont, but the three one-turn efforts on his sheet are solid enough, the outside draw could help, and these connections aren’t this price often; #5 GATE TO WIRE (5-1): Clunked up for sixth in the Woody Stephens and would benefit from another horse going with my top pick early. He’s got some talent, but seems to find trouble. If Dylan Davis can give him a clean trip, perhaps we’ll see a return to his stakes-winning form.

R10

Catholic Edition
Practical Romance
Addagirl Addie

#3 CATHOLIC EDITION (3-1): Ran well in her debut, when she closed to be third and made up a fair bit of ground despite a moderate pace and a wide trip. Pace is a question mark here, but she’s certainly eligible to improve, and if she does, I think she’s got a big shot; #9 PRACTICAL ROMANCE (4-1): Stretches back out to two turns and gets class relief going against maiden claimers for the first time. She’s shown some tactical speed and should be a factor early on beneath John Velazquez; #5 ADDAGIRL ADDIE (9/2): Has certainly had plenty of chances, but most of those were for lower-percentage barns, and her last-out effort was probably the best race of her career. It’s possible she’s starting to figure things out, and 13th time could be the charm in a wide-open Friday finale.