BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $973

Those who have read my content regularly for the last 15 years know I’m not afraid to be critical of NYRA. Last year, I was one of many people saying the Wilson chute was wildly overused, especially given all of the two-turn turf races moved to the main track.

I give NYRA credit, as it seems like the racing office hasn’t carded nearly as many races from the chute this summer. Unfortunately, there’s some rain in the forecast today. In addition to a pair of previously-scheduled chute races, we may see several more moved there.

For what the Wilson chute is, as a quirky option, it’s fine. However, it got to a point where two-turn dirt races were afterthoughts most days, and that was way too far. Here’s hoping continued restraint wins out for the rest of the summer.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS: Arthur’s Ride probably lost all chance at the start of the fourth. After scratches, I dropped $30.

SUNDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on two races I hope stay on the turf. My action involves $20 win bets on #10 SUNRISE in the third and #11 ANTIETAM in the 10th.

TOTAL WAGERED: $40.

SARATOGA SELECTIONS AND ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Keepinitreal, Race 6
Longshot: Party at the Post, Race 8

R1

Colonial Rose
Rice entry
Our Liberty Belle

#4 COLONIAL ROSE (1-1): Was an impressive winner at this level in the slop last time out in her first start for this barn, and she’s the one to beat if she can repeat that effort here. Given the weather forecast as of this writing, she may catch a wet track once again; RICE ENTRY (3-1): Both #1 WHISTLER’S STYLE and #1A COQUITO could win this, and the two runners complement one another well. The former is a deep closer, while the latter wants to win on the front end; #5 OUR LIBERTY BELLE (5/2): Stretches back out to two turns for the first time since last fall, when she ran pretty well at Laurel. This is a tougher spot, but she gets Irad Ortiz Jr. and would benefit from a contested early pace.

R2

Backstretch Rose
Florida Flower
Teca

#6 BACKSTRETCH ROSE (9/5): Tailed off a bit in her last two starts before going to the sidelines, but she returns against much weaker company in this spot. She ran very well against restricted claimers late last year, and she’s shown two turns shouldn’t be a problem; #7 FLORIDA FLOWER (5/2): Goes first off the claim for Wayne Potts after a solid second downstate last month. That was her first start at this level, and it feels like the class drop woke her up; #5 TECA (8-1): Merits a look at a price shipping in from the mid-Atlantic circuit. She’s won two of four starts for this barn, she’s got some tactical speed, and she’s not too far off of these on speed figures.

R3

Tapit’s Legacy (MTO)
Sunrise
Olivetti

#10 SUNRISE (8-1): Doesn’t draw a great post in his debut, but his pedigree is one of the strongest you’ll see for a debuting turfer. He’s a full brother to Grade 1 winner Spendarella and multiple stakes winner Spanish Loveaffair, and a half to Grade 1 winner Spanish Queen. This should absolutely be what he wants to do; #2 OLIVETTI (4-1): Debuts for powerhouse connections and is another bred to love the lawn. His dam was a stakes horse in France, and she’s thrown, among others, multiple graded stakes-winning turf router Fort Washington; #5 BLAME JERRY (6-1): Goes out for the Pletcher/Velazquez tag team and hammered for $200,000 at Keeneland last year. This son of Blame is a full brother to Grade 3 winner Onus and fellow stakes horse Silvology, and his dam is kin to millionaire grass horses Ironicus and On Leave, among others.

R4

Just Licorice
Bestfriend Rocket
Art Fair

#6 JUST LICORICE (5/2): Won out of the Wilson chute earlier this month and will look to do it again here. I’m not crazy about the post, but I do like his running style, which hints that he’ll be able to sit an ideal stalking trip in this wide-open event; #2 BESTFRIEND ROCKET (7/2): Ran in some very aggressive spots earlier this year, including the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. He’s gone to a different barn following the passing of D. Wayne Lukas, and a return to his late-2024 form would give him a shot; #7 ART FAIR (7/2): Feels like the main speed and could benefit from a slight drop in class. The far outside post isn’t ideal, but he seems like the quickest of the quick in here.

R5

Mozambique (MTO)
Makeyourmoment
Wind Dancer

#8 MAKEYOURMOMENT (5/2): Feels like the lone speed in here, and that’s always a good thing in two-turn turf routes on this circuit. The slight cutback in distance should help him here, and I’m banking on him getting comfortable early and forgetting to stop; #3 WIND DANCER (7/2): Has certainly had plenty of chances, but his last-out effort saw him go wide in a race that wasn’t a slow one for the level. He gets a better draw here, and it’s not like there are any monsters signed on; #2 POWERED BY COAL (2-1): May go favored in here, but I have my doubts. He had a picture-perfect trip leading through slow fractions last time and couldn’t get the job done. My top pick seems faster out of the gate, and the morning line price on this one seems like an underlay.

R6

Keepinitreal
Bond entry
Gamebred

#2 KEEPINITREAL (7/5): Was second at a short price in his 2025 debut, but to be fair, that was his first start since October. That day’s third-place finisher came back to win impressively at next asking, and this field seems significantly weaker; BOND ENTRY (8-1): I’m intrigued by first-time starter #1A SPEIGHTFUL STORM, who has a few strong works on his tab. This barn is a patient one, but there’s reason to think he may have some talent; #9 GAMEBRED (10-1): Has had gate issues in both of his prior starts, but he gets a friendly outside draw here, which should help. The addition of Lasix is also a plus, and I think he could be sitting on an improved effort at a bit of a price.

R7

Bernietakescharge (MTO)
La Mehana
No Show Sammy Jo

#1 LA MEHANA (3-1): Is one of several Miguel Clement trainees in the Grade 2 Glens Falls, and she overcame a pretty slow pace to get the money last time out. She may need to do that again here, but she’s shown she’s a consistent sort that loves this 12-furlong distance; #2 NO SHOW SAMMY JO (9/2): Seems like the main speed in here, which is never a bad thing to be in a turf marathon at the Spa. She got nailed by my top pick last time, but she’s got a ton of back class and figures to be the one they’ll have to catch; #6 BELLEZZA (5/2): Chased She Feels Pretty in the Grade 1 New York last month and stretches back out to a marathon trip. She took the Grade 3 Sheepshead Bay two back, and Joel Rosario climbs aboard for this one.

R8

She’s Complicated
Alpine Giant
Speed of Sound

#3 ALPINE GIANT (2-1): Prevailed at a price last time out and tries winners for the first time here. However, this restricted claiming event seems to have come up pretty soft for the level, and she’s training as though a forward move is coming second off the layoff; #5 SPEED OF SOUND (3-1): Hasn’t run in more than a year and comes back for a tag, which is a red flag. However, these connections can be aggressive, and her debut at Gulfstream last May was a sharp effort; #2 PARTY AT THE POST (30-1): Is a massive price, but tries turf for the first time and is bred to love it. She’s by Caravaggio and out of a Noble Mission mare, and she may not have to be much to crash the exotics at a big number.

R9

Reddington
Gamblers Tail
Warrior Richard

#1 REDDINGTON (3-1): Gets a great inside draw out of the chute and has the early speed to take advantage of it. He ran into Grade 1 winner Highland Falls last time out, and there are no runners like that in this event; #5 GAMBLERS TAIL (6-1): Cuts back to a quasi-one-turn trip, and I think that’s his preferred game. Two turns has seemed a bit much for him, and he ran several strong races in Kentucky going a bit shorter earlier this season; #6 WARRIOR RICHARD (2-1): Ships in from Kentucky for Joe Sharp, which is already reason enough to think he’ll run well here, but I have some doubts. He’s 0-for-4 at the Spa, and his race out of the chute last year against much weaker horses wasn’t a good one.

R10

Antietam
Atomic Age
Blast Furnace

#11 ANTIETAM (6-1): Hasn’t raced since November, but has been working well, tries turf for the first time, and is bred to love it. This son of Curlin is a half to European champion Air Force Blue, and if he’s ready to run, I think he could show he’s wanted the grass all along; #5 ATOMIC AGE (4-1): Is another coming off the bench for strong connections. He tries Lasix for the first time, his last race before going to the sidelines wasn’t bad, and Chad Brown knows how to get comebackers ready to go; #7 BLAST FURNACE (5-1): Broke through with his best  effort yet last time out, when he lost a tough photo downstate. That was his first time going two turns on turf, and his tactical speed may mean he’s the one they have to chase turning for home.