Andrew Champagne

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $862

Every year, I bring up the story of Bill Finley, who wrote for The New York Daily News for years and was a part of that paper’s “Battle of Saratoga.” This was a three-way duel between turf writers where all three did what I do each day: Provide a written blurb (usually with smack talk), followed by action for that day’s racing program.

One year, Bill exhausted his $1,000 budget before the meet was over and wound up having fans submit minuscule tickets for publication. It’s my goal to never hit that point of desperation. After cashing a ticket yesterday, things finally seem to be looking up!

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS: Danny California was bet down a bit after scratches, but he never looked like a loser and returned $6.80 for every successful $2 wager. As such, my $25 investment returned $68, accounting for a $20 win ticket and a failed $5 cold double.

THURSDAY’S PLAY: I sincerely hope we get the 6-1 morning line price on #1 PAT ON THE BACK in the John Morrissey, which goes as the ninth race on the program. I’ll put a $10 win bet on him, and I’ll also play $3 exactas using him above and below #4 AMUNDSON and #5 BANKIT.

TOTAL WAGERED: $22.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Foxtail, Race 3
Longshot: Evaluator, Race 5

R1

Sugar Fix
Little Red Frog
Punk Rock Princess

#4 SUGAR FIX: Has won five of 11 career starts ahead of her debut on this circuit and is riding a streak of three straight victories. Jose Ortiz sees fit to ride for a small barn, and if she’s brought her form with her, she’ll be tough; #7 LITTLE RED FROG: Has finished second in both prior turf starts and was an OK second against similar company downstate. She hasn’t won in a while, but she’ll likely be heard from late; #2 PUNK ROCK PRINCESS: Will make the rare Charles Town-to-Saratoga move in this spot but did run second in her lone prior turf start going a mile at Laurel last summer. She’s got some early speed, and that could make the rail draw an asset.

R2

Majestic View
Lord Camden
Unrelenting Force

#6 MAJESTIC VIEW: Runs for a tag for the first time and attracts Joel Rosario in this wide-open maiden claimer for state-breds. He showed some early zip in his lone prior dirt start, and he may not have been fully cranked by his patient trainer; #7 LORD CAMDEN: Moved up after going back to the dirt last time out, when he ran third despite a troubled trip. The Casse barn is winless at the meet as of this writing, but a repeat of his last race would give him a shot here; #1 UNRELENTING FORCE: Comes off a layoff for a barn that quietly does great work with a smaller head count. The question here has two parts; is he ready for his first test since March, and does he want to go a bit longer than what he’ll get?

R3

Foxtail
Daria’s Angel (MTO)
Vip Nation

#2 FOXTAIL: Was claimed by top-tier claiming trainer Danny Gargan, who drops her down in class second off the bench. She’s run well against much better company and looks formidable in this spot; #6 VIP NATION: Might have needed her return race downstate, where she still rallied late to salvage fourth money. She’s got more early speed than she showed that day, and it’s logical to think she’ll be sharper for this race; #7 ROSEBUD’S HOPE: Drops way down the ladder in her first afternoon outing since April. Her lone prior start here was a win, which is encouraging (as is the presence of Jose Ortiz), but speed hasn’t been holding going long on grass so far this meet.

R4

Our Lady of Loreto
Rousey
Charlotte Webley

#2 OUR LADY OF LORETO: Got caught after setting sizzling fractions in her first race back last month, but there’s still plenty to like. She seems like the quickest of the quick here, and if speed is holding, she may prove tough to catch; #5 ROUSEY: Looks like the best-meant closer in here. She comes back to the main track, and her races two and three back against similar groups saw her run second twice; #3 CHARLOTTE WEBLEY: Overcame a green run to find the winner’s circle as an odds-on favorite on Independence Day downstate. This is her first run against winners, and she may need to figure things out in a hurry.

R5

Twisted Tom (MTO)
Graded On a Curve
Evaluator

#8 GRADED ON A CURVE: Came back with a bang when cruising home despite an unfavorable race shape downstate. There was no early speed in that race, yet he still rallied from eight lengths back to win by more than four. A similar effort will make this one tough; #1 EVALUATOR: Has plenty of back class and has a chance to do damage here if he’s ready to run. That’s a tough ask considering the 11-month layoff, but he has back form and would benefit from a pace meltdown; #5 RINALDI: Hasn’t run a bad race to this point in his career and won two restricted stakes races last summer. His comeback race was fine, and he could improve with that run under his belt.

R6

More Mango
Checksandbalances
Malibu Anthem

#5 MORE MANGO: Was claimed by Mike Maker after running third against similar foes at Belmont. Maker moves turf horses up as well as anyone in the game, and between the barn change and this being her second start off the layoff, there are plenty of reasons to expect significant improvement; #7 CHECKSANDBALANCES: Was one-paced when fifth in her debut downstate, and that race has already produced a few next-out winners. I won’t be surprised if she wins, but this one’s been training at Monmouth with Chad Brown’s second-stringers, and that’s a red flag; #10 MALIBU ANTHEM: Has run second in both of her prior starts and tries turf for the first time. She’s by Malibu Moon, so there’s reason to believe she’ll take to the new surface.

R7

My Man Flintstone
Mister Bobby
Fed Funds

#5 MY MAN FLINTSTONE: Hasn’t won in a while, but has lots of early speed and doesn’t seem to come up against the toughest group for the level. I think he’ll go early and play “catch me if you can,” and I’m not sure these foes are up to that task; #8 MISTER BOBBY: Came back running when second against similar at Belmont earlier this month. He’s got the talent to win, but he’s also had plenty of chances at this level, which can be seen as a red flag; #3 FED FUNDS: Responded to the drop in class last time out with a maiden-breaking score and tries winners for the first time. This barn doesn’t have many runners, but it’s not often they lead a horse over that isn’t ready to run.

R8

Barrel of Destiny
Short Pour
Pecatonica

#8 BARREL OF DESTINY: Comes in in search of her fourth straight win after a successful return to New York-bred competition last month. Mike Maker claimed her two back, and I think she could sit a beautiful stalking trip and have first run around the far turn; #3 SHORT POUR: Seems like the main speed and was a good second in a solid race for the level last time out. She loves this turf course and may be tough to catch if she gets left alone early; #1 PECATONICA: Pulled off an 11-1 upset earlier in the meet and is wheeled back quickly. The “horse for course” theory is real, and she’s run the best races of her career going this route of ground.

R9

Pat On the Back
Amundson
Bankit

#1 PAT ON THE BACK: Almost certainly needed his 2020 debut, and it’s safe to assume something went wrong in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile because we didn’t see him again for six months. Toss both of those races for those logical reasons, and you have an imposing force on the rail that may be under-bet; #4 AMUNDSON: Returns to the state-bred ranks and exits some fast races against open company at Belmont. His early speed will be an asset, though it’s worth noting some of his worst races have come away from that downstate venue; #5 BANKIT: Needs to be used by vertical exotics players, but using him on top is a risky proposition. Yes, if he gets a clean trip, he could win, but he seems to find trouble and this distance may be a bit shorter than he wants.

R10

Every Minute
Boom Boom Kaboom
Tempesta

#2 EVERY MINUTE: Broke last in his debut, but showed late interest and was beaten less than four lengths. That race’s second-place finisher came back to win last weekend, and this barn is too talented to be sitting on the duck at this meet; #3 BOOM BOOM KABOOM: Exits that same race and adds blinkers for George Weaver on the slight drop in class. This is his third start since returning to the races, and he’s stepped forward in each of his last two; #4 TEMPESTA: Nearly wired the field at a price at Belmont before settling for third behind a next-out winner. The front end hasn’t exactly been the place to be, but he’s hit the board in all three of his prior turf starts and perhaps he’s turning a corner.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $819

At its best, horse racing Twitter is a community of passionate people dedicated to supporting the sport both on social media and at the betting windows. At its worst, it’s a cesspool with drama reminiscent of a high school cafeteria, minus the lousy food and overdue chemistry homework.

It ticks me off when substandard behavior is considered acceptable solely because we’ve lowered the bar as a society. That’s where we’re at right now, and while racing itself is built on the backs of skeptics, critics, and those trying to find every possible bit of knowledge, it’s gotten to where racing’s most prominent social media platform just isn’t as much fun as it used to be.

Horse racing Twitter: Be better. This goes for everyone. Cultivate an atmosphere you want to be part of, and one you’d have no problem inviting friends to. The worse we act to people who have no idea about the sport, the less of a chance we have to create new fans, ones we desperately need.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: River Tiber may have some potential yet, but he raced very wide from his outside post and finished a distant third. Win and doubles tickets turned into confetti, and I dropped another $25.

WEDNESDAY’S PLAY: The more I look at the eighth race, the more I love #8 DANNY CALIFORNIA. He’s the only runner in here with a win over winners going two turns, and he sports several of those. I’ll play him on his own with a $20 win bet, and I’ll also single him in a $5 cold double starting in the seventh with heavy favorite #4 SAYYAAF.

TOTAL WAGERED: $25.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Danny California, Race 8
Longshot: Niko’s Dream, Race 5

R1

Hendriks entry
Critical Data
Anticipating

HENDRIKS ENTRY: I prefer #1A GLOBAL FREEDOM, who flashed talent late last year and lost the rider in his 2020 debut. However, #1 SIXTY FIVE can also win, especially considering he needed the last-out tightener at Laurel after such a long break; #4 CRITICAL DATA: Took to hurdles like a duck to water when graduating in his first start over fences last time out. This spot came up tough for the level, but he’s a contender if he’s ready to step forward; #2 ANTICIPATING: May have been a little short last time out when third against similar company. He wired a field two back before going to the sidelines and seems like the main early speed.

R2

Belleza
Cross Keys
Whistlinginthedark

#4 BELLEZA: Chased a runaway winner in her return to the races downstate and looms large second off the bench. Any sort of a step forward will make her very tough for the Rice/Irad tag team; #7 CROSS KEYS: Tired going longer against state-bred maiden special weight foes in her unveiling for a barn whose horses sometimes need a race or two to get going. If she has the speed to make the lead against sprinters, she could get brave; #2 WHISTLINGINTHEDARK: Broke last in a big field in her first start, but showed some late interest and passed more than half the field. Improvement is logical at second asking, and she may be a price.

R3

New Day Dawning (MTO)
Positive Skew
Five Alarm Robin

#9 POSITIVE SKEW: Stepped forward in a big way when a fast-closing second in her first start beneath Joel Rosario. He’s aboard once again, and it helps her cause that she ran reasonably well over this turf course last summer; #4 FIVE ALARM ROBIN: Takes a drop in class in her first start since February. She’s run well on turf against better, but the layoff is a big concern, as is the significant plunge down the ladder; #10 GEA: Makes her first start for trainer Phil Serpe after running several OK races down in Florida. Luis Saez hops aboard for her first start on the circuit, and that seems like a positive sign in a wide-open event.

R4

Pletcher entry
Hometown
First Line

PLETCHER ENTRY: #1 AJHAR looms large, and #1A ASHIHAM could win as well. The former hooked a well-meant runner in Creed downstate and has some early speed, while the latter has run well going two turns multiple times; #2 HOMETOWN: Exits a key race that has produced several next-out winners. He’s bred to want two turns, and this barn’s runners tend to move forward at second asking; #3 FIRST LINE: Is another going two turns for the first time, and he does so second off the bench with a recent bullet workout to his credit. Jose Ortiz sees fit to ride, and this barn can pop at a price.

R5

Love and Love (MTO)
War Canoe
Niko’s Dream

#1 WAR CANOE: Makes lots of sense second off the layoff for Chad Brown. She may have been a bit short in the Mount Vernon downstate, and the return to a two-turn route of ground could also move her up; #6 NIKO’S DREAM: Returns for her first start since March, but ran well against open company in Florida this past spring and is worth a long look for Team Tiz the Law. She won and finished second in two starts here a season ago, and she should be running well late; #4 CLASSIC LADY: Is one of two in here for Christophe Clement and hasn’t run a bad one in more than a year. She just missed in the Mount Vernon, but I wonder if she’s best going one turn as opposed to two.

R6

Pete’s Play Call
Kantarmaci entry
Lone Rock

#3 PETE’S PLAY CALL: Chased stakes-caliber sprinter C Z Rocket at Churchill and drops back to a level he’s run well at several times. He has tactical speed but doesn’t need the lead in order to run well, which could put him in a great spot; KANTARMACI ENTRY: #1 REED KAN has won two in a row since coming off the bench and takes the next step up the class ladder. When he’s good, he’s very good, but when he’s bad, he’s very bad; #2 LONE ROCK: Goes back to the Bill Mott barn, and he had some success there over the winter. He was fourth in a pair of stakes races, including the Grade 3 General George at Laurel Park, and this represents a pretty significant class drop.

R7

Sayyaaf
Kitten’s Cat
Ghoul

#4 SAYYAAF: May be the shortest-priced favorite on the card, and for good reason. He was a good second in his first start off the bench, and if he can sit off of likely pacesetter #8 VICI, I think he’ll be very hard to catch when the real running starts; #10 KITTEN’S CAT: Has won two in a row and goes first off the claim for Linda Rice. The outside post can be a problem in these turf sprints, but it’s tough to argue with his recent form (and that of his rider, Jose Ortiz); #9 GHOUL: Is worth a look if you’re going price-shopping. He exits a pair of classy allowance races in Kentucky and is entered for a tag by aggressive connections.

R8

Danny California
Bebe Banker
Blackjack Davey

#8 DANNY CALIFORNIA: Stretches back out to two turns, where he’s done most of his best running, and does so against a field unproven at this trip. He won at this route last season, and the two races over the winter at Aqueduct at this distance were both very strong; #2 BEBE BANKER: Thumped weaker foes downstate after a three-month freshening and tries two turns on dirt for the first time. If the track is playing kindly to speed, this one stands to benefit; #6 BLACKJACK DAVEY: Showed significant improvement second time out in an easy win downstate. That was at a similar distance to this event, but can he show that same form going two turns in his first start against winners?

R9

Devamani
Wissahickon
Gidu

#8 DEVAMANI: Gets a narrow nod in an extremely competitive turf route. He exits the Grade 1 Manhattan, where he was beaten less than three lengths. His best race probably wins, but if his connections expected significant class relief, they didn’t get it here; #1 WISSAHICKON: Makes his U.S. debut and gets Lasix for the first time. The layoff of nearly a year is a big question mark, but he was a runaway Group 3 winner overseas and runs for strong horseman Jonathan Thomas, so it wouldn’t be a shock if he was ready; #3 GIDU: Hasn’t won in a while, but has shown significant speed against some of America’s better turf horses. There’s a layoff to consider here, too, but he’ll certainly be prominent early and could have something left if he’s yielded an easy lead.

R10

Madaket entry
Sequin
Spectacularsunrise

MADAKET ENTRY: I liked #1 ZACCAPA a lot earlier this month at Belmont, and she ran an OK second that day while racing greenly and seeming to wait on her foes. I think she needed that effort, and that she’ll be much sharper in the Wednesday finale; #4 SEQUIN: Ran second in three turf starts last year before going to the sidelines in late-October. She’s been working consistently for Wesley Ward, and this certainly doesn’t seem like the toughest return engagement; #6 SPECTACULARSUNRISE: Makes her debut for Chad Brown and has every right to be a good turf horse. She’s by More Than Ready, out of a Tale of the Cat mare, and fetched $225,000 at auction last year.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $895

I’m a big fan of the Fox Sports talent and crew covering Saratoga this summer, and I consider many members of that team personal friends. However, I can’t help but worry about some of the occupational hazards in their midst as they cover this meet, and I’m not talking about COVID-19!

During socially-distanced interviews, there’s what we in the business call a “boom mic” that swings back and forth to pick up sound from the people talking. Every time it swings back and forth, I worry it’s going to conk someone in the face. Imagine a jockey coming away from piloting a thousand-pound animal without a scratch, yet having to get off a live mount after being examined due to a run-in with a microphone.

(Keep doing a great job, everyone. I love watching the shows every day!)

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: My Pick Four ticket was played to try to get value out of my best bet in the finale, but we didn’t get that far. My play went bust in the third leg, although scratches did reduce the bankroll hit to $13.50.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: I’m going to take a swing here. I know the front end hasn’t been the place to be on turf so far this meet, but the more I look at the sixth, the more I like #2 NO MO TEMPER. The 12-1 shot ran fine in her first start in 18 months downstate, and I’m just not in love with the shorter prices. I’m putting $10 to win and place on her, and I’m hoping she lulls them to sleep on the front end in this turf marathon.

TOTAL WAGERED: $20.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Voting Agreement, Race 3
Longshot: No Mo Temper, Race 6

R1

Assume
Hands Up
Scarlet’s Song

#5 ASSUME: Drops way down in class for aggressive connections after getting checks against straight maidens a few times at Gulfstream. Her debut going short was fine, and it seems like she’s found her friends; #4 HANDS UP: Ran second in a maiden claimer two back at Churchill but takes a steep drop after misfiring last month. She’s a consistent sort that seems to be working well; #1 SCARLET’S SONG: Stands a chance at improving and will likely be a square price. She showed some late interest in her debut at Laurel, and perhaps she’ll take a step forward with experience and a change in surface.

R2

Kinky Sox
Hetty G.
Overtime Olivia

#1 KINKY SOX: Ran well when second in her first start at this level and looms large. She was well clear of the third-place finisher that day, and a repeat of that effort will likely make her pretty tough to beat; #3 HETTY G.: Didn’t break well last time out in the same race my top pick exits, so I don’t have much trouble drawing a line through it. She ran well to win two starts ago, and I think she’ll be closer to the pace here; #2 OVERTIME OLIVIA: May be well-bet but has not won in a while. She’s another with some early speed, and she was a tough-luck second two back downstate.

R3

Voting Agreement
Peaceful
Henni Penny

#6 VOTING AGREEMENT: Won her debut at this route and makes her second start off a long layoff here. She’s got some tactical speed and may get first run on the pacesetters as the field turns for home; #2 PEACEFUL: Is another that won here last summer, and she did everything but win last time out at Belmont. The question is, can she repeat that type of effort, or is a bounce in the offing?; #4 HENNI PENNY: Looks best of the rest and may be a bit of a price. She was third in the race Peaceful exits and has never been out of the money in four career starts on turf.

R4

Stay Fond
Blunt Force
Cold Hearted Pearl

#6 STAY FOND: Came back running in her first start since February, when she rallied from last to first at this distance downstate. She has, however, shown much more early zip in prior starts, and I think she’ll be in a better spot down the backstretch; #8 BLUNT FORCE: Has shown she loves this seven-furlong trip, with two wins in her last three starts (both at this distance). Tom Amoss seems to have trained some speed into her, and the outside draw is a big help; #3 COLD HEARTED PEARL: Has tired in two starts since being claimed but may be worth another shot here. She’s won twice at this distance and has enough speed to be prominent out of the gate.

R5

Jill’s a Hot Mess
Going Going Gone
Samborella

#6 JILL’S A HOT MESS: Makes her third start for her third different trainer at a third different track, but seems like the one to beat. She was a good second against similar company downstate and is the only runner with experience that has shown early zip; #5 GOING GOING GONE: May have needed her debut, where she chased my top pick before fading. She goes to the Rudy Rodriguez barn, which adds blinkers (a powerful move for these connections); #9 SAMBORELLA: Fetched $500,000 at auction last summer despite a modest pedigree and has some solid works on the tab. With the exception of the most recent drill, though, they don’t jump off the page, and at her likely price, I’ll try to beat her.

R6

No Mo Temper
Cap de Creus
Ebony

#2 NO MO TEMPER: Is worth a long look, especially at her likely price. Her effort off a long layoff wasn’t bad, and she may inherit the early lead by default in this turf marathon. It’s not hard to see a scenario where she gets pretty comfortable on the front end; #9 CAP DE CREUS: Has significant back class and will likely be favored. However, she’s burned a lot of money in her career, and her only win was in a dirt race in the mud at Keeneland. At her likely price, I can’t back her; #7 EBONY: Misfired in her U.S. debut, but perhaps she needed that race after a long layoff. Her prior connections saw fit to run her in a Group 1 in France last summer, and Graham Motion does well with horses second off the bench.

R7

Munnings Muse (MTO)
Snicket
Quantitativbreezin

#8 SNICKET: Had a rough trip earlier this month at Belmont, and a case could be made that she should’ve been placed first that day. Rosario rides back for Clement, and a cleaner trip here would make her very tough; #10 QUANTITATIVBREEZIN: Rallied to be second in her debut downstate, and she raced a bit greenly that day. The experience should help her here, and she’s a contender despite the less-than-ideal outside draw; #7 MAGNOLIA’S LADY: Took a step forward when third last time out in the same race my top pick exits. She showed some early zip in that race, and she should be among the leaders going into the turn.

R8

Free Enterprise
Strike That
Mount Travers

#7 FREE ENTERPRISE: Was third in his return to the races last month at Churchill, and based on back figures, he’s strictly the one to beat. He got really good late last year, and it’s logical to expect a return to that form in this spot; #9 STRIKE THAT: Hasn’t finished worse than second in five career starts and comes off the bench for Robertino Diodoro. He ran into Volatile last time out, and that one will likely be favored in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt this weekend; #1 MOUNT TRAVERS: Hasn’t won in a while, but his comeback race was fine, as he ran a good second in the mud at Belmont. Linda Rice’s barn has been going well, and the faster they go early, the more likely it is this one will be heard from late.

R9

Jack and Noah
Old Chestnut
Power Up Paynter

#2 JACK AND NOAH: Has a lot of early speed and may be dangerous if he’s allowed to dictate terms. The fourth-place finisher from the Sir Cat has already come back to win, and this colt will likely be the one they have to catch; #4 OLD CHESTNUT: Hasn’t won in a while and was third in the Sir Cat, but is one to watch in case another runner goes with my top pick. There is some other speed signed on, and perhaps that softens up the chalk; #7 POWER UP PAYNTER: Didn’t do much running a few days ago when sixth against state-breds, but his race two back was a solid come-from-behind effort. A repeat of that performance could get him a check at a price.

R10

Royal Suspect (MTO)
Bricco
K. K. Ichikawa

#3 BRICCO: Ran quite well last time out, especially since that was his first start since October. That was his second time hitting the board in as many career starts, and his running style indicates a two-turn configuration won’t be a problem; #14 K. K. ICHIKAWA: Has to get lucky to draw in off the AE list, but will be a contender if he does. He debuted running third downstate and will get Lasix for the first time here; #1 AINTITFUNKYNOW: Runs for a tag for the first time, but I’m not sold. Yes, the class drop helps, but he hasn’t been running against world-beaters prior to this event, one that actually came up reasonably strong for the level. At his likely price, I’m going elsewhere.