BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,104.43

You never know how much you need the 2-W-S-X diagonal on your computer keyboard until it goes kaput. That happened to me Wednesday as I tried to write up Friday’s program, and it was horrendous.

Just try writing a sentence like this one: “#2 (INSERT HORSE NAME HERE): Won while six-wide at Saratoga last time out.” Thankfully, I figured out a few workarounds and content got where it needed to go, but of all the issues I expected to encounter this summer, that…was not one of them.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: The good news is that Combat Move won the opener. The bad news is that the opener was moved off the turf, which cancelled my action. As a reminder, all bets made on turf races assume they stay on that surface. In this case, it burned me, but rules are rules.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: This week’s episode of “Drank’n Champagne” on the On the Wrong Lead network (accessible on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts) looked at the late Pick Five. I can’t play that sequence starting in the sixth, but I do have strong enough opinions in the first two legs to justify a cold $30 double. I’m singling #8 BALIAGE to start and singling #7 GLEN AIRY to finish. It may be chalky, but I’m hoping to have it for enough money to make the wager worth my while (see what I did with the W key there? That’s called a callback!).

TOTAL WAGERED: $30.

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SARATOGA SELECTIONS AND ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Baliage, Race 6
Longshot: Melody Man, Race 10

R1

Stickupwithoutagun
Who’s Your Zaddy
Into the Light

#4 STICKUPWITHOUTAGUN (3-1): Is a tepid top pick in a tricky Friday opener out of the Wilson chute. He drops in class for this one, and he’ll get to run with Lasix, which may have helped him to a few solid efforts earlier this year. The presence of Jose Ortiz doesn’t hurt, either; #6 WHO’S YOUR ZADDY (5/2): Goes first off the claim for Orlando Noda, who does great work with new acquisitions. He’ll have to work out a trip from the outside, which isn’t easy, but the cutback from a two-turn route could move him forward; #1 INTO THE LIGHT (3-1): Was second at this level and route in his first try against winners last month. He’s once again in position to enjoy an ideal trip from the inside draw, and he may not have to go quite as fast early on to hold his ground.

R2

Atlas a Eye (MTO)
Southern Kiss
Early Autumn

#6 SOUTHERN KISS (2-1): Ran well in her debut at Ellis Park, where she rallied and led in the stretch over yielding going before settling for second. This barn has enjoyed quite a bit of success at this stand this summer, and I’m expecting a move forward at second asking; #5 EARLY AUTUMN (4-1): Ships up from Parx for John Servis, who doesn’t make the trip to New York for kicks. The last-out bullet drill may hint at some precocity, and Hall of Famer John Velazquez hopping aboard could be another clue; #3 MISS MA’AM (5-1): Cuts back from a route where she showed some speed, and this sprint could be more to her liking. Her debut going short on dirt wasn’t terrible, and the experience edge she has over many of these could come in handy. 

R3

Georgia Magic (MTO)
Intellect
Paros

#5 INTELLECT (9/5): Hasn’t won in a while, but he chased a loose-on-the-lead winner that’s been going very well of late last time out. He should get some more pace to chase here, although losing Irad Ortiz, Jr., to injury is certainly notable; #6 PAROS (4-1): Comes back to the turf after a puzzling dirt try against stakes-caliber runners last time out. He’s 2-for-2 on the Saratoga turf course, and Kendrick Carmouche fit him like a glove in a wire-to-wire score two back at Aqueduct; #2 COSMIC YEAR (8/5): Didn’t get much pace to chase in the Grade 3 Kelso and certainly gets some class relief after going against the likes of Mi Bago and Zulu Kingdom. Being a deep closer on the inner turf isn’t always ideal, but ignore Chad Brown and Manny Franco at your own peril.

R4

Abrigado
Toga d’Oro
Swaging

#5 ABRIGADO (7/2): Romped to earn the diploma last time out after a massive class drop. Joe Sharp won the shake that day, and this one comes back pretty quickly, which I’m interpreting as a good sign. Any sort of improvement would give him a chance at two wins in a row; #4 TOGA D’ORO (5/2): Hasn’t won since March of last year and has had quite a few chances since then. However, his last-out effort against similar was solid, and he’s done his best work at this seven-furlong distance; #7 SWAGING (5-1): Runs for the third time this meet and cuts back from two turns to this elongated sprint. He was second in that event, and he was third going 6 1/2 furlongs two back with what probably wasn’t his desired trip.

R5

Disparate Impact
Stream It
Old Time Rocknroll

#1 DISPARATE IMPACT (6-1): Had to navigate a far-outside post at this route last time out, but he still ran well to be second that day. That’s almost never a productive trip, and he gets a much better post here in a race without much other apparent early zip signed on. If he gets comfortable, he could get dangerous; #7 STREAM IT (3-1): May be the more-bet part of Linda Rice’s 1-2 punch despite the wide draw. He drops in class, has been running against some solid horses, and has been working well ahead of his first start since April; #6 OLD TIME ROCKNROLL (2-1): Rallied to finish third in his first try since August, and he could be sharper second off the bench. That didn’t hit me as a very strong event, but he may well have needed that run, and he showed he may relish the added distance he gets here.

R6

Baliage
May December
Cut Your Losses

#8 BALIAGE (5/2): Is bred up and down to be an excellent turf horse. She’s by top European sire Kingman and out of Grade 1 winner Blowout, who in turn is out of French Group 1 winner Beauty Parlour. Everything says this is exactly what she wants, and I think she’s a formidable favorite; #4 MAY DECEMBER (6-1): Debuts for a barn that doesn’t rush its horses, but she’s another bred to love this two-turn route on the grass. She’s kin to stakes winner Adorable Miss, the dam of two other turf stakes winners, and her second dam is Grade 1-winning router Favorite Funtime; #5 CUT YOUR LOSSES (6-1): Certainly has a distance-focused pedigree, being by Epicenter and out of a mare that’s kin to Grade 1-placed Gouverneur Morris and stakes winner Final Jeopardy. The question is, does she want turf, or does she just want this two-turn route?

R7

Glen Airy
Apalta
Sharp Spark

#7 GLEN AIRY (8/5): Takes a big, big drop in class for some of the most aggressive connections on the grounds. He runs for a $16,000 tag just two starts after being beaten a neck against $80,000 optional claimers at Churchill, and he should be able to sit off of a fast pace and come rolling late; #9 APALTA (9/2): Is one of two closers trained by Ilkay Kantarmaci, and he hasn’t run at a level like this in quite some time. He may be pace-dependent, but he’ll almost certainly get one to run at beneath Manny Franco; #5 SHARP SPARK (5-1): Ran OK to be fourth at this route last time out and this, on paper, feels like a softer spot. Franco opts to ride his stablemate, which may not be ideal, but he’s another who figures to benefit from the likely race shape.

R8

Bold Strength
Contrary Thinking
Eliminate

#7 BOLD STRENGTH (3-1): Draws a friendly outside post and ran very well at this distance last time at Churchill. He ran very quickly that day, and the third-place finisher came back to win at next asking. This is a highly-competitive group, but he could be going the right way for connections that win a lot of races; #2 CONTRARY THINKING (5/2): Has run well here twice since going to Amelia Green’s barn, but has run into a pair of strong performances and had to settle for two runner-up finishes. He once again figures to be forwardly-placed, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he broke through here; #5 ELIMINATE (9/2): Has won two of his last three and will do his best running late. A one-turn mile probably suits him better, but he’s run well here in the past and should get a pace to run at, which could set up for him.

R9

Zeitlos
Capturing
Miss Vyvyanne

#9 ZEITLOS (2-1): Hasn’t won in a while, but she’s also been running against top-class horses and looms large in the Smart and Fancy. Her effort in the last two renewals of the Caress were very good, and if she runs that type of race here, it could easily land her in the winner’s circle for the first time since early-2025; #5 CAPTURING (5-1): Got up at the last possible moment against optional claimers and goes up in class for this event. Two of her three wins to date have come at this 5 1/2-furlong distance, and if she can run well without Lasix, she could be heard from late in the game; #6 MISS VYVYANNE (5/2): Has made a name for herself north of the border and most recently beat the boys in the Grade 2 Highlander. The two-part question is, can she replicate that form at Saratoga, and can she survive what figures to be a hotly-contested early pace?

R10

Melody Man
About Face
Minotaur

#3 MELODY MAN (8-1): Has the potential to be the lone speed in the Friday nightcap, which could make him dangerous in this two-turn route on the inner turf. He ran well going two turns back in March at Gulfstream, and he could get loose at a price; #2 ABOUT FACE (2-1): Drops in for a tag, and his lone turf race to date was by far the best race he’s run. He was second in that race two back at Churchill, a similar type of effort would make him very competitive, and he’s not a terrible favorite; #4 MINOTAUR (8-1): Has a history of adventurous trips and didn’t run terribly in his local debut. He was fourth despite a wide trip that day, and he’s eligible to improve second off the bench given a trip that saves a bit more ground.