BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $781.50

Friday’s main event isn’t at the track, but at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame induction ceremony. It’s there that Heavenly Prize will lead this year’s class of honorees, two decades after a career that saw her hold her own against one of the best groups of distaffers in recent racing history.

Initially, I didn’t plan to vote for her, but the more I researched, the more she won me over. She never ran a bad race when going up against the likes of Inside Information, Serena’s Song, and Paseana, and all of those horses are Hall of Famers. She deserves a plaque, and it’s cool that she’s getting one.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: Diva’s Revenge got shuffled back, and when she didn’t make the lead, she lost all chance. We dropped $23.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the early part of the card and try to extract some value from #3 SUDDEN SURPRISE (my best bet of the day) in the third race. I’ll play $6 doubles starting in the second race that use #1 LIP SYNC, #2 SATURDAYS VAPOR, and #9 JORDY’S READY in the opening leg. Additionally, I’ll play a $1 Pick Three starting in the second that uses #1 MIDNIGHT BOUNTY, #5 MAJESTIC KINDNESS, and #7 ZEVEN in the fourth.

TOTAL WAGERED: $27

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Thursday’s Results: 3 for 10
Meet Results (to date): 33 for 108

Best Bet: Sudden Surprise, Race 3
Longshot: Lip Sync, Race 2

R1

Vampish
Ballybrack Lass
Cassies Dreamer

#4 VAMPISH: Gets a tepid nod in a complete mystery of a race that features each entrant making a career debut. This one will likely be favored given the flashy pedigree, solid workouts, and the combination of Rudy Rodriguez and Javier Castellano; #2 BALLYBRACK LASS: Has been working out at the training track since May with few interruptions, so she should at least be fit ahead of her debut. She’s by Super Saver and out of an Elusive Quality mare, so she’s got a right to be OK; #5 CASSIES DREAMER: Goes out for an owner/trainer combination that popped with a price last weekend. Ricardo Santana’s been riding as well as anyone of late, though it’s fair to wonder if she wants to run much longer than today’s route.

R2

Lip Sync
Saturdays Vapor
Jordy’s Ready

#1 LIP SYNC: Makes her career debut in a race that doesn’t appear to be very strong for the level. It’s a bit of a red flag that she debuts running for a $20,000 tag after hammering for $100,000 last March, but these are aggressive connections that have had an unlucky start, so it’s at least plausible; #2 SATURDAYS VAPOR: Seems like the main speed in this race and drops down to the lowest level maiden claiming race this circuit provides. Many of these runners haven’t shown early zip, so she could carve out an easy trip; #9 JORDY’S READY: Has been second in two straight starts since switching to the dirt, and both of those races were won by horses that repeated in their next starts. She’d benefit from another runner going with my second selection out of the gate.

R3

Sudden Surprise
Ostrolenka
H Man

#3 SUDDEN SURPRISE: Has never lost at Saratoga and makes his first start for Gary Gullo, who’s very strong with new acquisitions. He’d benefit from a wet track, and he’s been running against significantly better horses of late; #7 OSTROLENKA: Has back races that would make him a major player. However, it’s fair to wonder if his best days are behind him, and he’s winless both at Saratoga (0 for 7) and over wet tracks (0 for 9); #2 H MAN: Is a hard-trying, consistent gelding that generally runs the same race every time out. He’s fallen into a habit of picking up minor awards, and that seems like his ceiling in this spot.

R4

Majestic Kindness
Midnight Bounty
Zeven

#5 MAJESTIC KINDNESS: Has won two in a row, including a last-out win over several rivals that show up in this spot. Nick Zito’s barn has woken up a bit as of late, and she’s shown an ability to pass horses late (not a common trait in this field); #1 MIDNIGHT BOUNTY: Was an OK second to my top selection last time out in her first start for Falcone, who’s had a very strong year with a smaller barn. She could step forward here, but she’s winless in her last six starts and may not love two turns; #7 ZEVEN: Has woken up since coming back to dirt two starts ago. She was an OK second last time out at Monmouth, and it helps her cause that the third-place finisher from that race has since come back to win.

R5

More Mischief
Give Me a Hug
She Will Rock

#5 MORE MISCHIEF: Hammered for $350,000 at auction earlier this year and has been working very well here ahead of her unveiling. If she runs to her drills for one of the top barns in the country, she could be tough to deny; #6 GIVE ME A HUG: Didn’t do much running at 3/2 in her debut, but her last three works seem to indicate that she’s figuring things out. The blinkers come off, but John Velazquez stays on; #7 SHE WILL ROCK: Has had some gate issues in both of her prior outings, but she was a solid second last time out at Churchill, and anything Asmussen and Santana team up with can’t be ignored given their recent hot streaks.

R6

Stonefactor
Hannah’s Smile
Miss Mystique

#8 STONEFACTOR: Has lots of early speed and led every step of the way last time out at Belmont. This is her first try against winners, and it isn’t a bad field, but it certainly seems like the early lead is hers for the taking; #6 HANNAH’S SMILE: Was a good second against similar-level opposition last time out downstate. She figures to be running well late, and she’d benefit from a faster-than-expected clip going into the turn; #5 MISS MYSTIQUE: Cuts back in distance after a pair of seven-furlong races at Belmont. She lost a photo for fourth to my second selection two back, yet will almost certainly be a much bigger price.

R7

We Are Family
Bazooka Girl
Anne Dupree

#6 WE ARE FAMILY: Is the recipient of possibly my most tepid top pick of the meet to date. She’s run reasonably well in two dirt routes, and with the other two likely short prices making their dirt debuts, this seems like the safest option; #3 BAZOOKA GIRL: Did next to no running in her debut, but she adds Lasix and blinkers at second asking for a barn whose horses usually improve with experience. She’s bred to love this two-turn route of ground; #1 ANNE DUPREE: Was reeled in late after leading most of the way over soft turf at Pimlico last time out. How she’ll take to the dirt is anyone’s guess, but the most recent workout looks flashy on paper and Jonathan Thomas is one of the most promising young trainers on the grounds.

R8

Holland Park
Weather Wiz
Uncle Sigh

#4 HOLLAND PARK: Nearly overcame a troubled trip when second in the Federico Tesio at Laurel last time out. He was beaten less than a length that day despite being much further back than he probably wanted to be, and there are signs this 3-year-old is getting better with experience; #10 WEATHER WIZ: Put it all together last time out when wiring a field of maidens downstate. He looks like the main source of early speed in here, and if he can clear most of this group going into the first turn, there’s a chance he could get brave once again; #6 UNCLE SIGH: Is one of the easiest horses to root for on the circuit, as he chased California Chrome in the 2014 Kentucky Derby and is still running solid races as a 7-year-old. He was most recently third behind Diversify at Belmont Park, and his usual effort would likely get him a piece of the purse here.

R9

Raging Bull
Gidu
Combatant

#4 RAGING BULL: Fell victim to a very slow early pace last time out, but should get a more lively opening half here assuming the Friday feature stays on turf. He figures to be flying late, and two turns shouldn’t be an issue; #6 GIDU: Was beaten less than three lengths in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot. He may be at his best going a bit shorter, but he could be in career-best form right now, and that’s tough to ignore; #7 COMBATANT: Comes back to turf and is bred to like it. He’s mainly in my top three, though, in the event this race is switched to the main track (which could happen given the forecast).

R10

Regalian
Laura’s Posse
Mr. Fixit

#9 REGALIAN: Was claimed back by Chris Englehart last time out and shortens up a bit here. He does take an aggressive drop, but given the owner involved here, it doesn’t seem as panicky as it could; #7 LAURA’S POSSE: May not have beaten much last time out, but he did so in visually impressive fashion. Joel Rosario stays aboard, and Gary Gullo does solid work with last-out winners; #4 MR. FIXIT: Has shown early speed and makes his first start for Linda Rice, which could move him up. The class drop makes sense, and he’s won over a wet track in the past.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $804.50

A few of my best friends in the game (regardless of whether or not they want to publicly identify as such!) are rolling into town today. Joe and Natalie Nevills, as well as fellow Saratogian alumnus/DRF employee Nicole Russo, have arrived in upstate New York, and it is only fitting that I provide valuable conversational insight should you run into them.

Joe likes Big Red Spring water and will welcome long baths in the backyard’s pavilion. Natalie is a proud Lucha Underground enthusiast, especially when one tries to explain the intricacies involved in the program. Nicole, meanwhile, has been dragged to Saratoga kicking and screaming. Don’t be fooled by the ear-to-ear smile and her defying gravity by floating around the property without touching the ground!

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS: Nothing like running 2-3 behind a 23-1 shot that forgets to stop. We dropped $24.

THURSDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the sixth, and I hope we get the 4-1 morning line price on my top selection. That’s #6 DIVA’S REVENGE, who’s bred up and down for turf and has worked strongly for Linda Rice ahead of her second career start. I’ll put $15 on her to win, and I’ll play $2 exactas keying her above and below #4 CURRENCY CHAOS and #5 BEYONDELLE, both of whom could shake up the exotics at a price.

TOTAL WAGERED: $23

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Monday’s Results: 1 for 10
Meet Results (to date): 30 for 108

Best Bet: Hard Study, Race 4
Longshot: Dynatail, Race 9

R1

Bustin Hearts
Satin Sheets
My Won Love

#4 BUSTIN HEARTS: Has not run a bad race since going to Jeremiah Englehart’s barn last spring. She’s got plenty of tactical speed, and the presence of top rider Luis Saez means she could be well-meant; #2 SATIN SHEETS: Has won two in a row and makes her first start for trainer Gary Gullo. It’s tough to improve horses off of Steve Asmussen, but Gullo is very solid off the claim, and this one merits respect; #6 MY WON LOVE: Was second at this level going longer downstate in her first start since April. She’s obviously a contender if she channels the form she showed at Aqueduct this past winter, but that’s a much different surface than the one she’ll get here.

R2

Baker entry
San Juan Diego
Royal Heist

BAKER ENTRY: I prefer #1 READY TO ESCAPE, who’s been gelded since his last start and gets Joel Rosario. Having said that, #1A LIGHT THE POSSE ran a solid second in his debut and could improve with the addition of Lasix; #3 SAN JUAN DIEGO: Ran the best race of his career two back and might have bounced last time out. A return to form could make him a contender; #4 ROYAL HEIST: Seems like the main speed in here and could get brave on the front end. His last-out effort was uninspiring, but he could make an easy lead in this spot.

R3

Brown entry
Hizeem
Hierarchy

#1A FRONTIER MARKET: Could be approaching “now or never” status after three straight seconds at short offs. Having said that, this doesn’t seem like a banner field for the level, and he may appreciate the two-turn route of ground; #3 HIZEEM: Was second in his debut downstate and stretches out at second asking. He fits in here, and he’d benefit from an early speed duel; #4 HIERARCHY: Ran on well to be fourth in his debut for a trainer whose horses often need a race or two to get going. That day’s winner has since come back to win again. DIRT SELECTIONS: BUSINESS CYCLE, DARK N CLOUDY, CHANTRY FLATS.

R4

Hard Study
You’re to Blame
Carlino

#1 HARD STUDY: Is one of the top dirt stayers in the country and will likely be an odds-on favorite to repeat in the Birdstone. He won this race fairly easily last year and exits a solid third-place finish in the Grade 2 Brooklyn; #3 YOU’RE TO BLAME: Has plenty of experience against stakes company and tries a marathon distance for the first time. He runs like a plodder, which could work to his benefit; #2 CARLINO: Has chased my top two selections earlier this season and was fifth in the Brooklyn. He does his best running late and could clunk up for a piece of it.

R5

Loose
Daring Prospect
Non Finisce Mai

#8 LOOSE: Has won five of her last seven starts and has not finished out of the top two in nearly a year. It’s fair to wonder if she’ll regress following the claim away from Rudy Rodriguez, but Brad Cox is on a roll right now and could have this one ready to run; #7 DARING PROSPECT: Is another that was claimed away from Rodriguez last time out. She’ll likely show plenty of early speed in her first start for Tom Morley; #2 NON FINISCE MAI: Ran the best race of her career here last summer, when she dusted similar opposition at this route. Gullo knows how to bring horses back off of long layoffs, and we may get a price.

R6

Diva’s Revenge
Currency Chaos
Cottonwood Falls

#6 DIVA’S REVENGE: Is bred to love the grass and has worked well locally of late for turf sprint extraordinaire Linda Rice. She showed speed in her debut against better horses, and that day’s clear winner repeated at next asking; #4 CURRENCY CHAOS: May have run the best race of her career last time out when second at this level going six furlongs. She’s got some zip and could appreciate the slight cutback in distance; #9 COTTONWOOD FALLS: Merits respect because of her connections, but there are red flags here. She’s been working exclusively on dirt at Monmouth, and she debuts for a $40,000 tag after being purchased for $190,000 last March. DIRT SELECTIONS: DIVA’S REVENGE, JORDY’S READY, SOUPER ECHO.

R7

Sentry
Honey Dont
Shortlist

#5 SENTRY: Gets a tepid top pick in a race that could go many different directions. Unlike many other contenders in here, though, this one has some tactical speed and owns a win going a two-turn route of ground; #4 HONEY DONT: Broke through last time out in his first start for a tag, and perhaps the class relief woke him up. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure that day, and it also helps that he ran well here last summer; #6 SHORTLIST: Merits a look given that he never seemed comfortable last time out. I think that race is easy to throw out, and before that, he chased talented stayer Focus Group going much longer than he wants to run. Between the back class and the likely price, he needs to be on my tickets.

R8

Dream Pauline
Mizzen Max
Critique

#2 DREAM PAULINE: Was bred to be a good one and debuted with a bang at Aqueduct, where the daughter of Tapit and Dream Rush spurted well clear late. She hasn’t run since, but the workouts hint that she’s stepped forward considerably; #4 MIZZEN MAX: Has never finished outside the top two in six lifetime starts. She has a lot of early zip, and a wet track certainly wouldn’t hurt her chances given her perfect record over such surfaces; #7 CRITIQUE: Hasn’t been seen in the afternoon since last fall’s Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont, where she faltered as one of the betting favorites. Before that, though, she ran well at Saratoga twice, including in a runaway maiden win late in the meet.

R9

Onthemoonagain
Dynatail
Danceland

#5 ONTHEMOONAGAIN: Emerged as one of the better 3-year-old fillies in France last year, when she placed in a pair of graded events. She adds Lasix in her American debut for Chad Brown and looms very large; #6 DYNATAIL: Has not won in a while, but certainly seems like the lone horse in this field with any early speed. She won last year’s Penn Oaks in a similar sort of race, and that was with today’s rider aboard; #1 DANCELAND: Will likely come flying late, as she did when winning a swiftly-run race here last year. There’s plenty of talent here, but the race shape doesn’t favor closers, and that’s cause for concern.

R10

Dubb entry
Mambo Dancer
Supercommittee

DUBB ENTRY: I prefer #1A SPECIAL TRIP, who exits a race against much better competition and has been competitive going two turns in the past. #1 MUCHACHA UNO, however, does figure to run on late in her first start for this trainer; #9 MAMBO DANCER: Was fourth as the 8/5 favorite in her debut at Gulfstream Park. It’s not easy to debut going two turns, as she tried to do, so there are plenty of reasons to give her another shot; #6 SUPERCOMMITTEE: Set the pace in an off-the-turf event in June at Belmont Park. Jose Ortiz signs on, and while I’m not sure she wants this two-turn route, early speed can be powerful on the inner turf.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $828.50

It’s back to the west coast for me after a week in upstate New York. It was great to come home and see some family, and it was also really cool to get a day at the track Monday. To the friends, family, and former press box colleagues that made it such a great day: Thank you. To those I missed: There’s always next year!

MONDAY’S RESULTS: I was right in my rationale of Modem being a bad morning line favorite in the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have had longshot winner Show Court without hitting the “ALL” button. After scratches, I dropped $16.

WEDNESDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the fifth race, which houses my best bet of the day. That’s #10 OUR CIRCLE OF LOVE, who figures to be very tough to beat if she can repeat either of her first two starts. I’ll play $6 exactas keying her on top of #1 FACE IT/#1A CARNIVAL LASS, #5 ANAZARA, #8 IRISH PRINCESS, and #9 SMILE MORE.

TOTAL WAGERED: $24

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Monday’s Results: 5 for 10
Meet Results (to date): 29 for 98

Best Bet: Our Circle of Love, Race 5
Longshot: Soluble, Race 4

R1

Sixty Five
Whitman’s Poetry
Dark Gemini

#1 SIXTY FIVE: Has yet to run a bad race over fences, and his last race on the flat was too bad to be true. It helps his cause that there should be plenty of speed for him to rate behind; #6 WHITMAN’S POETRY: Seems like the main speed in here, and he may benefit from this race being a hair shorter than most of his prior steeplechase efforts; #5 DARK GEMINI: Has yet to finish worse than third in his steeplechase career, and like my top pick, he would benefit from several horses dictating a fast early pace.

R2

Heaven’s Creation
Giant Ending
Eight Minute Ellie

#7 HEAVEN’S CREATION: Makes her first start for Bruce Brown and drops down in class after two efforts for higher claiming tags. Her form looks much better if you toss the turf races; #3 GIANT ENDING: Was an OK third last time out at this level and has a win going two turns. She could improve second off the trainer switch, and it helps that she can either sit close to the pace or rate a bit; #5 EIGHT MINUTE ELLIE: May have needed her last-out effort at Ellis Park and is another dropping in class. Her best effort could win this, but her top races have come at Gulfstream, and that form doesn’t always translate to Saratoga.

R3

Brockmoninoff
Ghost Giant
Ferrad’s Party

#10 BROCKMONINOFF: Gets a tepid nod in a wide-open maiden claiming event. He hasn’t run in more than 10 months, but his two races last year were very good, and George Weaver does very well with horses off of long layoffs; #2 GHOST GIANT: Was second at this level downstate in his first turf start. That was by far the best effort of his career, so regression is possible, but a repeat performance would put him right there; #9 FERRAD’S PARTY: Just missed last time out in a return to this level. His record looks much better if you draw lines through the dirt races, and Rosario remains aboard.

R4

Transistor (MTO)
Soluble
Glennrichment

#9 SOLUBLE: Drops down in class after spending much of his career running against very good turf horses. He was beaten just four lengths in last year’s Grade 3 Red Smith by an eventual Grade 1 winner, and this seems like the correct level; #7 GLENNRICHMENT: Missed by a neck over yielding going when last seen, and there’s a chance he’s been a turf horse all along. He’s got some tactical speed and could get first run turning for home; #4 TRICKED UP: May have needed his last race, which doubled as his first outing since December. He’s won here before and has back races that would make him competitive. DIRT SELECTIONS: TRANSISTOR, TERRIBLE DAY, PRETENTIOUS.

R5

Our Circle of Love
Smile More
Anazara

#10 OUR CIRCLE OF LOVE: Has run two very strong races and is absolutely the one to beat. She could also benefit from a wet track if the skies open up, given her pedigree (by Distorted Humor, out of an Unbridled’s Song mare); #9 SMILE MORE: Fetched $275,000 at auction and debuts for an outfit that means business when it comes to New York. The July 21st workout looks very impressive; #5 ANAZARA: Comes back to dirt after not taking to turf last time out. She ran well in her debut for Bill Mott (whose horses often need a race to get going), and this barn’s done very good work to this point in the meet.

R6

She Will Rock (MTO)
Corey Scores
Sassy Agnes

#3 COREY SCORES: Is bred up and down for turf and has been working like a good horse ahead of her career debut. It’s tough to argue with this trainer/jockey combination, and she looms large; #8 SASSY AGNES: Has several flashy works to her credit ahead of her debut. Central Banker has gotten off to a strong start at stud, and Linda Rice does very well in turf sprints; #6 ITSAKEYPER: Didn’t do much running in her debut, but she’s bred to like turf and should improve with experience at a price. DIRT SELECTIONS: SHE WILL ROCK, MIMIC, SASSY AGNES.

R7

Dooley (MTO)
Follow the Signs
New Jersey John

#12 FOLLOW THE SIGNS: Took a step forward second off the layoff last time out and won impressively here last September. He’ll need to negotiate a trip from the far outside post, but he has the speed to potentially clear going into the first turn; #2 NEW JERSEY JOHN: Has won two of four starts since being claimed in January at Tampa. He may have benefited from the trip last time out at Belmont, but Lezcano is 2 for 2 on him, and he’ll be a price while in career-best form; #3 CROSSWAYS: Returns after a smashing maiden win in his turf debut in April. I’m not sure what he beat that day, and the gap in workouts from May to July is a concern, but if he’s ready, he’ll be a major player. DIRT SELECTIONS: DOOLEY, HIGH MOON, CARTHON.

R8

Come Dancing
Your Love
Wonderment

#4 COME DANCING: Returned with a big effort last week, when she smashed optional claiming foes in her first start since January. Carlos Martin’s done well with a smaller barn this meet, and I think he’s got this filly going in the right direction; #8 YOUR LOVE: Was second in her first start since November downstate. Her best race could absolutely win this, but I’m concerned with the possibility of a wet track, as I think she’s considerably better over fast going; #2 WONDERMENT: Is a two-time stakes winner making her first start since January. She may need the race, but she’d benefit from a wet track and could run well late at a big price.

R9

Stoney Bennett (MTO)
Frisky Magician
Banana Thief

#4 FRISKY MAGICIAN: Drops down in class after a pair of efforts against graded stakes foes. He hasn’t won in a while, but a repeat of his race two back in the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill would make him very tough; #11 BANANA THIEF: Is a pace play for me given the abundance of early speed in this field. He likes running second or third, but he’s won here before, could run well late, and has arguably the hottest trainer/jockey combination to this point in the meet; #6 UNCLE YOUDGE: Has won two in a row at Laurel Park and may be in career-best form. It’s worth noting that Lynch is slated to travel up from Maryland to ride. DIRT SELECTIONS: STONEY BENNETT, ETHAN HUNT, OSTROLENKA.

R10

Smash Williams
Bronze Age
Money Laundering

#7 SMASH WILLIAMS: Drops down in class, but is trained by Todd Pletcher and would benefit from a wet track. In this mess of a race where I’d advise you to use as many as you can afford, that’s enough to make him my top selection; #6 BRONZE AGE: Was DQ’d out of a win last time out at Prairie Meadows. He has back form that hints he’ll be tough if he fires his best shot, but he’s shown that he hates wet tracks, so follow the track condition; #13 MONEY LAUNDERING: May have needed the race last time out, since it was his first start in 10 months. He’s been gelded since that effort, and at least he’s won here before.