BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $973.50

I had such a great time coming to the track on Friday that I’m making a return trip Monday. It’s my last full day in New York before heading back to California, and once again, it promises to be a fun time. The Monday card is pretty tough from start to finish, and that includes the Better Talk Now, which includes several promising 3-year-olds going two turns on the turf. I’m hoping I can head back to the west coast with some money in my pocket!

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: For the fifth straight day, we cashed a ticket, but for the first time in almost a week, we lost money. One of our $10 doubles hit, but it was the one that returned a paltry $2.05 for every dollar bet. As such, we dropped $19.50.

MONDAY’S PLAY: Once again, I thought this was a very tough card, with very few standouts and, thusly, very few spots to take a stand with a single. I’ll key my best bet in the opener, singling #5 DISCRETIONARY MARQ in $10 doubles with #2 ISOTOPE and #8 NORTH EIGHT STREET. Additionally, I’ll put $3 across the board on my longshot of the day, #5 ENGLISH SOUL in the ninth.

TOTAL WAGERED: $29

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Discretionary Marq, Race 1
Longshot: English Soul, Race 9

R1

Discretionary Marq
Heart in Hand
Speightful Kitten

DISCRETIONARY MARQ: Was extremely impressive in defeat in his debut, when he rallied from 10 lengths back to miss by just a neck. That sort of trip is uncommon for debuting runners, and any improvement off of that performance would make him very tough to beat; HEART IN HAND: Is well-bred and boasts some strong workouts ahead of his debut, including a turf bullet last month on the training track. Linda Rice’s barn is firing on all cylinders here; SPEIGHTFUL KITTEN: Showed speed in his first start off a long layoff, when he faded to fifth behind eventual stakes winner Crawdaddy. He was third at this route last summer and figures to be prominent early.

R2

Isotope
North Eight Street
Easy Way Out

ISOTOPE: Takes a small class drop second off a brief freshening for a barn that’s due to get going. Her win two back was very impressive, and she could sit a dream trip rating just off the pace; NORTH EIGHT STREET: Ran an improved race when dropping to this level last time out. She was second after setting the early pace, and while she hasn’t won in a while, a repeat of that effort would make her competitive here; EASY WAY OUT: Merits respect if you can find a reason to toss the last-out effort. She takes a big drop, and while a return to form would make her tough, that clunker in her lone local start leads me to go elsewhere on top.

R3

A Fleet Attitude
Rodriguez entry
Cautious Giant

A FLEET ATTITUDE: Ran into two stakes-quality horses last time out at Parx. That form sometimes has issues traveling north, but note that he won two back at Belmont off a long layoff against similar-quality foes to what he’ll face here; RODRIGUEZ ENTRY: I prefer MARRIEDTOTHEMUSIC, who loves Saratoga and has spent most of his career running against better horses. He may not be quite the horse he was in 2014 or 2015, but he should be prominent early; CAUTIOUS GIANT: Became the answer to a great trivia question when his shoe got caught in Gun Runner’s tail during the Whitney. He cuts back to his preferred distance, and it’s worth noting that he’s knocked heads with some top sprinters during his career.

R4

Cleo
Bixby Lou
Aife

CLEO: Drops down in class off of a race that was rained off the turf. That’s a throw-out, and I think you can toss the race two back as well, since it came off a 10-month layoff. She chased eventual Grade 1 winner Dream Dancing here last summer, and I think she wakes up today; BIXBY LOU: Was claimed by Linda Rice last time out and tries the turf for the first time. I love when trainers reach in with a plan in mind, and she may wind up on the lead in this spot; AIFE: Has run two OK races against straight maidens at Monmouth. She could sit a nice trip just off the pace beneath one of the top riders on the circuit.

R5

Honor Up
Big Gemmy
Mango M

HONOR UP: Didn’t run terribly in his debut, when he was fourth behind a well-meant Chad Brown trainee. He should like the added distance here, and this barn’s runners tend to improve with experience; BIG GEMMY: Was bet in his debut last month, but got off to a horrible start. He did salvage fifth that day, and the winner came back to win a state-bred stakes race Friday; MANGO M: Was a $250k auction purchase and has been working very well lately ahead of his debut. If there’s any hesitation here, it’s because Shug McGaughey’s horses usually need a race or two to get going.

R6

Hot and Heavy
Thirsty Actor
Candy Asset

HOT AND HEAVY: Seems to be the only true speed horse in this field, and this kind of horse is very dangerous on the inner turf. He exits a stakes race at Monmouth and should appreciate the class drop; THIRSTY ACTOR: Is 2-for-2 since switching to the lawn, with both wins coming at Monmouth. This is a class test for him, but he’s done nothing wrong on this surface to date; CANDY ASSET: Won on debut for Todd Pletcher in April at Gulfstream. This is a very different kind of turf course, but this barn can never be ignored.

R7

Fire Key
Quality Time
Orecchiette

FIRE KEY: Thumped state-bred company earlier this month at this route, and in fact hasn’t run a bad race sprinting on turf. There’s some speed signed on, and this filly should sit a perfect stalking trip; QUALITY TIME: Makes her U.S. debut and gets Lasix for the first time. She hasn’t run in more than a year, but she was fourth in a Group 3 overseas last spring, so talent is certainly present; ORECCHIETTE: Set a fast early pace at this route two weeks ago and hung on for third money. She won’t be alone on the front end, but of the likely frontrunners in here, I prefer her the most.

R8

Snap Decision
Holiday Stone
Blind Ambition

SNAP DECISION: Has not run a bad race this year and comes in off a fourth-place finish in a Grade 2. That race featured some of the best 3-year-old turf horses on the east coast, and this is certainly a softer spot for a horse that’s got plenty of talent; HOLIDAY STONE: Was beaten just a length last time out in a similar stakes race at Belmont. He’s another that’s knocked heads with some tough runners, and he was beaten just a half-length in the Grade 3 Transylvania this past spring at Keeneland; BLIND AMBITION: Won a stakes race going shorter earlier this met. He did win going two turns on grass three back, but it’s worth noting he had a dream trip that day, one he likely won’t get in this spot.

R9

Blue Atlas
Lady of Miracles
English Soul

BLUE ATLAS: Needs luck to draw in, but will be tough to beat if he does. He found two turns to be too far last time out, and the horse that ran second there came back to graduate on Friday; LADY OF MIRACLES: Was a good second at this route in her debut behind a stakes-placed runner. There may not have been much else in that field, but improvement is logical at second asking despite the challenging post; ENGLISH SOUL: Is bred up and down for turf and has worked well here for a smaller barn that’s tasted some success this summer. She may want even longer, but anywhere close to her 15-1 morning line odds could be a considerable overlay.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $992

Hey, Eclipse Award voters? Good freaking luck.

That was the message delivered in the Travers, when West Coast became racing’s newest Grade 1 winner and gave the Mike Smith/Bob Baffert duo a second straight win in the Midsummer Derby. Always Dreaming faded, Cloud Computing never fired, and Tapwrit was one-paced while finishing fourth.

Who’s your Champion 3-Year-Old Male? Your guess is as good as mine. The door is wide-open for an unconventional winner, like turf specialist Oscar Performance or Allen Jerkens winner Practical Joke. Here’s the bigger, obviously-sarcastic question: If no deserving winner emerges, can voters decide to just not give out the award for a year?

SATURDAY’S RESULTS: We made it four winning days in a row with our win-place strategy. Of the four horses we gave out, three won, all at 6-1 odds or higher. Ultimately, our $40 investment returned $180.50.

SUNDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the early part of the card and play doubles starting and ending with #5 PORTFOLIO MANAGER in the third. My $10 bets use the Chad Brown and Mike Maker-trained entries in the second and #3 TRUTH IN THE LIES and #6 CINDER in the fourth.

TOTAL WAGERED: $40

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Portfolio Manager, Race 3
Longshot: Amity, Race 10

R1

Thirst for Victory
Notorious
Caniform

THIRST FOR VICTORY: Drops way down in class for aggressive connections that have won lots of races with this move in the past. He broke his maiden sprinting here last year, and he’s been running against much better horses; NOTORIOUS: Returns from a long layoff for a new barn and drops to the lowest level he’s ever run at. The workout pattern here is steady, and his best race makes him a player; CANIFORM: Won here last week in his first start for Steve Asmussen. That race came against a weaker group, but he’s a consistent sort that merits a look.

R2

Brown entry
Maker entry
Spring On Curlin

BROWN ENTRY: I prefer DATA ROOM, who stretches back out to two turns and should embrace such a switch. His two duds both came at Belmont in one-turn races, and he hooked some tough competition in some of his prior efforts; MAKER ENTRY: I most fancy MARKITOFF, who was second at this level earlier in the meet behind a runaway winner. His races at this level have been fine, and note the rider switch to Luis Saez; SPRING ON CURLIN: Hasn’t won in a while, but drops in for a tag for the first time and exits a swiftly-run race at Belmont. This barn has quietly had an excellent meet.

R3

Portfolio Manager
Harlan Punch
Karma Delight

PORTFOLIO MANAGER: Was fourth in a classy allowance race won by a good 3-year-old named Petrov earlier in the meet. He drops in for a tag for the first time and is met by a less-than-imposing group; HARLAN PUNCH: Hasn’t won since 2015 and ships in for a high-percentage barn that’s been unusually cold this meet. He’s been second against similar in each of his last two starts at Churchill; KARMA DELIGHT: Cruised against maiden claimers last time out and faces winners for the first time in his first start for Steve Asmussen. I’m not sure what he beat that day, but a repeat effort probably gets him a piece of this.

R4

Just Got Out (MTO)
Truth in the Lies
Cinder

TRUTH IN THE LIES: Was a close-up fourth behind a next-out winner at this level last time, and was claimed out of that race by Jason Servis. He and Irad Ortiz have done spectacular work together this meet, and they team up on this one; CINDER: Gets a huge rider switch to Javier Castellano after a strange trip last time out. She probably needs a pace to run at, but she should be going well late; HOLD ME DOWN: Has hit the board in five of six starts this season and merits a look shipping in from Parx. Having said that, she’s 0-for-12 on turf, so if the morning line holds up, I’ll look elsewhere for value. DIRT SELECTIONS: JUST GOT OUT, HOLD ME DOWN, RANGER LADY.

R5

Everybody Loves Me
Quick Quick Quick
Twofer

EVERYBODY LOVES ME: Was second behind a runaway winner last time out in her debut, and that came for a barn whose horses often need a race or two to get going. Improvement is logical at second asking, and the blinkers come off this speedy horse, which is usually a plus; QUICK QUICK QUICK: Was also second in her debut, and she did so while rallying from off the pace, which is uncommon for first-time starters to successfully do. This is another barn whose horses often improve with experience; TWOFER: Fetched $290k at auction earlier this year and has worked well of late ahead of her unveiling. This is an outfit that has stellar numbers with debuting runners.

R6

Impazible Creek
Frost Wise
She’sakittykat

IMPAZIBLE CREEK: Boasts an improving work pattern ahead of her debut and has attracted Javier Castellano to ride for a fairly small barn, which is intriguing. The rail draw isn’t ideal, but it’s not like she’s lining up against any monsters in this spot; FROST WISE: Figures to be prominent early in a race that otherwise seems devoid of early speed. She’s had issues holding on to early leads of late, but she’ll likely have a very easy trip here; SHE’SAKITTYKAT: Was forced to rate behind a slow pace last time out, but rallied for third. However, she’ll likely face a similar situation today, albeit for powerful connections.

R7

First Appeal
Treatherlikestar
Swayed

FIRST APPEAL: Has run well here twice this summer, with a win and a solid third-place finish. She’s won three of four since going to trainer Linda Rice, and first-call rider Jose Ortiz will be aboard; TREATHERLIKESTAR: Broke through for her first win in a while last time out in her local debut. That was against a weaker field, but horses that like this route of ground can’t be thrown out; SWAYED: Threw in a clunker in a race rained off the turf last time out, but was a close-up third two back at this level and route. The rail draw is a concern, but we may get a bit of a price on a horse that’s run well at these conditions before.

R8

Astounding
Jupiter Rising
Any Questions

ASTOUNDING: Hasn’t run a bad race on the lawn in four such starts and was second at this level earlier this month. This is another Servis/Ortiz collaboration, and his usual race would make him the one to beat; JUPITER RISING: Won two back against maiden claimers and was probably left with too much to do late last time out against winners. Todd Pletcher takes over the training duties, and it’s not often we get this sort of a price on a horse from that barn; ANY QUESTIONS: Has won two of his last three, including a win against weaker company here earlier in the meet. David Jacobson does strong work with new acquisitions, and Runhappy’s little brother could improve in his first start for that outfit.

R9

Miss Ella
Fair Point
Ava’s Kitten

MISS ELLA: Has not finished worse than second in three starts at Saratoga, and that record includes a win in last month’s Caress Stakes. There’s plenty of pace in this race, and she could come running late in a race that came up very tough for this level; FAIR POINT: Meets my top selection once again after running second to her in the Caress. Both horses ran well that day, and it wouldn’t be too surprising if this one turns the tables; AVA’S KITTEN: Is another that likes Saratoga, having won two of four local starts. That includes a win in an optional claimer at this route, and this distance seems to suit her.

R10

Data Dependent
Amity
Reality Queen

DATA DEPENDENT: Is bred up and down for turf. She’s by More Than Ready and out of a Street Cry mare, and she’s worked very well for Chad Brown ahead of her debut; AMITY: Is listed at 20-1, and anywhere close to that price is an overlay. Her dam is a half to Forever Together, who won an Eclipse Award as the Champion Female Turf Horse of 2008, and this one has worked pretty well for a top-notch barn ahead of her unveiling; REALITY QUEEN: Showed some early zip in her turf debut last time out, and she’s the only proven early speed in this field. The rider switch to Luis Saez is notable, and she figures to be prominent early on.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $735.75

Prior to 2016, I had made it to Saratoga at least once per year since learning how to walk and talk. That streak ended last year, but thankfully, I’m starting a new streak Friday, as I’ll be in attendance for the 11-race program.

I’ll be in the backyard with my father, some of his golfing buddies, and a number of people from Scotland. It promises to be a good time. That said, if you see or smell haggis coming within 100 yards of the track, promptly send help.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: We made it two winning days in a row, as best bet IWISHIRISH jogged in the sixth while both horses we used in exactas ran 2-3. It didn’t pay much ($13 for a $2 bet), but since we had it for $10, our $30 investment returned $65. I guess we should’ve played the trifecta!

FRIDAY’S PLAY: Because Fleet Indian favorite #2 SUNSET RIDGE appears to be the wagering equivalent of a “free space” on a bingo board, I’m hammering the early multi-race exotics. I’ll play a 50-cent Pick Five starting in the opener that uses the following horses: 1,2,3,8 with 2,5 with 2 with 3,6 with 3,4,6,8. Additionally, I’ll play a 50-cent Pick Four that starts in the second race and uses the same horses that are included in the last four legs of the Pick Five.

TOTAL WAGERED: $40

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Sunset Ridge, Race 3
Longshot: Hardly Mate, Race 6

R1

Codrington
Purely Lucky
Jody’s Song

CODRINGTON: Has run well in two turf starts, including a near-miss last time out going long. A repeat of her last-out effort would almost certainly make her the one to beat; PURELY LUCKY: Was one-paced in her debut going short and has the pedigree to embrace a distance of ground. The rider switch to Javier Castellano indicates improvement could be on the horizon; JODY’S SONG: Fetched $250k at auction last summer and is bred to like the grass. She’s by Scat Daddy and out of a Speightstown mare, so don’t be surprised if she takes to the turf.

R2

Build to Suit
Runaway Lute
Beyond the Green

BUILD TO SUIT: Has crossed the wire first in three of four lifetime starts, including a runaway win last time out at this route. To be fair, he had a perfect trip that day, but there’s some speed signed on here and he can certainly be closer to the pace than he was in that victory; RUNAWAY LUTE: Was a promising 2-year-old last year and may have found that form last time out. He was second in a swiftly-run race going six furlongs, and he’s certainly a contender on his best day; BEYOND THE GREEN: Hasn’t won in a while but has been very close in each of his last two starts. He cuts back from longer races, and the recent bullet workout is encouraging.

R3

Sunset Ridge
Bonita Bianca
Five Each Way

SUNSET RIDGE: Tries two turns for the first time, but has given no indication that this will be a problem. She’s 3-for-3 and has improved with every start, and it would take significant regression for her to be threatened here; BONITA BIANCA: Has thrived against state-breds, going 4-for-4 in such races with three wins in stakes company. She seems best of the rest; FIVE EACH WAY: Tries dirt for the first time, but at least her previous races can tell you she’ll handle this distance, and someone has to run third.

R4

Barbarossa
Battle Station
Chasindamoney

BARBAROSSA: Showed speed and faded in his debut on dirt, which came against several horses that will run in a stakes race later on this card. He’s bred up and down for the turf, and this is his first start for new trainer Todd Pletcher; BATTLE STATION: Has worked pretty well here as of late for a conditioner that’s one of the best in the business at getting 2-year-olds ready to run. He’s bred pretty well, too, as his dam is a half to a Grade 3-winning turf sprinter named Vestrey Lady; CHASINDAMONEY: Fetched $72k at auction last summer and goes out for a barn that’s had a tremendous meet. The works don’t stand out, but this trainer/jockey combination merits respect.

R5

What a Catch
Morning Breez
Aveenu Malcainu

WHAT A CATCH: Has beaten a number of others in this field in his two prior starts, one of which was a win in a similar stakes race downstate. He’s been working very well, and he’s proven he doesn’t necessarily need the lead to run well; MORNING BREEZ: Was second behind my top pick last time out, beating the rest of the field by daylight in the process. The rider switch to Irad Ortiz, Jr., is a plus, and he comes in off a bullet drill on August 20th; AVEENU MALCAINU: Rated and won at first asking, which isn’t an easy thing to do.

R6

Hope’s Roar
Hardly Mate
New Canaan

HOPE’S ROAR: Is 0-for-14, and I usually don’t like picking those horses on top, but her last race was visually impressive. She was rated off a very slow early pace, was rank beneath his rider, and still almost won. There seems to be a bit more speed signed on today; HARDLY MATE: Showed some early zip in her lone start to date, and will need to use it to clear this field from the outside post. However, Joel Rosario riding for a barn that doesn’t send out many horses is encouraging, and she could be ready to run off the bench; NEW CANAAN: Ran like a horse who needed his debut earlier this month. Still, he was beaten less than three lengths in that event while wide throughout, and improvement is logical at second asking, especially given the class drop.

R7

Fourstar Crook
Ack Naughty
Bar of Gold

FOURSTAR CROOK: Goes for her ninth consecutive victory here, and if she puts forth the effort we’ve come to expect from her, she should get it. She cruised to a win over graded stakes company last time out and has dispatched many of these foes in the past; ACK NAUGHTY: Could complete a Chad Brown exacta if she runs back to her most recent race. She was an impressive winner in open allowance company, and she made my top pick/her stablemate work for it two back in the Mount Vernon; BAR OF GOLD: Hasn’t won in a while, but has been running against much better horses. She was beaten less than a length in a stakes race earlier in the meet and can’t be ignored.

R8

I Still Miss You
Newport Breeze
Pauseforthecause

I STILL MISS YOU: Was undefeated before running into next-out Adirondack winner Pure Silver in the Lynbrook, and she was a city block clear of the rest of that field. If she runs back to that race, it’s likely that everyone else is running for second money; NEWPORT BREEZE: Ships in from the west coast for a barn that’s had success doing this with New York-breds this year. The jury’s out on how good the field she beat last time out is, but she ran into some good ones in her debut and has been working pretty well; PAUSEFORTHECAUSE: Led at every call in her debut earlier this meet despite a rough break. She figures to be prominent early, but given her pedigree, she may want even more ground than she gets today.

R9

Offering Plan
Get Jets
Kharafa

OFFERING PLAN: Won a similar stakes race two back at Belmont and has shown his best is good enough to get him home today. This race figures to set up for a closer, and the faster they go early, the better this one figures to run; GET JETS: Was second behind a top-class horse last time out at Belmont and has woken up since being switched to the turf late last year. If there’s any hesitation here, it’s because he’s never gone two turns on the lawn until now; KHARAFA: Is an easy horse to root for, having made $1.1 million the hard way. He was third in a Grade 2 last time out at Monmouth, and is another that should be running well in the lane.

R10

Twisted Tom
Minsky Moment
Broken Engagement

TWISTED TOM: Has won four of his last five, with his lone defeat in that stretch coming in the Grade 1 Belmont. He beat many of these last time out in the New York Derby and will likely be heavily favored to do so again; MINSKY MOMENT: Is one of just two in here not coming out of the aforementioned New York Derby. He couldn’t run down a perfect-trip winner at this route last time out, but he’s flashed talent and could complete another Chad Brown exacta; BROKEN ENGAGEMENT: Was second to my top pick last time out and beat the rest of the field by several lengths that day.

R11

Silky Way
Danny’s Rush
Shades of Brown

SILKY WAY: Showed speed against straight maidens last time out and drops in for a tag for the first time. He should be sharper second off the layoff, and strong turf rider Jose Lezcano retains the mount; DANNY’S RUSH: Is a major player if he draws in off the AE list. He was fourth behind an eventual stakes-winner two back, and a repeat of that race would put him right there; SHADES OF BROWN: Merits a longshot look. He woke up when switched to the turf last time out, and he figures to be prominent early.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $700.75

When you work a day in advance, as I do, you’re prone to weird things happening. Case in point, my longshot of the day in the pick box, and my key horse in this section, was 6-1 on the morning line in a large field. I thought I found something, but the horse went off at 2-1, a third of the original price.

Before anyone says anything of the sort, this is NOT an attack on morning line man Travis Stone, who has arguably the hardest job on the front side of the racetrack. It’s just part of the job I have to work around, that’s all.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS: I wouldn’t have bet I Miss My Father had I known he’d go off at 2-1, and he didn’t win. However, we did at least get something back from his second-place finish. Our $30 investment returned a slight profit, as the place and show money totaled $35.50.

THURSDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the sixth, which houses my best bet of the day. That’s #6 IWISHIRISH, who ran well enough to win last time out at this level. I’ll use that one in $10 exactas above #7 INDIAN GEM and #10 DESERT AFFAIR, as well as $5 exactas below those two.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Iwishirish, Race 6
Longshot: Lido, Race 9

R1

Modem
Mr. Hot Stuff
Swansea Mile

MODEM: Came to North America ready to run, as evidenced by a strong second in a Grade 1 last month. He gave 14 pounds to the winner that day, and not only is that gap trimmed to 10 here, but this one should want every bit of this distance; MR. HOT STUFF: Is easy to root for given his backstory. He ran in the Kentucky Derby as a 3-year-old, won a Grade 1 here over fences in 2013, and merits a chance at another such score in his 11-year-old year; SWANSEA MILE: Pulled off a 28-1 shocker in the A.P. Smithwick last time out. That effort came from out of nowhere, and he won’t be sneaking up on many people here.

R2

La Contessa
Warrior’s Silver
Strategic Dreams

LA CONTESSA: Goes from turf to dirt at second asking and also drops down in class. She didn’t run terribly in her debut against straight maidens, and anywhere close to that effort would make her the one to beat here; WARRIOR’S SILVER: Wasn’t expected to do much in her debut, but did show a bit of late interest. She adds Lasix in her second career start for a trainer whose horses often improve with experience; STRATEGIC DREAMS: Makes her debut in this spot for a trainer that can get first-time starters cranked up. The presence of Irad Ortiz is a plus.

R3

Strike Midnight
Caribbean
Twenty Four Seven

STRIKE MIDNIGHT: Drops down in class after spending much of the past two years running against significantly better horses. This is a horse that was second in three stakes races as a 3-year-old, and he should appreciate the class relief; CARIBBEAN: Cruised home against a weaker group last month at Monmouth. This barn must be respected, and he should be able to rate off a solid pace; TWENTY FOUR SEVEN: Won two in a row late last year, including once over this turf course. He hasn’t been seen since November, but is capable of winning if he fires his best shot. DIRT SELECTIONS: CARIBBEAN, COMBAT CONTROLLER, BARATTI.

R4

Broman entry
Jewel Can Disco
Born for a Storm

BROMAN ENTRY: I prefer HEAVY MEDDLE, who helped set an insane pace in a race with a big field early in the meet yet still hung on for second money. There’s some speed signed on here, but nowhere near as much as what he faced last month, and that angle has been kind to several frontrunners so far this meet; JEWEL CAN DISCO: Freaked last time out at Belmont, crushing a group of overmatched maidens. A repeat of that effort likely wins, but given that it came off a long layoff and was such a big step up, a bounce is very possible; BORN FOR A STORM: Likely needed his last race, which was his first effort since October. He’s won over this surface before, and the Brown/Castellano tandem can’t be ignored.

R5

Just Got Out (MTO)
Industrial Policy
Miss Aja Brown

INDUSTRIAL POLICY: Drops way down in class off of a race earlier this meet that wasn’t bad. She was fourth against $50k claimers, and a repeat of that effort against this $25k bunch likely puts her in the winner’s circle; MISS AJA BROWN: Is another dropping in class, and she exits the same race as my top pick. She may be better around one turn, but the pilot who rode her to a victory two back returning is a positive; MERILORE: Just missed at this level and route last month. That effort would be competitive here, but the post position is a lot to overcome, and there may not be much value given her most recent effort. DIRT SELECTIONS: JUST GOT OUT, MERILORE, INDYGITA.

R6

Iwishirish
Indian Gem
Desert Affair

IWISHIRISH: Was a fast-closing second at this level last time out. She’s stepped forward in two starts as a 3-year-old, and this does not seem to be an imposing field; INDIAN GEM: Was bet in her first start off a long layoff and didn’t run badly. She was beaten less than two lengths in a turf sprint, and she returns to the main track for her second start off the bench; DESERT AFFAIR: Was third in the race my top pick exits. She’s 0-for-11 with many minor awards, and her usual race likely gets her a piece of this.

R7

Pinchbeck
Table for Six
Young Anna Lee (MTO)

PINCHBECK: Ran a solid third in her first start against winners last time out at Belmont. That was a swiftly-run race, and this improving filly should love the added distance given her stamina-filled pedigree; TABLE FOR SIX: Has never finished off the board in eight starts for Ralph Nicks, but that stretch does not include a single win. She can’t be ignored in the exotics, and maybe the extra ground will help her, but I have a hard time picking horses like this on top; BAREEQA: Was well back in a race with zero early speed last time out, so I have no problem drawing a line through that race. Her three races before that were all very good, and she’d benefit from a quick early pace. DIRT SELECTIONS: YOUNG ANNA LEE, BAREEQA, MO PROMISE.

R8

Celtic Chaos
Weekend Hideaway
Jacobson entry

CELTIC CHAOS: Was very good to this handicapper early in the meet when winning the John Morrissey. He got the benefit of a suicidal speed duel that day, and while there isn’t quite as much zip signed on, he should still benefit from the likely race shape; WEEKEND HIDEAWAY: Was third behind a very good sprinter last time out in the Tale of the Cat. He loves Saratoga and could sit a dream trip just off the speed; JACOBSON ENTRY: Given the likely early pace, I prefer OSTROLENKA, who was second in the Morrissey and should be moving well late. BRIMSTONE, though, can win on his best day and was a victim of the aforementioned early battle in that race.

R9

Rubilinda
Lido
Danceland

RUBILINDA: Will likely be favored if she draws in off the AE list. There’s a lot of speed signed on, and while she was beaten last time out by a rival who shows up here, said rival got an easy lead she shouldn’t get in this spot; LIDO: Has gotten zero pace to run at in each of her last three starts, and that should change today. She overcame such a scenario to win last time out at Belmont, and given the likely race shape here, I think she can shuffle to victory here (sorry, had to); DANCELAND: Is at her best going two turns. She rallied from last to first to win such a race early on in the meet, and this barn tends to keep good horses on the right track.

R10

Honor Up (MTO)
Phone Funky Munky
News Anchor

PHONE FUNKY MUNKY: Is the only horse in this field with a credible dirt route on his resume. He was third at first asking earlier this month for a barn that rarely has first-time starters fully cranked; NEWS ANCHOR: Is bred to love the turf and has some strong workouts on his tab ahead of his debut. If there’s any hesitation, it’s because this barn’s horses sometimes need a race or two to get going; FUN PROSPECT: Stretches out and adds blinkers for a barn that has strong numbers with both moves. The most recent race hasn’t come back well, but it’s not like this is the toughest spot in the world. DIRT SELECTIONS: HONOR UP, NEW YORK HERO, PHONE FUNKY MUNKY.