BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $809.25

I’m using this space again to plug something for my wife, whose fifth-grade students come back to school next week. She’s a fifth-grade teacher at a public school outside of Oakland, California, and she could use our help.

Like a lot of teachers, she’s compiled a wish list on Amazon. A few of you donated last week, and we both greatly appreciate that. If you hit something today or this week, and you’re looking for a worthy cause to support, I can assure you this checks that box.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: My late Pick Four fizzled when a favorite I tried to beat won the ninth. I dropped $45.

WEDNESDAY’S PLAY: Being honest, this doesn’t hit me as one of the most exciting cards of the summer, so I’m treading lightly. I’ll focus on the third race, where I’ll use #1 WHISTLER’S STYLE/#1A MISS LAO and #6 LIKA ROLLING STONE on top of $2 exactas that use those two, #3 MURSAL, and #7 FOLLOW YOUR ARROW underneath. I’ll also box my top two betting interests in additional $4 exactas, too.

TOTAL WAGERED: $20.

SARATOGA SELECTIONS AND ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Costa Terra, Race 1
Longshot: Lika Rolling Stone, Race 3

R1

Costa Terra
Golden Purchase
Castle Island

#3 COSTA TERRA (2-1): Drops down in class pretty significantly and has back races that would bury this group if he can channel that form. He does have a history of finding trouble, but he’s also shown strong two-turn form, and if he’s at his best, I think the race is for second; #5 GOLDEN PURCHASE (10-1): Romped first off the claim for Bruce Levine, and while he tries tougher foes here, I think he may be going the right way. They certainly didn’t find an overly-tough spot for the level, and he figures to be on or near the lead early; #2 CASTLE ISLAND (4-1): Tried much tougher last time out and drops to what’s probably the right level. His two-back win going two turns was very sharp, and while he’s a bit inconsistent, he could lead them a long way.

R2

Summer Whirl
Royal Bobbie
Sweet Anniversary

#5 SUMMER WHIRL (9/5): Tries dirt for the first time, and while I don’t usually love short-priced horses doing something they’ve never done before, she finds what hits me as a very soft field here. Her turf form has been very solid, and there seems to be some pace signed on to set up for her late kick; #3 ROYAL BOBBIE (5/2): Didn’t run badly at this route two starts ago, when she got caught rating behind a very slow pace. She’s had some gate issues, and that’s a problem, but the race flow here does set up for closers; #2 SWEET ANNIVERSARY (2-1): Had every chance at this level and route last month, but she stopped to a walk in the final furlong and settled for second. She’ll be one of the favorites, and I get why, but I just can’t back a horse that had a perfect trip last time out and couldn’t get the job done.

R3

Rice entry
Lika Rolling Stone
Mursal

RICE ENTRY (2-1): Both #1 WHISTLER’S STYLE and #1A MISS LAO can win, but I prefer the latter. She’s dropping down in class, and her form looks much better if you toss the two-back clunker downstate. She’s inconsistent, but perhaps the shallower waters are what she needs; #6 LIKA ROLLING STONE (8-1): Hasn’t done much running in her last several starts, but she drops way down in class and has run well at this seven-furlong distance. Furthermore, there seems to be plenty of speed signed on, and that would set up her late kick; #3 MURSAL (9/5): Is another mare dropping way down the class ladder for this one, and it’s possible she’s just been in way over her head in her last three tries. However, there’s also a chance she needs an easy lead, and I just don’t think that scenario materializes here.

R4

Rice entry (MTO)
Red Burgundy
Bobby M’s Girl

#8 RED BURGUNDY (2-1): Sure looks like the controlling speed, and she’s shown she’s very tough when she gets her desired trip. Her wire-to-wire win last time out came off a bit of a break, and “main speed on the inner turf” is a very powerful angle; #5 BOBBY M’S GIRL (9/2): Had trouble last time out in the Mount Vernon and comes back to the allowance ranks here. Given the race shape, she probably never had a shot last time, but her late-2024 races were solid enough and she may provide value compared to…; #3 BROCKNARDINI (9/5): …who may go off favored in here. She’s flashed immense talent at times and gets Lasix here, but the pace may not set things up for her, and you can argue she has yet to move forward off of her stakes-winning 2023 form.

R5

Lollipops
Best Impression
Another Cleeshay

#9 LOLLIPOPS (3-1): Earned the diploma two back, then tackled tougher company last time out and didn’t run terribly at a price. This restricted claiming event seems like a softer spot, and I’m not sure how much company she’ll have up front early on; #8 BEST IMPRESSION (5/2): Runs first off the claim for Linda Rice, who’s among the best in the game with new acquisitions. She might’ve moved a bit early last time out, but that was a pretty slow race for the level, and I think she may have to move forward in this event; #1 ANOTHER CLEESHAY (7/2): Looked like she could be any kind when she romped in her debut here last August. However, she hasn’t panned out and takes an alarming drop to run for just a $17,500 tag here. I find the drop puzzling, but she’s certainly a contender with some back class.

R6

Devilish Grin
Oscar’s Encore
Imminent Risk

#2 DEVILISH GRIN (5/2): Looks like a formidable favorite in the kickoff leg of the late Pick Four. She closed a bit at first asking, and she did so in a race with a pretty slow early pace. Improvement is logical at second asking, and if that happens, she could be tough to deny; #9 OSCAR’S ENCORE (7/2): Is one of two in here for trainer Joe Sharp, and this hits me as the more likely winner. She’s a daughter of Oscar Performance who’s been working well since getting to Saratoga a few weeks ago, and she just barely qualifies for this restricted maiden race with her $60,000 auction price; #7 IMMINENT RISK (6-1): Is the “other” Joe Sharp charge, and she gets Irad Ortiz Jr. in her career debut. That could signal she’s got some potential, but the pedigree doesn’t necessarily indicate she wants the grass.

R7

Game Warden
Parchment Party
Lambeth

#3 GAME WARDEN (9/2): Is my pick to spring a mild upset in the Birdstone. Draw lines through his races at Churchill Downs, and his sheet looks considerably better. Add in that he went 2-for-2 here a season ago and has shown an affinity for marathon distances, and I think there’s plenty to like; #2 PARCHMENT PARTY (7/5): Romped in the Belmont Gold Cup, which was taken off the turf following a torrential downpour. He was visually impressive that day, and it came back great on figures, but he beat turf horses in that dirt race, and I think this spot may be a bit tougher; #4 LAMBETH (5/2): Beat several of these opponents three back in the Temperence Hill at Oaklawn. He figures to be prominent early, and if he gets comfortable, he could prove tough to catch.

R8

Mazayaat (MTO)
Midway Memories
Griselda

#5 MIDWAY MEMORIES (3-1): Had an eventful trip against stakes foes last time out and returns to allowance company here. With that, she’ll get to run with Lasix, and she could have more room to move forward than most given her relative inexperience; #7 GRISELDA (5/2): Completes a powerful 1-2 punch for trainer Chad Brown and makes her American debut in this event. She showed some potential as a 2-year-old in France, and it’s always worth noting when a European invader gets Lasix for the first time; #3 SO DARN PRETTY (6-1): Went wire-to-wire in her local debut last month and tries winners for the first time. She’s once again found a field that doesn’t seem to have much other early speed, and that figures to be music to jockey Luis Saez’s ears.

R9

Trading Trouble (AE)
I Rest My Case
St. Brigid’s Cross

#11 TRADING TROUBLE (9/5): Merits a big chance if she draws in off the AE list. She ran well in her debut, which she nearly won, and this isn’t a barn known for having first-time starters fully cranked. If a runner scratches and she’s able to run, she merits lots of respect; #6 I REST MY CASE (9/2): Ran like a horse that needed a race in her debut, when she was fourth downstate. Bill Mott’s runners tend to improve with experience, and if Devilish Grin (who ran second that day) runs well in the sixth, it bodes well for this one’s chances; #10 ST. BRIGID’S CROSS (3-1): Didn’t break well in her debut at Gulfstream and makes her second start for George Weaver, who’s fantastic with young turf sprinters. She could certainly improve, and this barn’s had a strong meet to this point.