BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $518.20

Every now and then, an article gets posted about horse racing by someone who has no idea what’s going on. One that made the rounds a few days ago may challenge a blurb I saw in Southwest Airlines’ in-flight magazine that declared Orb the favorite for the 2014 Preakness Stakes, a year after he lost that race to Oxbow.

If you haven’t seen the article about Wonder Gadot on the Hollywood Life website, it’s on my Twitter page (@AndrewChampagne). Scroll down a bit, click the link, and if you feel compelled to create a drinking game out of taking sips upon seeing mistakes, be warned that you probably won’t finish reading it before reaching your tolerance level.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS: We scratched down to $16 worth of doubles, which turned out to be bad beats. Single Rushing Fall won the Lake Placid, and I was right about Midnight Bisou not wanting the Alabama’s 10-furlong distance, but we didn’t have 9-1 winner Eskimo Kisses. In a word, ouch.

SUNDAY’S PLAY: I’ll make this pretty simple, because I think #2 MO WHEELS UP could be an overlay in the seventh. She’s been working tremendously here, and was getting plenty of action ahead of her planned debut. She had to scratch at the gate that day, but it seems like she’s ready to run. I’ll put $30 on her to win and hope we get the 3-1 morning line price.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Mo Wheels Up, Race 7
Longshot: Timber Ghost, Race 2

R1

Dubb entry
Miss Nancy
Miss Aja Brown

DUBB ENTRY: #1 GLORY TO KITTEN and #1A QUEEN OF CASTLE could both conceivably win. The two mares are both dropping significantly in class for aggressive connections; #7 MISS NANCY: Makes her first start for Brian Lynch and has spent most of this year going against stakes foes. She’d benefit from a fast pace and figures to be running well late; #5 MISS AJA BROWN: Didn’t take to a sloppy dirt track at all last time out, so it’s easy to draw a line through that race. She romped at this level two back at Belmont, and while two turns may not be ideal, she’s run well here in the past.

R2

Timber Ghost
Leinster
Candirita

#7 TIMBER GHOST: Ran two flat races at short prices at Gulfstream, but has worked very well since shipping to Saratoga. The favorites here don’t look overly imposing, and if he runs to his drills, expect a big step forward; #4 LEINSTER: Was second earlier in the meet at a big price and gets a rider switch to Luis Saez. He’s had plenty of chances, but it’s possible he’s figuring things out; #3 CANDIRITA: Didn’t do much running in his debut, but he adds Lasix for a patient barn and comes in off a very sharp five-furlong drill downstate.

R3

Alternative Energy
Rarities
Her Latest Film

#8 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY: Ran an OK third in her debut last month at this route. She didn’t break particularly well that day, and chances are she’ll improve from that experience; #9 RARITIES: Fetched $700,000 at auction last year and is bred to love turf. She’s by City Zip and has been working well for a barn that’s much sharper than its record suggests; #6 HER LATEST FILM: Improved when cut back to a sprint last time out, and she figures to be one of the main speed threats beneath John Velazquez.

R4

Moonlit Garden
Awestruck
A Place to Shine

#4 MOONLIT GARDEN: Has not run a bad dirt race in more than a year and was a close-up second in a similar race last time out at Monmouth. She does not need the lead to run well, and that could benefit her; #1 AWESTRUCK: Hasn’t done much wrong this year, as she’s won two of four starts and fared reasonably well in a pair of stakes races. She was second in a $100,000 race last time out at Indiana Grand and gets Irad Ortiz, Jr.; #2 A PLACE TO SHINE: Has shown an ability to run well late, and that could be a plus given the likely race shape. She’s also run well on off tracks in the past, and she may get one here.

R5

Shannon’s Girl
Newspaperofrecord
Tip At Tapit

#3 SHANNON’S GIRL: Is the only runner in the main body of the field with experience, and her debut was sharp. She came flying late going shorter and has a pedigree that suggests two turns won’t be a problem; #5 NEWSPAPEROFRECORD: Debuts for Chad Brown and sports an OK worktab that hints she wants to go long. It’s tough to debut at this route, but she could be a short-priced favorite; #9 TIP AT TAPIT: Is a full sister to Grade 1 winner Time And Motion and has flashed potential in the works leading up to her debut. This barn’s trainees sometimes need a race, but if she’s the runner her sister was, look out.

R6

H Man (MTO)
Fast Getaway
Vitsal

#2 FAST GETAWAY: Took to turf like a duck to water last time out, as he graduated at a bit of a price after flopping when favored in his debut. There’s plenty of speed signed on here, and that bodes well for this closer; #3 VITSAL: Was second in an off-the-turf race earlier in the meet and comes back to his preferred surface. He has back class and will likely be favored, but he’s winless since beating a suspect group at Tampa; #9 NOT SO QUIET MAN: Shortens back up to a sprint and has done good work going short on grass. Javier Castellano sees fit to ride. DIRT SELECTIONS: H MAN, ROYAL HEIST, WE SHOULD TALK.

R7

Mo Wheels Up
Flatter My Heart
Filly Joel

#2 MO WHEELS UP: Was bet heavily prior to her planned debut, but was scratched at the gate and triggered a purse-money-only fiasco when her stablemate won. She’s worked very well here, and I’m hoping we get the morning line price; #8 FLATTER MY HEART: Has turned in an impressive series of works ahead of his debut. This trainer/jockey combination must be respected; #6 FILLY JOEL: Could be a big shot given a decent work tab and the combination of Rudy Rodriguez and Irad Ortiz. If you think she’ll run well on debut, you may be right (this is what we in the business call “low-hanging fruit”).

R8

Behavioral Bias
Wonderful Light
Petrov

#3 BEHAVIORAL BIAS: Hasn’t won in five 2018 starts, but he’s consistently run well against some good horses. He was second in a swiftly-run event earlier in the meet, and a repeat effort would give him a big chance; #4 WONDERFUL LIGHT: Stretches out to seven panels after falling a nose short in a tough allowance event downstate. There’s nothing saying he won’t get the added distance, and the last two drills jump off the page; #6 PETROV: Drops in class after contesting the Grade 1 Vanderbilt. Those waters were too deep, but he won at this route last summer and could relish the softer competition.

R9

Wooderson (MTO)
Admission Office
Strike

#9 ADMISSION OFFICE: Won his debut with a big rally and nearly made it two in a row when beaten less than a length downstate. He adds blinkers and could be more involved early on; #10 STRIKE: Has shown ample early speed in both 2018 starts and just missed earlier in the meet. He must work out a trip from a far outside post, but he’s got enough tactical zip to potentially clear the field early; #2 VEGAS KITTEN: Adds blinkers second off a brief freshening, and that could help him given that his lone win came when he was very close to the pace. DIRT SELECTIONS: WOODERSON, TRES EQUIS, OWN AGENDA.

R10

Fortythreeoeight N
Comeoncomeoncat
Southeast

#8 FORTYTHREEOEIGHT N: Reacted well to coming back to dirt earlier in the meet, when he was a close-up third against slightly better competition. Franco sees fit to ride back, and he could get first run on the tiring pacesetters turning for home; #2 COMEONCOMEONCAT: Is one of several in here that will likely go early. He exits the same race as my top pick, but didn’t have an easy go of it that day given the quick early fractions; #6 SOUTHEAST: Could be a massive price in his first start for Gary Contessa, whose barn is quietly beginning to get going. He’s a closer that could benefit from a speed duel early on.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $534.20

Earlier this week, a strangely uplifting hashtag emerged on Twitter. People took to using #ShareYourRejections, and seeing the ways people have overcome setbacks served as a much-needed reminder that social media, at its best, can be incredibly uplifting.

I shared my story as part of the hashtag, and I also linked to a series of stories I wrote up a while back for AndrewChampagne.com entitled “The Failure Files.” If that helps someone going through something, or even makes someone laugh that could use a chuckle, I think it’s worth it to share my story. If you feel compelled to check it out, go to my Twitter page (@AndrewChampagne).

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: Nobody went with Souperfast in the fifth, and while the two closers I keyed in exactas ran OK, they had to settle for third and fourth due to the unfavorable race shape. We dropped $30.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: It’s a little tough to take too much of a stand given the weather forecast, but I’ll save my action for the late daily double, assuming the featured Skidmore Stakes stays on the turf. I’ll play a cold $20 double using likely favorites #2 SHANG SHANG SHANG and #1 AMERICAN RULE. Given the large fields signed on, I’m hoping to get a bit more of a payoff than the win odds on either horse would dictate.

TOTAL WAGERED: $20

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: American Rule, Race 10
Longshot: Mascarello, Race 8

R1

Mesotherm (MTO)
All Clear
Hubbadahubbadaboom

#8 ALL CLEAR: Ran well in his turf debut when second behind a next-out winner. The Gargan barn has done well to this point in the meet, and speed rider Carmouche should ensure that he’s prominent early; #6 HUBBADAHUBBADABOOM: Has shown lots of speed and comes back to turf. His lone turf start came on the quirky Kentucky Downs course, so it’s easy to throw out. Good luck with the name, Larry; #4 WET YOUR WHISTLE: Ran well when fourth at this level and route last time out and adds blinkers. This will be just his third career start, so he could still have room to grow. DIRT SELECTIONS: MESOTHERM, ALL CLEAR, HUBBADAHUBBADABOOM.

R2

Frostie Anne
Land Mine
Pink Twist

#1 FROSTIE ANNE: Is wheeled back on short rest after an easy wire-to-wire score last weekend. She’ll look for her sixth win in a row, and she’s been in tremendous form for most of the past year; #5 LAND MINE: Was second against open company earlier in the meet, and that was her first start since July. She could step forward second off the bench, and it helps that she doesn’t necessarily need the lead in order to run well; #6 PINK TWIST: Clearly relished two turns when winning by nearly three lengths earlier this month. The Terranova barn has strong numbers with limited starters to this point in the meet.

R3

Giant Boo Boo
Wheresthebarber
Shuffling Madness

#5 GIANT BOO BOO: Sure seems like the lone speed in the race, and in a maiden claiming field that doesn’t seem strong, that could be enough. Jose Ortiz rides back, and he’ll likely be the one to catch; #7 WHERESTHEBARBER: Was second in a similar spot at big odds earlier in the meet. That was by far the best race he’s ever run, and he’ll likely need to repeat it to compete with my top pick; #3 SHUFFLING MADNESS: Was one-paced when fourth at this level earlier this month. He hit the board in a pair of maiden claiming events at Belmont and could rally for a piece of it.

R4

Unbridledadventure (MTO)
Fast Track Kathern
Hoponthebusgus

#4 FAST TRACK KATHERN: Has won three of her last five starts and two of three since going to the turf. Michelle Nevin claimed her earlier in the meet, and her runners are firing regularly; #3 HOPONTHEBUSGUS: Stretches out in distance after misfiring last month going much shorter. She’s won going long in the past, and she has a solid two-turn race to her credit last year at Aqueduct; #6 CODRINGTON: Gets a pass for her last-out effort given the extremely wet turf course. Assuming things are a bit drier, she stands a chance over a course she’s won at in the past. DIRT SELECTIONS: UNBRIDLEDADVENTURE, LA FEE VERTE, DIAMOND JEN BRADY.

R5

Kadens Courage
Steam Engine
Icey Cash

#4 KADENS COURAGE: Has worked well ahead of his debut and earned a bullet on August 10th. This is a wide-open field, but he’s got a big shot if he runs to the work tab; #9 STEAM ENGINE: Makes his debut for Brad Cox, who can win with any type of runner. If there’s any hesitation here, it’s because offspring of sire Mineshaft often want much more ground than today’s distance; #2 ICEY CASH: Has several strong works of late for a barn whose horses sometimes need a race to get going. Javier Castellano sees fit to ride, which can’t be ignored.

R6

Hannah’s Smile
Saratoga Treasure
Broman entry

#8 HANNAH’S SMILE: Generally runs the same race every time out and may be helped by the likely race shape. She’s a closer in a race with lots of early speed, and she should be going the right direction late; #3 SARATOGA TREASURE: Won her debut at this route last summer and comes in off of two solid efforts at this level downstate. She’s another that will be running well turning for home; BROMAN ENTRY: Is in the top three partially because of strength in numbers and partially in case this race gets taken off the turf. All three of these horses can run on a wet main track, and if that situation arises, I’m hoping more than one runs. DIRT SELECTIONS: BROMAN ENTRY, SILENCIA, SCORPION BOWL.

R7

Dancing All Night
Cilantro
Palladian Bridge

#5 DANCING ALL NIGHT: Ran a very good race in defeat last time out, especially since that was her first start in nearly a year. She could sit just off the pace and get first run on the pacesetters at the top of the stretch; #10 CILANTRO: Was impressive in breaking her maiden at Tampa, but she hasn’t run since. Having said that, she has a few solid local drills for a barn that must be respected; #8 PALLADIAN BRIDGE: Set a fast pace earlier in the meet, but still hung on for third. She figures to be the main speed, and she hasn’t run a bad race in almost a year.

R8

Stretch’s Stone (MTO)
Honor Up
Mascarello

#9 HONOR UP: May have been a turf horse all along. He prevailed in a swiftly-run race downstate after trying very tough company on dirt earlier this season. A repeat effort could be enough to win what seems like a wide-open race; #5 MASCARELLO: Is a price on the morning line, but has won three of his last five for a very capable barn. Luis Saez rides, and he hasn’t finished worse than second in a pair of local outings; CASSE ENTRY: I most prefer #1A CATCH A CAB, who won three in a row before a race that was too bad to be true. He’d benefit from a fast pace, and Jose Ortiz comes back aboard. DIRT SELECTIONS: STRETCH’S STONE, WICKED MACHO, HOLY WEEK.

R9

Shang Shang Shang
Swamp Rat
Sir Truebadour

#2 SHANG SHANG SHANG: Scratched out of the Bolton Landing to run here against males, and she exits a Group 2 win at Royal Ascot. She’s got plenty of early speed and has worked well of late; #8 SWAMP RAT: Made up a lot of ground in his debut, where he won going away at odds of 24-1. There’s plenty of speed signed on, and that could set up for him; #12 SIR TRUEBADOUR: Exits a Grade 3 win at Churchill Downs and tries turf for the first time. He’s bred to love it, but will need to negotiate a trip from the far outside post. DIRT SELECTIONS: SHANG SHANG SHANG, SIR TRUEBADOUR, LEXITONIAN.

R10

American Rule
The Chamo
Metaphorical

#1 AMERICAN RULE: Caught a tough field in his lone start to date, which was won by eventual graded stakes winner Kanthaka. He drops way down in class for his first start since December, which is usually a red flag, but it just seems like he’s much better than this bunch; #10 THE CHAMO: Was third at this level earlier in the meet and put forth a bullet work last week. Joel Rosario rides back, and he could get a good stalking trip; #3 METAPHORICAL: Drops down in class after running for double this price in each of his last two outings. One of those races saw his run second at Belmont, so he could be competitive going down a level.