BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $828.20

I’m a proud voter for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and I’m always happy to spread the word about fun events happening at that establishment. One of those is coming up on Monday, when Amplify Horse Racing and Together for Racing International team up to host an educational symposium.

It’s a free event kicking off at 5:30 pm. If you go, you can expect to learn a lot about opportunities within the racing industry and how horse racing and the Saratoga Springs community can work together for the benefit of all involved. If I still lived in the area, I’d be there!

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: In this section, it was a day of body blows. Boldish scratching ruined my entire rationale for these wagers, and while my top pick in that race won, running second in the surrounding races meant $32 in wagers went up in smoke.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the fifth, where bigger prices make up my entire top three. I’ll box #3 STREAMING TAP, #4 MAD MAGIC, and #7 SEBARAY in $2 exactas, and I’ll use all three in $3 doubles that finish with #7 ACOUSTIC AVE and #10 BOBBY THE TANK in the sixth.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Creative Minister, Race 7
Longshot: Sebaray, Race 5

R1

Golden Alchemist
Sidekick
Southern Flag

#2 GOLDEN ALCHEMIST: Debuted with a decent second downstate and stretches out to two turns at second asking. His pedigree says he’ll fit this trip, and Flavien Prat winds up here when he had at least one other option; #5 SIDEKICK: Improved in his second start when second going a mile at Belmont. This is his first time going two turns, as well, and his recent drills over the Oklahoma track indicate he’s thriving at the Spa; #7 SOUTHERN FLAG: Almost certainly needed his last-out effort, which doubled as his first start in nearly a year. His 2021 form wasn’t bad, and it’s logical to expect a step forward second off the bench.

R2

Media Sensation
Lookin Grand
Sell Something

#5 MEDIA SENSATION: Gets back to facing state-bred competition after running a close-up second a few weeks ago at Belmont despite jockey Manny Franco losing an iron at the break. This doesn’t hit me as the strongest race for the level, and Franco sees fit to ride back; #7 LOOKIN GRAND: Made a big middle move last time in his first start at this level. That was a strangely-run race, and this one is lightly-raced enough to where further improvement could still be in the cards; #4 SELL SOMETHING: Has a tendency to find trouble that’s…well, troubling, but his last-out effort was his first turf route, and it was easily his best race yet. Perhaps he’s doing what he wants to do, and that could make him dangerous at a price.

R3

Fingal’s Cave
Insignia
Spiked

#3 FINGAL’S CAVE: Has done absolutely nothing wrong in two career starts, with a pair of wins by a combined margin of 17 1/2 lengths. This is her first try going two turns, but her route-heavy pedigree indicates that won’t be a problem, and the local drills are very sharp; #7 INSIGNIA: Benefited from a race that fell apart last time out at Churchill Downs and tries winners for the first time. Brad Cox’s horses are almost always live, and if nothing else, we know the two-turn route won’t be what gets her beat; #6 SPIKED: Won her first start on this circuit despite dueling throughout, which is far from an easy thing to do. This isn’t an easy spot for the level, and there are pedigree questions as far as this route is concerned, but the grit she’s shown is a real plus.

R4

Tellaperfecttale (MTO)
Happy Hill Lil
Laoban’s Legacy

#11 HAPPY HILL LIL: Draws an absolutely terrible post but seems likely to get an ideal setup in front of her. She’s a closer in a turf sprint with plenty of early speed, and she sports a win at this route of ground from the 12-hole, so we know this is something she can do; #5 LAOBAN’S LEGACY: Makes her first career start on turf but has a pedigree that says she might like it. Her dam is kin to Grade 2-winning turfer Storm Mesa, and the recent turf drills over the Oklahoma track jump off the page. At her likely price, she hits me as a must-use; #4 BLAME IT ON MARY: Hasn’t won in quite a while but has been competitive at this level of late. Most recently, she was second against similar downstate, and she could sit an ideal stalking trip that gives her first run turning for home.

R5

Sebaray
Mad Magic
Streaming Tap

#7 SEBARAY: Has a pedigree crying out for turf, and he finally gets it here. He’s a half to a pair of graded stakes-caliber turf runners, and his first start for Ray Handal was easily the best race of his career. Further improvement gives this gelding a big shot at a big price; #4 MAD MAGIC: Goes first off the claim for Ian Wilkes, who doesn’t claim many horses, and is another trying a new surface he should handle with aplomb. His dam is kin to Grade 1-placed turf runner Globetrotter and stakes-winning turf sprinter Slew’s Exchange. Turf was clearly the plan, and he’s worth using; #3 STREAMING TAP: Stretches out to two turns in his second start off of a brief freshening. He’s run decent races going long in the past, this barn is white-hot at the moment, and he’s another that will be a big price in a race with several favorites that hit me as vulnerable ones.

R6

Acoustic Ave
Bobby the Tank
With Know Name

#7 ACOUSTIC AVE: Hammered for $200,000 earlier this year and comes in off a pair of very fast half-mile works. Offspring of Maclean’s Music tend to be precocious, the draw in the outer half of the field should help, and I think there’s plenty of potential here; #10 BOBBY THE TANK: Has been working steadily here for Chad Brown following a $65,000 purchase earlier this year. A few of those drills stack up favorably with others in this field, and anything this barn sends out is worth a long look; #2 WITH KNOW NAME: Debuts for Mike Maker, whose outfit is firing on all cylinders this summer. Maker’s not known for success with debuting runners, but several works hint at some talent and this one has precocity on both sides of his pedigree.

R7

Creative Minister
Be Better
Artorius

#7 CREATIVE MINISTER: Was third in the Grade 1 Preakness before running a one-paced fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont, and it’s a long distance between the likes of Mo Donegal and Early Voting and this bunch. I think he’d have stood a chance in the Jim Dandy this weekend, and that his usual race would make him an extremely formidable chalk in the Curlin; #8 BE BETTER: Has moved forward in every start and is 2-for-2 this season at Monmouth Park. Todd Pletcher brings him up from New Jersey for this event, and he’s enlisted Luis Saez to ride; #9 ARTORIUS: Jumps up in class after topping a field of maidens downstate. This son of Arrogate and Paulassilverlining can’t be bred much better, and he’s got some gaudy speed figures, but he’s got something to prove in his first start against winners and first time going two turns.

R8

Mexican Wonder Boy (MTO)
Fauci
Xy Speed

#4 FAUCI: Is one of many in here that hasn’t won in a while, but he’s been tackling some very stiff competition. Most recently, he was second behind the ultra-consistent Artemus Citylimits, and he was a close second to Arrest Me Red in a minor stakes race at this route last summer; #2 XY SPEED: Was beaten two lengths in a minor stakes race last time out, and his only non-stakes outing to this point in 2022 doubles as his lone win of the year. This is another closer getting some class relief, and he’ll likely be a square price; #6 DANCING BUCK: Sat a picture-perfect trip to win a seven-furlong event last time out, and he cuts back in distance here while rising up the class ladder. It helps that he’s shown some versatility, and the continued presence of Joel Rosario doesn’t hurt, either.

R9

On the Hill
Baltasar
Dark Timber

#5 ON THE HILL: Hasn’t finished outside the top two yet this season and gets a monstrous rider switch to Luis Saez for this event. In each of his last two starts, he’s run second while well clear of the third-place finisher. He may not have to move forward at all to win this, and I think he could run a career-best race; #9 BALTASAR: Cuts back a bit after being reeled in last time out. Manny Franco knows this gelding well, having ridden him in all four 2022 outings, and he has the early speed to be prominent from a very early juncture; #7 DARK TIMBER: Hasn’t won since March of 2021, but his two-back effort at Churchill was sharp and his last-out turf try is a complete throw-out. He’s been competitive at this level and is doing what he wants, which may make the 12-1 morning line price an overlay.

R10

Maybe Later (MTO)
Stella Mars
More Mango

#6 STELLA MARS: Stretches out to two turns and ran OK in her lone prior two-turn turf try last November at Aqueduct. She generally runs the same race every time out, and such an effort would put her right there in a wide-open finale; #5 MORE MANGO: Has run well going long on turf multiple times, and this smaller barn has landed Luis Saez here. She sports a win at a similar route from the 2020 season, and it’s not illogical to think the new pilot may get the best effort out of her; #12 MIA AT MIDNIGHT: Draws a terrible post in her local debut but ran a pair of decent races at Santa Anita earlier this year. Peter Walder can win with new acquisitions, and Irad Ortiz, Jr., sees fit to ride, which indicates this invader may have a chance in a puzzling Friday nightcap.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $805

Earlier this week, The Daily Racing Form reported that trainer Marcus Vitali was suspended for one year by officials at Delaware Park, and that he allegedly confiscated a package of suspected contraband. Shortly after the initial story broke, The Paulick Report added more details, reporting that Vitali dashed out of the room and somehow evaded security personnel.

I’m all for due process, especially in a sport where percentages of medications are measured in picograms and nanograms. Having said that, if this story is proven true, many racing jurisdictions have a lot of explaining to do regarding Vitali’s ability to have stalls and enter horses. Trainers who cheat give the ones who don’t a bad name, and at a time when racing is constantly under a microscope, shouldn’t we be doing all we can to clean up the sport?

NYRA has already shown an ability to bar trainers from running horses at Saratoga. I sincerely hope those in power do their due diligence and, if these details prove accurate, take appropriate action.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: Ratajkowski settled for second, which turned doubles and Pick Threes into losing wagers. We dropped $30.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: I’m going to take a stand against #3 COUNTENANCE in the opener. 3/5 just seems way too short. I’ll use #2 HANDLE WITH CARE, #5 G. T. SONIA, and #7 KNOW POINT GIVEN in $3 doubles that end with the #1/1A/1X entry and #8 ASSAULT BREAKER.

TOTAL WAGERED: $18

– – – – –

BEST BET: Queen of Beas, Race 4
LONGSHOT: Know Point Given, Race 1

R1

Handle With Care
G. T. Sonia
Know Point Given

#2 HANDLE WITH CARE: Has run second in consecutive starts since coming back to the dirt. The cutback in distance to seven furlongs should suit her, and if you’re taking a stab against the likely favorite (as I am), she seems like a logical alternative; #5 G. T. SONIA: Returns to dirt and drops down in class for this event. A repeat of her race three back, when she ran second for a $30,000 tag, would put her right there; #7 KNOW POINT GIVEN: Is tough to endorse on top given her 0-for-19 career mark, but her recent form looks slightly sharper if you toss the wet-track races. Her two-back effort, when she was second against similar, was fine.

R2

Assault Breaker
Repole entry
Victory Built

#8 ASSAULT BREAKER: Ran well when second in his debut on dirt and goes to turf, which he’s bred to love. He holds an experience edge over most of these and seems like a formidable favorite; REPOLE ENTRY: I most prefer #1A MO READY, who flopped at 2/5 odds in his debut but is bred to like the lawn. If this race somehow gets rained off the turf, #1 MICROSECOND may be tough; #7 VICTORY BUILT: Is an intriguing price in his debut. He fetched $40,000 at auction earlier this year despite a pretty modest pedigree, and his 290 turf Tomlinson figure is above average.

R3

Missle Bomb (MTO)
I Can Do Anything
Bourbon in May

#6 I CAN DO ANYTHING: Was third in his first start against winners despite a far outside post last time out at Churchill Downs. He draws much better here and looks very tough; #8 BOURBON IN MAY: Makes his first start since January, when he was beaten three lengths in a stakes race at Gulfstream Park. His two-back maiden win was sharp, and he may have matured in his time off; #4 ALL SYSTEMS GO: Showed speed in a swiftly-run event downstate and figures to be prominent early on. The slight cutback in distance could help him here.

R4

Queen of Beas
Held Accountable
Nonsensical

#1 QUEEN OF BEAS: Exits the Grade 1 Acorn, where she chased the likes of Guarana and Serengeti Empress. She tries two turns for the first time, but comes up against what seems like a soft field for the level; #5 HELD ACCOUNTABLE: Has not run since December, but won two in a row late last year and may be capable on her best day. She’s worked well of late and may be a price; #3 NONSENSICAL: Exits a distant third-place finish in a minor stakes race at Delaware Park. She took advantage of a perfect trip two back at Belmont, and she may be on or near a reasonable pace early on.

R5

Tiz R Bella
Elizabeth Nicole
Wildcat Belle

#9 TIZ R BELLA: Has won two in a row coming into this race and may have simply been a dirt horse all along. The outside post should be a big help, and she’ll loom large if her Belmont form travels with her; #2 ELIZABETH NICOLE: Took a step forward for new connections last time out at Belmont and returns to her favorite track here. Carmouche rides back and figures to have her running hard out of the gate; #6 WILDCAT BELLE: Beat a number of these foes last time out at Belmont and seems to be an upward trajectory in form. Her best race is certainly good enough to win.

R6

Balon Rose
Ocean Fire
Monhegan

#9 BALON ROSE: Fetched $1.6 million at auction back in 2017 and was second in her debut earlier this year. She’s bred up and down for this distance and has every right to improve at second asking; #7 OCEAN FIRE: Made a strong middle move in her unveiling last month before flattening out late and fading to third. She’s another that should enjoy the added distance she gets in her second career start; #2 MONHEGAN: Has made a habit out of collecting minor checks in similar turf routes. She seems well-positioned to do that here as well given her stalking style and experience edge on most of her opponents.

R7

Righteous Ruby
It Was Considered
Slimey

#7 RIGHTEOUS RUBY: Has won two in a row and makes her first start for Danny Gargan, one of the best in the game with new acquisitions. This is a bit of a class test, but she’s in form and this barn must be respected; #5 IT WAS CONSIDERED: Was third behind my top pick last time out, but she may have needed that race coming off of a long layoff. She’s run well at this distance before and could be primed for an improved performance; #6 SLIMEY: Pulled off a 15-1 upset earlier in the meet when she rallied from far back in the slop. The faster they go early, the better her chances figure to be.

R8

Show Prince (MTO)
New York’s Finest
Dowse’s Beach

#6 NEW YORK’S FINEST: Has four wins in five local starts and merits respect on the drop in class. We figure to know his chances right out of the gate; if he breaks well, he’ll be tough, and if he doesn’t, well…; #4 DOWSE’S BEACH: Is another that has had a lot of success here, having won four of seven starts in upstate New York. Irad Ortiz, Jr., gets back aboard, and he piloted this gelding to three straight scores late last year; #8 BANANA THIEF: Won at this route a season ago and figures to be doing his best running late. He’s been competitive at this level in the past and would benefit from a speed duel.

R9

Looking At Bikinis
Endorsed
Highest Honors

#3 LOOKING AT BIKINIS: Comes into the Curlin undefeated in two starts, having most recently topped a solid allowance group downstate. The recent work jumps off the page, and two turns should not be an issue; #7 ENDORSED: Came off the bench running last time out, winning a six-furlong allowance at Belmont in his first start since flopping in the Grade 1 Champagne. He’s bred to love this route, and he graduated at first asking here last summer; #8 HIGHEST HONORS: Won a swiftly-run maiden race last time out, and the runner-up has since come back to graduate as well. He completes a powerful 1-2 punch for trainer Chad Brown.

R10

Later Cat (MTO)
Awesome Adversary
Prince Halo

#5 AWESOME ADVERSARY: Was second in a similar spot last time out, and this seems like a “now or never” spot for this 15-start maiden. He’s taken a step forward since being switched to the turf, and gets my nod in a challenging race to handicap; #8 PRINCE HALO: Was fifth in the race my top pick exits and tries two turns on grass for the first time. He’s got the running style to appreciate this route, and Luis Saez signing on is a plus; #9 THE GRAND CANAL: Was beaten just a length at Belmont last time and came running late despite a wide trip. This draw is another one that’s less than ideal, but two turns could be what he’s looking for.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $952

Friday’s feature is the Curlin Stakes for 3-year-olds. In its short history, it’s produced a fair number of fine 3-year-olds, including 2014 Travers winner V.E. Day and 2016 Pennsylvania Derby and Cigar Mile hero Connect. Unfortunately, it falls at a rotten time of the season, and in some instances could wind up taking horses away from races like the Haskell and Jim Dandy (which will both be run this weekend).

My idea: Going forward, move the Curlin to Travers Day, where it would serve a role akin to the Easy Goer on Belmont Day. Doing so may attract up-and-coming 3-year-olds and horses that found the waters of the Haskell or Jim Dandy to be too deep. Furthermore, it would add one more stakes race to Saratoga’s biggest day.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: We scratched out of the early Pick Four when races were moved off the turf.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: I found Friday’s card to be a real puzzle, and I’ll focus on the fifth. I’ll keep it simple, as I think first-time starters #1 LOOKING READY and #4 BIG GEMMY are the ones to fear. I’ll box them in $10 exactas and hope they run to their worktabs.

TOTAL WAGERED: $20

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Dovecote, Race 3
Longshot: Atwitzend, Race 10

R1

Mary Pray for Us
Big Mara
Madam Aamoura

MARY PRAY FOR US: Was exceptional against weaker company last time out and was claimed by Michelle Nevin. Jose Ortiz has done stellar work for this barn, and a repeat performance would make this one tough; BIG MARA: Takes a huge drop in class and likely didn’t appreciate the wet tracks she encountered in each of her last two. A race similar to what she was running last fall/winter may be enough to win; MADAM AAMOURA: May be the main speed and is favored on the morning line, but hasn’t won in a year and a half. Her best is competitive, but she may be an underlay at her listed price.

R2

Lightning Buzz
Professor Snape
Noneedtoflatterme

LIGHTNING BUZZ: Took a big step forward second off the layoff last time out. He was second in his debut here last summer, and further improvement could be in the cards; PROFESSOR SNAPE: Was a close-up second over a wet track last time out when sprinting for the first time since his unveiling. Trainer Linda Rice is off to a strong start to the meet; NONEEDTOFLATTERME: Comes back to dirt and takes a big drop in class. His lone win came in his solo dirt sprint to date, and that’s the route he gets here.

R3

Presumptuous (MTO)
Dovecote
Red Dane

DOVECOTE: Rated well off a slow pace last time out, but rallied to be beaten less than two lengths. The distance should not be a problem, and any pace she gets is a plus; RED DANE: Gets Lasix for the first time and has a pedigree that indicates she could love this marathon distance. Her recent turf races are encouraging, and we may get a bit of a price; DOUBLE CAST: Just missed in each of her last two starts, but she had perfect trips on both occasions, and those horses aren’t ones I typically bet back at low odds. DIRT SELECTIONS: PRESUMPTUOUS, DOVECOTE, BRILLIANT MISSY.

R4

Gambler’s Ghost
Will Did It
Diodoro entry

GAMBLER’S GHOST: Takes a huge class drop and figures to be the main speed. The rider switch to Jose Ortiz is a positive one, and it helps that he’s had three top-two finishes in as many local starts; WILL DID IT: Hasn’t won in a while, but drops down in class and has back form that indicates he could win on his best day. With his late kick, he’d benefit from someone dueling with my top pick; DIODORO ENTRY: I prefer SET THE TRAPPE, who found starter allowance company too tough last time out but won two and three back. This is the level he likely wants, and he could sit a nice stalking trip.

R5

Looking Ready
Big Gemmy
Five Star Bunt

LOOKING READY: Has worked very well both here and downstate. Castellano is enticed to ride, and if the morning zip arrives in the afternoon, he’ll be tough; BIG GEMMY: Earned a bullet in his most recent work at Churchill Downs, which isn’t easy for a 2-year-old to do. Other drills indicate that wasn’t a fluke, and he could be a good one if he runs to that worktab; FIVE STAR BUNT: Showed a bit of early interest in his debut. The rail isn’t an ideal place to break from, but experience helps at this stage of the game, and not many of these have run before.

R6

Flattermefabulous
Marnesia Big Girl
Cinder

FLATTERMEFABULOUS: Is my top pick in what I consider to be the toughest race of the day to handicap. Ultimately, I opted for this one, who has substantial back class and may be closer to the pace today than she has been in her most recent starts; MARNESIA BIG GIRL: Comes back to the turf in her first start since January. Her starts here last summer against similar company weren’t bad; CINDER: Exits a swiftly-run allowance race at Ellis Park and won two back at Churchill. This is another who may be up fairly close considering the relative lack of early speed signed on alongside her. DIRT SELECTIONS: RIMANISEMPREFORTE, MARNESIA BIG GIRL, ANDESINE.

R7

Economic Model
Threefiveindia
Shaft of Light

ECONOMIC MODEL: Hasn’t won in a while, but can be forgiven for that given the company he’s kept. There’s no shame in running behind the likes of Drefong and Mor Spirit, and he was second in last year’s King’s Bishop at this route; THREEFIVEINDIA: Hasn’t stepped forward from three to four, but could still be part of a 1-2 finish for trainer Chad Brown. He should sit just off the prominent early pace and have first run on the tiring early leaders; SHAFT OF LIGHT: Merits respect, as does any runner from the red-hot Jorge Navarro barn, but needs the lead and runs in a spot where several others do, too. His best could win, but he may need to overcome a lot to do that.

R8

Dogtown (MTO)
Rocketry
Shamsaan

ROCKETRY: Has shown ample talent in turf marathons despite a tendency to encounter trouble. Any early pace his rivals show will be welcome, as he’ll likely come flying late; SHAMSAAN: Rallied for third last out despite an early pace that was far from kind to closers. He’ll likely be a price, but note his connections have tried stakes company with him in the past, and he could be starting to figure things out; MEMORIES OF PETER: Hasn’t won in nearly two years, but is one of only a few in here to have shown any early zip. If he gets left alone on the lead, he could be tough to run down. DIRT SELECTIONS: DOGTOWN, SHAMSAAN, HOLIDAY BONUS.

R9

Outplay
You’re to Blame
Small Bear

OUTPLAY: Was up close to a scorching hot pace in the Easy Goer, which was won by Travers probable West Coast. He shouldn’t have to go nearly as fast in this spot, which is largely devoid of other early speed; YOU’RE TO BLAME: Was second in the Easy Goer and merits a look. He did get a perfect setup in his last outing, but he’s trained well since then and is a contender here; SMALL BEAR: Is 3-for-4 going a mile or longer and 0-for-4 in shorter events. He gets his preferred trip here, and a repeat of his last race likely gets him a piece of it here.

R10

Digitaldestruction
Atwitzend
Colonel Andy

DIGITALDESTRUCTION: Showed speed and faded against better in his debut earlier this month downstate. He needs a scratch to draw in, but logical improvement would make this gelding formidable; ATWITZEND: Showed early interest going longer in his debut for a barn that doesn’t win often with first-time starters. The blinkers come off and speed rider Paco Lopez comes on; COLONEL ANDY: Has collected many minor checks at this level and seems like a candidate for another one. He was second at this level and route last summer. DIRT SELECTIONS: DAB, SICILIA MIKE, MR. CAT.