BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,212.63

I offered some advice to any young people reading this section on Sunday, and I’ll do it again here: Remember who’s nice and kind to you when you’re starting your professional career, and appreciate it immensely because not everybody will be.

For many years, Sybille Cowan was the first face anyone saw when entering the Siena University athletic offices. This included the two years I worked there, from 2010 to 2012, and I can attest that everyone, to a person, loved her. The hours are long in that field, but she helped cultivate as welcoming an environment as she could, and when the day was over, she’d often be seen cheering the Saints on at venues around the Capital District.

Sybille passed away earlier this month. She lived a long, full life and touched a lot of people, and my heart goes out to her family, friends, and loved ones (including, of course, the Siena community).

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: I can’t complain with the effort we got from Majestic Moonlight in the sixth, but she could only manage a close-up second. I dropped $26.

WEDNESDAY’S PLAY: For what may be the first time in the history of this section, I’ll lean on a race involving the Wilson chute. I really like #1 NOBLE GLOW in the opener, and I’ll bet accordingly. She’s the subject of a $20 win bet, as well as $3 exactas using her above and below #3 MARIA LOUISE and #5 WEDELIA. In addition, I’ll play $4 doubles starting in the opener that single Noble Glow and finish with #3 DRAFT RIOTS and #4 ABRIGADO in the second.

TOTAL WAGERED: $40.

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SARATOGA SELECTIONS AND ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Noble Glow, Race 1
Longshot: Jarndyce, Race 5

R1

Noble Glow
Wedelia
Maria Louise

#1 NOBLE GLOW (5-1): Showed speed in her debut late last year at Churchill before going to the sidelines. She’s been working steadily (and well) for Chad Brown ahead of her return in the Wednesday lid-lifter, and she sure seems like the main speed. Given the inside draw, the first-time Lasix, and the presence of Flavien Prat, I think she’s very, very dangerous; #5 WEDELIA (7/5): Has run fairly well in two tries to date, most recently finishing second going two turns in the slop at Churchill. She’s yet to see a fast dirt track, so her best may still be in front of her, but the draw towards the outside at this route could present an obstacle; #3 MARIA LOUISE (9/5): Is bred to be a good one and sold accordingly, hammering for $850,000 back in 2024. This daughter of Gun Runner and three-time Grade 1 winner Stopchargingmaria comes in off of a few sharp gate works for Todd Pletcher, but this is a tough route to debut at.

R2

Abrigado
Draft Riots
Camino

#4 ABRIGADO (1-1): Takes a huge class drop to the bottom of the class ladder for ultra-aggressive connections not afraid to lose horses via the claim box. He’s shown speed in all three outings to date, and the addition of blinkers means he’ll likely be dictating terms from the jump; #3 DRAFT RIOTS (5/2): Is another going way down in class and adding blinkers. A turf experiment last time out didn’t work, but he’s another that should be forward early on, and in a race without many who can pass others late, that matters; #2 CAMINO (12-1): Merits a look underneath at a price. He’s run fairly well against decent groups for the level at Oaklawn Park, and if the top two go very fast early on and can’t sustain themselves late, this is the one that could benefit.

R3

Sharons Beach
Ramajay
Mr. Hooligan

#6 SHARONS BEACH (8/5): Was second in a swiftly-run race in Indiana last time out and is one of a few contenders today for trainer Jonathan Thomas. Like many in here, he’s got early speed, but unlike a few others, he’s shown an ability to run well without needing the lead, which is a significant tactical edge; #7 RAMAJAY (5/2): Did everything right last time out at Gulfstream and took advantage of a perfect trip with a sharp score. On speed figures, he makes sense, and the workouts are sharp, but this barn has been cold to this point in the season, and that raises some questions; #1 MR. HOOLIGAN (8-1): Has shown a lot of gate speed and has the zip to make the rail draw an asset. Jose Ortiz rides for the Rice family, and of the “need the lead” runners, this is the one I’m most interested in.

R4

Music in Motion (MTO)
True Legend
Daisy Doo

#6 TRUE LEGEND (3-1): Hasn’t run since December, but that was a try in a $500,000 stakes race on dirt. His three prior efforts, all on turf, weren’t bad, and the two-back bullet drill jumps off the page. If he’s ready to go like I think he is, he hits me as the one to beat; #3 DAISY DOO (6-1): Is one of only a couple of closers in here, and that figures to work to his advantage in the third start of his campaign. The much-the-best winner didn’t come back to the field last time out, and I think he gets a more friendly setup here at a bit of a price; #7 HOT OFF THE BEACH (4-1): Debuted with an OK second downstate in May and has been off nearly three months. He goes up in class a bit to run against maiden special weight foes, but John Velazquez hops aboard and he can certainly move forward at second asking.

R5

San Antonio Sara (MTO)
Force of Mischief
Jarndyce

#2 FORCE OF MISCHIEF (7/2): Runs for a tag for the first time and may have been compromised by a wide trip last time out. Blinkers go on, and she gets a more friendly inside draw here against a group that doesn’t seem as fast. For a few reasons, she’s very logical; #1 JARNDYCE (12-1): Debuts for a small barn we haven’t seen in upstate New York, but there’s reason for optimism. She’s a full sister to a three-time winner named Hall Monitor, and that one has turned into a pretty nice turf marathoner. I don’t know what to expect first time out, but to be fair, I don’t think she has to be a monster to make an impact here; #10 LUCIANA’S HONOR (20-1): Doesn’t draw well here, but she goes back to the turf, and her debut over this surface last year wasn’t awful. She was fifth behind a few next-out winners that day, and she showed some speed and grit last time out going a mile on dirt at Aqueduct.

R6

Chief Wallabee
Blackout Time
Gulfy

#4 CHIEF WALLABEE (4/5): Was fourth in two legs of the Triple Crown and gets significant class relief in the Curlin (which, as usual, has pulled a few potential runners out of this weekend’s Jim Dandy, and that seems like a scheduling mistake). His best effort is very, very good, and I think he’ll appreciate not having to knock heads with the likes of Golden Tempo; #1 BLACKOUT TIME (3-1): Took advantage of first-level allowance company last time out and waltzed home clear by six lengths. Lasix may have moved him forward, but he did show some potential last season, when he was second behind Ted Noffey at Keeneland, and perhaps he’s just maturing midway into his 3-year-old season; #2 GULFY (12-1): May not want two turns, but he sure looks like the lone early speed. He tired to run fourth in the Grade 3 Peter Pan, but he may be able to sit an easier trip in this spot. If he does, he could hang on for a piece of it at a price.

R7

Pronghorn (MTO)
Time to Dream
Unreasonable

#3 TIME TO DREAM (3-1): Has been running against stakes company for the past year and drops into the optional claiming ranks, which means she gets Lasix for the first time. It feels like she’s plateaued a bit of late, but between the equipment change and the drop in class, this seems to be an ideal spot for her to wake up; #8 UNREASONABLE (5-1): Is one of two Miguel Clement trainees in here and ran well when second in a similar spot in mid-June at Aqueduct. Her lone stateside win came here last summer against what turned out to be a pretty solid group, and I don’t think she’s illogical here; #5 SERENDIPITY (5/2): Will certainly be involved from the jump here, and she’s done very little wrong to date. She has two wins and two seconds in four starts and could improve here. The question is, can she strut her stuff if she’s challenged going into the first turn? There are several others in here that want to be forward, and that could make things difficult for the favorite on the morning line.

R8

Chris’s Song (MTO)
Beau Cheval
Rossbeigh

#7 BEAU CHEVAL (8-1): Goes first off the claim for Joe Sharp in the nightcap and may provide some value. He may have moved a bit early last time out, when he finished third in a similar spot on closing day at Aqueduct. With the barn switch and the arrival of Jose Ortiz, I think he could be sitting on a career-best effort; #5 ROSSBEIGH (7/2): Has disappointed as a heavy favorite in back-to-back outings, but he does more than fit on speed figures and he wouldn’t be surprising. His effort two back at this route was solid, though not spectacular, and at least he shouldn’t be the 1/2 he was last time out; #4 CLASSIC COMMANDER (4-1): Didn’t break well last time but still rallied to be beaten less than two lengths. He does have a history of finding trouble, which makes him tough to endorse at a short price, but his two-back effort downstate was a good one and the switch to John Velazquez could be what he needs.