BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $602.50

In a day and age where horses run less and less for a variety of reasons, the sport needs high-profile stars that stick around for a while. In a perfect world, these stars would be easy for fans young, old, diehard, and casual to follow. In other words, racing needs more horses like Fourstardave, who was honored with the 2018 renewal of a Grade 1 race named after him this past weekend.

A number of fellow turf writers compared Fourstardave winner Voodoo Song to the Sultan of Saratoga in the wake of his victory. With all due respect to both the writers and the horse in question, I respectfully disagree with that assessment. There is no horse actively in training that will (or, for that matter, can) do what Fourstardave managed to accomplish during his long career. This week’s edition of “The Dark Day Files,” which will be posted to AndrewChampagne.com Monday, goes into greater detail on Fourstardave’s legacy and why he’s not remembered on a national scale as much as he probably should be.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: We were washed out of the Pick Four when races were taken off the turf.

MONDAY’S PLAY: My action will revolve around #4 FLOWERS FOR LISA in the seventh. He’s the third choice on the morning line, and I hope it stays that way since he seems like the lone speed. I’ll put $10 on him to win, and I’ll single him in this 50-cent late Pick Four ticket that starts in the sixth and assumes turf races stay there: 2,7,8 with 4 with 2,4,5,7 with 1,4,8,11.

TOTAL WAGERED: $34

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Flowers for Lisa, Race 7
Longshot: Fixed Point, Race 1

R1

Grandmas Favorite
Fooch
Fixed Point

#1 GRANDMAS FAVORITE: Is one of two Wesley Ward trainees in this race, and I slightly prefer him. He hasn’t run since December, but he was third behind a stakes-quality horse that day, and I think he’s the one to beat if he’s ready; #6 FOOCH: Is the other Ward runner and tries turf for the first time. He’s certainly got plenty of early zip, but he’s not necessarily bred to run well on turf; #3 FIXED POINT: Was claimed last time out by an outfit that doesn’t claim many runners and has been going well at the meet. Luis Saez hops aboard, and we may get a price.

R2

Asian’s Way
Anna Rae
Woodland entry

#6 ASIAN’S WAY: Ran well here earlier in the meet in a roughly-run event. She missed second by a neck despite having to check hard in the stretch, and given the win two back, it’s fair to assume she’s in peak form; #7 ANNA RAE: Had won two in a row prior to a misfire last time out, and she was claimed out of that race by Robertino Diodoro. She’s a top contender, although her chances go down in the event of a wet track; WOODLAND ENTRY: I prefer #1A PAULA’S PISTOL, who cuts back in distance and has yet to run a truly bad race this season. Kendrick Carmouche rides her back, and she could be prominent early.

R3

Shanghai Dreams
Hit a Provisional
Grand Banks

#7 SHANGHAI DREAMS: Rallied to be fourth in her debut, which turned out to be a strong race for the level. She adds Lasix, drops down in class, and doesn’t appear to catch the strongest maiden claiming field; #5 HIT A PROVISIONAL: Rallied strongly to just miss in her debut downstate. That race was contested at a shorter distance, and if that form translates to two turns, she’ll be very tough; #1 GRAND BANKS: Can’t be endorsed on top given her 0 for 20 career mark, but she’s finished second twice in three starts for this barn and figures to be running well late.

R4

Hawaiian Noises
Seismic Jolt
Fog of War

#7 HAWAIIAN NOISES: Has worked well ahead of his debut and has the pedigree to be a runner. He’s by Super Saver, out of a mare that’s produced several stakes horses, and runs for owner/breeder/trainer Wesley Ward; #10 SEISMIC JOLT: Hammered for $800,000 earlier this year despite a very modest pedigree, and has worked to the purchase price. I’m not crazy about the post, but he could be talented enough to work out a trip; #5 FOG OF WAR: Has a lot going for him ahead of his debut. He’s a Chad Brown trainee by War Front and out of a Galileo mare, and his second dam is multiple Grade 1 winner Riskaverse. If there’s hesitation here, it’s because he may want more ground.

R5

Party in the Sand
Tequila Sunday
Lightworker

#3 PARTY IN THE SAND: Takes a big drop to run in this maiden claiming event, and that could be enough in a race without much form shown by the other runners. She showed some zip last time out, and this barn’s horses have run well this meet; #2 TEQUILA SUNDAY: Has acquired some bad habits at the gate, and those cost her a runaway win three back. She was fourth at this level last time out, and this barn’s gotten hot of late; #4 LIGHTWORKER: May have bounced last time out after a good effort two back. A return to that form could get her a big piece of this.

R6

Lou’s Chardonnay
Orchid Party
Karen’s Gem

#7 LOU’S CHARDONNAY: Was a runaway winner earlier in the meet and was claimed that day by Steve Asmussen. She’s got plenty of early speed, and it helps that Santana has opted to ride her back; #2 ORCHID PARTY: Gets back to her preferred surface and drops down in class after two unsuccessful outings on turf. She won three in a row earlier this year and was third in a restricted stakes race; #8 KAREN’S GEM: Just missed against similar company last time out. A similar effort would give her a shot, and she could sit an ideal trip just behind a fast early pace.

R7

Flowers for Lisa
You’re to Blame
Take Your Guns

#4 FLOWERS FOR LISA: Has found his form of late for trainer Jorge Navarro and could get an ideal setup here. He’s probably the lone true speed horse in this field, and he capitalized on a similar scenario earlier in the meet; #2 YOU’RE TO BLAME: Has been running against stakes foes most of the year and drops down in class for this event. His best race puts him right there, but the recent running lines haven’t aged well; #5 TAKE YOUR GUNS: Was beaten just three lengths in the Grade 2 Brooklyn two back before not threatening Diversify in the Grade 2 Suburban. This is a more appropriate spot, though he may need more pace than he’s likely to get.

R8

My Roxy Girl
Out of Orbit
Take Charge Aubrey

#5 MY ROXY GIRL: Gets my tepid top pick in a very confusing race. She’s finished second five times in a row, but is a play for me here given the likely race shape, which could favor her late kick; #4 OUT OF ORBIT: Ran third against what seems like a much better group here last time out. Her win two back was good, and it seems like she may have figured things out; #7 TAKE CHARGE AUBREY: Tried stakes company at Finger Lakes last time out, and those waters proved too deep. She cuts back in distance, gets Jose Ortiz, and will likely get plenty of support at the windows.

R9

Cause I’m Alex (MTO)
Mobridge
Vincento

#11 MOBRIDGE: Generally runs the same race every time out and was claimed by Danny Gargan, who does great work with new acquisitions. He’s run very well here in the past and beat similar company here a season ago; #8 VINCENTO: Has improved since switching to turf and beat my top pick last time out. Two turns on turf is a question mark, but he did win going two turns on dirt last winter at Aqueduct; IMPERIO ENTRY: #1A PECULIAR SENSATION seems like the main speed in here, but don’t sleep on #1 BRIMSTONE, who returns to turf and gets Luis Saez. DIRT SELECTIONS: CAUSE I’M ALEX, IMPERIO ENTRY, CHARMING INDY.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $642.50

News broke yesterday (per Equibase’s Dave Litfin and DRF’s David Grening) that Wednesday’s fifth race was run not at the listed distance of a mile and a sixteenth, but at a mile and an eighth. With all due respect to the powers-that-be at the New York Racing Association, how was this allowed to happen?

You don’t see baseball diamonds with bases 95 feet apart instead of 90, or NFL fields 110 yards long instead of 100. Forgive me for thinking this is unreasonable, but if a race is listed with a 3:15 post time and a distance of a mile and a sixteenth, racing fans should be able to expect a race at that time and distance. We need to get the small things right in order to tackle the big issues this sport has, and it’s incredibly frustrating that something as basic as it gets in horse racing was mishandled.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: We took a shot with a price, but Gio Lucky didn’t fire, so we dropped $18.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: I’ll concentrate on the third race, where I think #5 THIRTEEN SONGS could benefit a great deal from the class drop. I’ll keep things simple and put $20 on her to win in hopes that we get the 6-1 morning line price.

TOTAL WAGERED: $20

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Elios Milos, Race 6
Longshot: Thirteen Songs, Race 3

R1

Cavallotto
Ninetyeighttwo
Planet Trailblazer

#6 CAVALLOTTO: Was fourth against better company and drops down to run in this event. He’s won two of his four career dirt sprints, including his lone start at this seven-furlong distance; #5 NINETYEIGHTTWO: Is a huge price on the morning line, but I think we’ll see something much shorter come post time. I’ll be happy if I’m wrong, though, as his two dirt sprints earlier this year at Tampa were both wins and Joel Rosario takes the call for a smaller barn; #4 PLANET TRAILBLAZER: Takes a colossal drop in class for his first race since October. He’s been gelded since his last effort and won here a season ago going longer, and while he probably wins if he’s right, the drop and this barn’s record with horses off of long layoffs will entice me to play against him on most of my tickets.

R2

Mrs Vargas (MTO)
Amazing Audrey
Secret Quality

#4 AMAZING AUDREY: Drops in for a tag for the first time and cuts back in distance after two straight tries at a mile and a quarter. She should appreciate the class relief, and her best efforts have come with today’s pilot in the irons; #6 SECRET QUALITY: Has been competitive in both of her career starts, which came at this level. Mike Maker claimed her following her most recent performance, and she should appreciate two turns; #5 LOVE TO SHARE: Obviously didn’t care for sloppy dirt at Monmouth and returns to her preferred surface here. She crossed the wire first in her last try for a tag at Gulfstream, and she figures to be moving well late. DIRT SELECTIONS: MRS VARGAS, MISS LOYALTY, GOLDEN VALE.

R3

Thirteen Songs
You Know Too
Luz Mimi

#5 THIRTEEN SONGS: Found the Grade 2 Honorable Miss a bit too tough, as she ran a distant fourth behind Finley’sluckycharm. This seems like the right level, and she could sit a perfect stalking trip; #4 YOU KNOW TOO: Has been running against stakes company for most of her career, and is undefeated in non-stakes races. The blinkers go on, but it seems like she wants to go much longer, which is a red flag; #3 LUZ MIMI: Is a proven closer that seems to be in good form. She’s won two of four races this year, and both of those wins have come with today’s rider aboard.

R4

Long Gray Line
Malibu Strings
Lookin At Blessing

#2 LONG GRAY LINE: Drops down in class and adds blinkers for a barn that’s had a tremendous year to this point. He boasts a win going two turns, as well as a recent bullet workout at Churchill Downs; #7 MALIBU STRINGS: Ships up from Gulfstream Park, drops down in class, and tries two turns on dirt for the first time. That’s a lot of changes, and while any one of them could wake him up, this seems like a panicky drop; #1 LOOKIN AT BLESSING: Hasn’t won in a while, but drops down in class and stretches out to two turns, where he’s run credible races before.

R5

Mo Wheels Up (MTO)
Two Shakes
Fierce Scarlett

#7 TWO SHAKES: Fetched $310,000 at auction last year and is bred to be a very good turf horse. She’s by Exchange Rate, out of a Dynaformer mare, and trained by Wesley Ward, one of the top first-out conditioners in the country; #3 FIERCE SCARLETT: Goes out for the always-formidable Chad Brown barn and is by the late Scat Daddy, a prominent turf influence. Her most recent turf work was solid, and she could be a runner; #6 GLOBAL EXCHANGE: Has a very similar pedigree to my top selection and goes out for Jimmy Toner, who certainly knows how to win with turf horses. She may need a race, but it wouldn’t be a shock if she shows talent at a price. DIRT SELECTIONS: MO WHEELS UP, TWO SHAKES, PAKHET.

R6

Elios Milos
Leap to Glory
Proletariat

#6 ELIOS MILOS: Won his debut and was a credible second in his first try against winners. He may have been a bit too close to the pace last time out, and there appears to be some speed for him to chase here; #4 LEAP TO GLORY: Put it all together last time out in his second start for Charlton Baker. That came against a suspect field, but Rosario keeps the mount, and when this barn gets a horse going in the right direction, look out; #3 PROLETARIAT: Makes his first start since a trainer switch and gets a rider switch to Luis Saez. He’s got plenty of early zip, and his usual race would likely get him a piece of this.

R7

Empressof the Nile
Violet Blue
Bengala

#1 EMPRESSOF THE NILE: Chased Grade 2 foes last time out and drops into allowance company. She’s shown an affinity for marathon distances and broke her maiden here last summer; #3 VIOLET BLUE: Has done her best work going very long on turf and was fourth in a stakes race downstate last month. There’s a chance she’s in career-best form, and she should be moving well late; #6 BENGALA: Wired a lesser field last time out and hasn’t run a bad race since coming to America. She likely won’t get an easy lead here, but the inner turf is kind to horses with tactical zip.

R8

Theaterintheround
Cause Me Grief
Questeq

#9 THEATERINTHEROUND: Drops in for a tag after running fourth in her first try against winners. It’s an aggressive drop, and her past races seem a cut above those possessed by the rest of the field; #7 CAUSE ME GRIEF: Was claimed last time out by Patrick Reynolds and figures to be prominent early. Javier Castellano hops aboard, and she may be the one they have to run down; #1 QUESTEQ: Hasn’t won in a while, but was a good second at big odds against starter allowance foes earlier in the meet. This barn’s runners have fared well at the meet, and she can’t be ignored in vertical exotics.

R9

Always Sunshine
Mr. Crow
My Boy Tate

#5 ALWAYS SUNSHINE: Gets my nod in a race light on numbers, but heavy on talent. This one was impressive in winning a minor stakes race last time out, and unlike many of these, he doesn’t necessarily need the lead to run well; #2 MR. CROW: Found the Grade 1 Vanderbilt to be too tough, but has a track record of success at Saratoga and should appreciate the class relief. He may be fastest out of the gate, and that could demoralize some of these rivals; #1 MY BOY TATE: Returns to the races for his first outing since February. He got very good over the winter, but this isn’t an easy spot and the rail draw isn’t ideal.

R10

Lost in Manhattan
Wisecrack
Not That Brady

#7 LOST IN MANHATTAN: Was fourth in his debut on dirt and goes to the grass, a surface he’s bred to like. His experience should help him, and this trainer/jockey combination merits respect; #6 WISECRACK: Fetched $125,000 at auction last year and is bred to be precocious. He’s by The Factor, whose offspring tend to like turf, and trainer Rick Violette is solid with debuting runners; #13 NOT THAT BRADY: Is unlikely to draw in off the AE list, but must be used if he does. He’s out of the mare Lisa’s Booby Trap, one of the best stories in racing during her career, and he’s worked well here of late.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $660.50

I hate using this section to have to address people with no sense of decency and/or respect, but here we are. During Wednesday’s card at Saratoga, NYRA paddock reporter Maggie Wolfendale tweeted news of a horrifying encounter with an older man who ran up to her, grabbed her hair, and bragged about it.

If you think this behavior, or behavior like it, is in any way acceptable, please stop reading anything I produce (either in The Pink Sheet or on my website) immediately. I want nothing to do with anyone who thinks it’s okay to physically harass women in that way. Additionally, if you saw this happen and can identify the perpetrator in question, please contact NYRA security so this clown can be banned from the premises.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS: Speke didn’t break and was second all the way around the racetrack, thus foiling $20 worth of double tickets.

THURSDAY’S PLAY: It’s another perplexing card, so I’m treading fairly lightly. I’ll focus on the fifth race, and while #9 POTOMAC is the horse to beat, my exactas key possible overlay #7 GIO LUCKY, who’s wheeled back quickly by a trainer who has shown an ability to win with such runners. I’ll use that one above and below #1 FLATEXCEL, #3 SOUTHEAST, and Potomac in $3 bets.

TOTAL WAGERED: $18

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Pink Twist, Race 7
Longshot: Codrington, Race 8

R1

Time Warp
Molly’s Party
Miss After School

#4 TIME WARP: Gets my nod in a race where I could not possibly have less of an opinion (heck of a start, right?). This pick is solely because I think she’s much, much better than she showed in her debut, where she missed the break and paid dearly for it; #6 MOLLY’S PARTY: Was third going shorter early in the meet and stretches out at second asking. I’m not sure she wants to go this long, but of the ones in here with experience, she has by far the best recent effort; #7 MISS AFTER SCHOOL: Hasn’t worked particularly quickly ahead of her debut, but she’s bred to want this trip, Joel Rosario signs on, and she’ll likely be a square price.

R2

Brooklyn Gerty
Malarkey
Free Kitty

#6 BROOKLYN GERTY: Returns after more than a year away and has a few recent works that indicate she’s ready to run. Additionally, she catches what seems like a soft field for the level; #3 MALARKEY: Has finished second in both of her dirt starts and ran reasonably well last time out at this level. John Velazquez keeps the mount, and she figures to be prominent early; #1 FREE KITTY: Is 0 for 13 lifetime, but generally runs the same race every time out, and such an effort is likely good enough for a piece of it here.

R3

Dove Shoot
The Mason Factor
Cross Multiply

#1 DOVE SHOOT: Led most of the way in his debut going slightly longer downstate. That day’s runner-up has since come back to win, and his early zip should be on display given the rail draw; #8 THE MASON FACTOR: Woke up last time out going short on turf at Belmont. He was second going seven furlongs that day, and while I’m a bit skeptical of if he’ll want even less ground, a repeat of that effort gives him a shot; #5 CROSS MULTIPLY: Adds blinkers after tiring going longer earlier in the meet. He’s got experience going short on turf, and he may be in a position to sit back and make one big late run beneath Joel Rosario.

R4

Single Gem (MTO)
Congruity
Phone Funky Munky

#3 CONGRUITY: Wired a similar field downstate that included many runners in this event. He had a perfect trip that day, but this heat seems to have a similar lack of early speed, one he could capitalize on; #10 PHONE FUNKY MUNKY: Drops in for a tag after three unsuccessful starts against allowance foes. He ran well here twice last year and could appreciate the class relief; #5 MICHAEL WONDERFUL: Was a beaten favorite last time out at this level, but his lone prior start around two turns was his lone win to date. In that race, he beat my top pick in this very event. DIRT SELECTIONS: SINGLE GEM, MAIMO, ESPRESSO CALIENTE.

R5

Potomac
Southeast
Gio Lucky

#9 POTOMAC: Will likely be favored after putting it all together in the mud at Belmont Park. He tries winners, and while he may be overbet, he seems like the most likely winner; #3 SOUTHEAST: Drops down in class after falling victim to a paceless race earlier in the meet. His sprints from earlier in the year weren’t bad, and he’d benefit from fast early fractions; #7 GIO LUCKY: Gets a rider switch to Javier Castellano and is wheeled back quickly by a barn that’s had success with similar runners in the past.

R6

Secret Passage (MTO)
Ticonderoga
Aquaphobia

#4 TICONDEROGA: Was my top pick in the rescheduled Lure Stakes and looms large provided this race stays on the turf. He’s run against top-class opposition in the past and has done some of his best running around two turns; #7 AQUAPHOBIA: Is another that may benefit from going to a two-turn route of ground. Toss the Grade 2 San Luis Rey, and you’re left with a runner that hasn’t run a bad race since being claimed last fall; #8 SIDING SPRING: Returns off a long layoff and figures to be prominent early. He’s been gelded, and he may have the speed to clear this field early. DIRT SELECTIONS: SECRET PASSAGE, TEAM COLORS, SIDING SPRING.

R7

Pink Twist
Puffery
My Girl Annie

#5 PINK TWIST: Beat many of today’s rivals when second in an allowance downstate. She goes two turns for the first time, but she’s worked well and has the pedigree to handle this trip; #2 PUFFERY: Was beaten a length and a half by my top selection last time out. She’s got plenty of tactical speed, and John Velazquez retains the mount; #1 MY GIRL ANNIE: Improved when stretched out to two turns last week. She was second that day, and while this is a better field, at least the distance isn’t much of a question mark.

R8

Goodbye Brockley
Kreesie
Codrington

#2 GOODBYE BROCKLEY: Won going long two back before finishing a close-up second going seven furlongs. She gets an extra furlong here, and that seems like the trip she wants; #3 KREESIE: Beat my top pick two back and tries two turns for the first time. She’s got plenty of talent, but she may need more pace in front of her than she’ll get; #7 CODRINGTON: Has run well here in the past and may have been compromised by the yielding going earlier in the meet. If the ground is on the firmer side of the spectrum, it will play to her strengths, and in that instance, the morning line strikes me as an overlay.

R9

Mama Mary
Andretta
Something Joyful

#7 MAMA MARY: Ran well in her debut (which came up as a pretty tough event for the level) before not taking to a sloppy main track at all last time out. She goes back to the grass here, and assuming this stays on that surface, I’m expecting an improved performance; #2 ANDRETTA: Just missed when entered for a tag last time out, and was also very competitive here last year when put up to second in a DQ that puzzles me to this day. She’s shown talent and may get first run turning for home; #3 SOMETHING JOYFUL: Was second in her debut and is certainly a competitor if she’s right, but she hasn’t been seen in 11 months, so she may very well need this race.