BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $794.50

I usually find trainer Ken McPeek a breath of fresh air, and I respect him a great deal, but I think he got something wrong at this week’s Racing and Gaming Conference. At one of the event’s panels, he suggested changing the Triple Crown and running the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont on the first Saturdays of May, June, and July.

I wish I had more space to expound, but I’ll do my best: The Triple Crown isn’t supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to be hard, and it’s not the fault of those races that horses aren’t bred to run three times in five weeks anymore. Even if you think modern thoroughbreds aren’t more fragile than their predecessors, the most important races some will run are one furlong against a clock at 2-year-old sales, which is ridiculous. Furthermore, as other panelists pointed out, Triple Crown viewership and wagering numbers are very, very strong.

Don’t change the races. Go back to “breeding to race” instead of “racing to breed” or, even worse, “breeding to sell.” That won’t just benefit the Triple Crown. It’ll benefit racing as a whole.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: My action was cancelled when a Saratoga monsoon rolled in and forced the sixth off the turf.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: We’re going to try the Grand Slam again, as I think the first two legs are pretty wide-open and there’s a horse I like enough to single in the payoff leg. My $5 ticket starting in the sixth goes as follows: 4,8 with 1,4,6 with 5 with 6.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30.

SARATOGA SELECTIONS AND ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Will Not Be Swayed, Race 8
Longshot: Dontlookbackatall, Race 9

R1

Honoree
Newlyn
Head of Plains entry

#7 HONOREE (3-1): Saw his debut rained off the turf, which makes it a throw-out because he’s bred up and down to love the lawn. He should improve with experience and his desired surface in the Friday opener; #6 NEWLYN (8-1): Debuts for George Weaver, which is already a significant positive given how hot that barn has been this summer. His dam is a half-sister to Grade 1-placed router Normandy Invasion, who did his best work going two turns; HEAD OF PLAINS ENTRY (2-1): #1A CAROLINE ST. BEAT is the half of the entry to watch here in his unveiling for Miguel Clement. His dam was a multiple stakes winner on turf, and that mare is one of several stakes winners in a very strong female family.

R2

Invictus
Dreamlike
The Boondocker

#4 INVICTUS (9/5): Is one of a few runners today taking a big drop in class for aggressive trainer Brad Cox. His last-out effort wasn’t a good one, but stretching out to a mile may help him, and he also adds blinkers in this event; #2 DREAMLIKE (8/5): Ran in some big races back in 2023, when he was second in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and third in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial (behind Lord Miles, a horse you may have heard me mention once or twice). His efforts this year, however, have been far from impressive, and perhaps the drop into restricted claiming company wakes him up; #5 THE BOONDOCKER (7/2): Ships up from Monmouth for Chad Brown after breaking his maiden two back and running third against optional claimers last time out. He’s going against older here, though, and this race came up pretty strong for the level.

R3

Baby Sassicaia
Here’syourtrouble
Employeeofthemonth

#3 BABY SASSICAIA (3-1): Came off a long layoff to be third at Gulfstream, and while that effort was disappointing, that was her first start in over a year. It also helps that that day’s winner came back to repeat at next asking against winners; #5 HERE’SYOURTROUBLE (3-1): Comes back to the maiden claiming ranks after a clunker against straight maidens downstate in her first start for Linda Rice. This is almost certainly the right level for her, and a repeat of her two-back effort at Keeneland would make her a major player; #6 EMPLOYEEOFTHEMONTH (7/2): Disappointed as a heavy favorite at Finger Lakes last time out and didn’t appear to have much in the way of excuses. However, she’s relatively inexperienced, with just two starts under her belt, so perhaps she can move forward beneath new rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

R4

Strictly Taboo
Weekend Rags
Just Add Water

#1 STRICTLY TABOO (4-1): Has never run a bad race in three tries at this route, and she goes third off the layoff in this spot. She was very wide last time out in a race with a much-the-best winner, and she should save much more ground from the rail here; #3 WEEKEND RAGS (5-1): Was second in the race my top pick exits and goes first off the claim for Linda Rice. She hasn’t won in a while, but she’s a consistent sort that always seems to fire, and this barn does very well with new acquisitions; #6 JUST ADD WATER (4-1): Steps up in class for the Chad Summers barn, which has enjoyed plenty of success at this stand. She’s 2-for-2 at the Spa, retains the services of Jose Ortiz, and could still have room to improve in her fourth career outing.

R5

Rice entry
Suspiciously Named
Bermuda Triangle

#1 VINTAGE VINO (5/2): Is approaching “now or never” territory in his eighth start, but there are some things to like here. He probably went too far last time out and cuts back to a one-mile route he should appreciate. Given his tactical speed, he could work out an ideal stalking trip; #6 SUSPICIOUSLY NAMED (10-1): Was aggressively ridden last time out and ran second in his first start going two turns on turf. There may be some stamina issues here, but it’s also possible he makes the lead, gets comfortable, and proves tough to catch at a nice price; #4 BERMUDA TRIANGLE (10-1): Gets a few big changes here, including the ultimate one (he’ll run as a first-time gelding). He also goes back to the turf, which he’s bred to love, for new trainer Bill Morey, and I’m willing to give him one more shot on that surface.

R6

Pride of the Union
Arctic Beast
Froutien

#4 PRIDE OF THE UNION (9/2): Is a tepid nod in a wide-open 2-year-old maiden race. This Jorge Abreu trainee has a few solid drills on his sheet and is a full brother to two multiple winners, so he may have some potential; #8 ARCTIC BEAST (5-1): Sold for $275,000 at auction and has a right to be a runner. He’s a son of Yaupon and a multiple stakes-winning mare, and he gets an agreeable outside draw in his unveiling; #3 FROUTIEN (7/2): Hammered for $700,000 earlier this year despite a modest pedigree and debuts for Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez, but I have some doubts. Pletcher’s Monmouth horses are his second string, and that’s where this one has been. It’s possible he’s got talent, but other runners at better prices interest me more.

R7

Golden Irish
That’s Funny
Feasible

#4 GOLDEN IRISH (3-1): Did a lot of the dirty work setting a fast pace last time out and was run down by a horse that’s got some talent. There’s other speed in here, to be sure, but I don’t think she’ll have to work that hard early on again, and if that’s the case, she may have more in the tank late; #6 THAT’S FUNNY (10-1): Comes back to a dirt sprint, which she’s shown is her desired route of ground. The last-out turf experiment was a dud, but she has back races that are good enough to win this, and it’s intriguing to see Paco Lopez hop aboard; #1 FEASIBLE (5-1): Has had some gate issues and draws the rail, which isn’t the best spot for a horse like that. However, she ran well to be third last time out in the same race my top pick exits. If she’s able to break cleanly here, she’ll have a big chance in what hits me as a pretty wide-open event.

R8

Will Not Be Swayed
Starlight Dancer
Boxed Wine

#5 WILL NOT BE SWAYED (2-1): Isn’t a favorite I’m in love with picking, as she’s trying two turns for the first time on a major class drop. However, this field is, to put it kindly, not a strong one. Her prior turf races are simply significantly better than those of her counterparts, and if she runs anything close to those figures here, the race is for second; #7 STARLIGHT DANCER (3-1): Has turned a corner in her last three starts, with a win and two seconds since Kendrick Carmouche hopped back aboard. She ran well to miss by just a half-length last time out at this level, and Carmouche has been riding very, very well this summer; #10 BOXED WINE (8-1): Doesn’t draw a great post here, but she drops in for a tag for the first time since October and has had some quirky trips lately. The far-outside draw makes this a tough ask, but in a field of horses that are tough to recommend, at least there’s some reason for optimism.

R9

Little Prankster (MTO)
Future Is Now
Dontlookbackatall

#6 FUTURE IS NOW (6/5): Faces a strong field in the Smart And Fancy, but is one of the premier female turf sprinters in the country and is very much the horse to beat. She always seems to fire, she loves Saratoga, and she has tactical speed without necessarily needing the lead to run well; #7 DONTLOOKBACKATALL (15-1): Hasn’t run well of late, but she’s also had some layoffs that indicate she’s been dealing with some issues. Her 2024 form was very, very good, and she beat my top pick in last year’s Grade 3 Caress. She’ll need to find that form, but if she does, she’s got a big chance at a big price; #4 ELLEN JAY (3-1): Has been off 10 months but has been working well at Churchill ahead of her return to the races. She won three in a row last year before going to the sidelines, and this daughter of Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint heroine Covfefe merits respect if she’s ready to run.

R10

Dormello
Solo Jim
Undisputed

#2 DORMELLO (4-1): Debuts for a barn whose runners tend to need a race, but this is a mess of a finale with several contenders drawing terrible outside posts. Add in a few very solid five-furlong gate drills and a solid pedigree, and I think this one could win if he’s ready to fire; #8 SOLO JIM (7/2): Came flying late to be second beaten less than a length in the slop last time out, and given his terrible start, you can argue he was best that day. The post isn’t ideal, and neither is his late-running style out of the chute, but it’s also possible he’s just better than this bunch; #4 UNDISPUTED (9/2): Was third behind Iron Dome last time out, and that one romped again over winners at next asking. This figures to be a significantly softer spot, and he draws well by comparison to some of the other contenders.