BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,111.50

Friday’s day at the races is going to be a highlight. My sister and brother-in-law are bringing two of their kids up. Last year’s trip included them getting introduced to the Big Red Spring, the younger one falling flat on her face running around the backyard (she was fine, because kids almost always are), and the older one briefly inspiring 90 seconds of sheer panic before we realized she’d found a spot near the paddock she liked and beat everyone else to it (Uncle Andrew was very proud).

I live 3,000 miles away from a lot of people I love and care about, ones I don’t get to see as much as I’d like. When I tweeted I was going east, a few horse racing Twitter/X users tried to tell me to cancel my trip because of stuff going on at Saratoga. No, no, a thousand times no, and if you’re reading this, never say that again, okay?

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: One of my exacta horses won the sixth, but I had nothing behind it and dropped $30.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: I’ll once again focus on 2-year-olds for most of my action, as we’ll head to the seventh. I’ll try to extract some value from #10 VETTRIANO by keying him on top of $10 exactas that use #3 CANIGETALOAN, #4 PERLIANO, and #6 TRUST FUND underneath. I’ll also single him to finish off $5 doubles that start with #3 NIGHT TIME and #6 MARSALIS in the sixth.

TOTAL WAGERED: $40.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Thursday: 2-for-10
Meet: 29-for-104

Best Bet: Americanrevolution, Race 9
Longshot: Night Time, Race 6

R1

Hero’s Medal
Moore’s Law
Mount Craig

#3 HERO’S MEDAL (3-1): Sure looks like the lone early speed in the Friday lid-lifter. He set a legitimate pace at this level and route last time out, and between the likelihood of a slower tempo and a recent bullet drill, I think improvement is in the cards; #4 MOORE’S LAW (8/5): Rallied from last to be second in the same race my top pick exits. That was his first try since March, and the two-back effort shows he can be a bit closer if the situation calls for it; #1 MOUNT CRAIG (5/2): Has the talent to be a major player here, but sure seems to go out of his way to find trouble. For that reason, the rail draw makes me a bit nervous.

R2

Timely Conquest
Missing Fortune
Chasing Daylight

#2 TIMELY CONQUEST (7/2): Won first time out for a barn that wasn’t going well at that time (and one that doesn’t usually have its firsters fully cranked). She should get some speed to chase here, and Velazquez opts to ride back for an outfit that’s since heated up a bit; #8 MISSING FORTUNE (4-1): Romped by seven at Finger Lakes last month, and the rider sees fit to make the trip in from central New York. That’s often a tell that a shipper is well-meant, and the outside draw is a plus; #1 CHASING DAYLIGHT (8-1): Was a distant second behind a runner that’s since won two more races in a row, including one on Wednesday. She’s got some early speed and should be a pace factor at a bit of a price.

R3

Favor (MTO)
Rocky Sky
Canisy

#1 ROCKY SKY (5/2): Makes her 2023 debut in this spot after dancing some big dances a season ago. She won the Grade 3 Waya here and was second in two other graded stakes races, and the last several works hint that she’s ready to go here; #6 CANISY (3-1): Seems like the main speed in this field and is another with some back class. She gets Lasix again after dropping it in the Grade 3 Matchmaker last time, and that could move her forward; #3 POCA MUCHA (4-1): Has run well in two tries here, including a second last time out where she had too much to do late. That day’s winner is a runner, and she’d benefit if a horse goes with Canisy out of the gate.

R4

Grannys Connection
Kant Hurry Love
Vallelujah

#2 GRANNYS CONNECTION (6/5): Got nailed at the wire last time out, but reeled off four straight wins prior to that and gets this barn’s first-call rider in the Union Avenue. She once again looks like the fastest horse early on, and I think she’ll prove tough to catch; #5 KANT HURRY LOVE (5/2): Has won four of six starts this season, including the last-out win over my top pick. That was a career-best effort, and when this barn gets horses on the right track, they tend to stay there; #4 VALLELUJAH (15-1): It’s quite a gulf between the top two in the rest of the field. That being said, she likes Saratoga, comes in off of a last-out victory downstate, and could clunk up for a piece of it.

R5

Unsung Melody (MTO)
Gal in a Rush
Breeze Easy

#3 GAL IN A RUSH (3-1): Cuts back after a score at seven furlongs at Belmont and attracts Flavien Prat, who likely had some options in this turf sprint. That was her first win in quite a while, but she’s been running against solid horses and could be coming into her own at four; #6 BREEZE EASY (5/2): Completes a powerful 1-2 punch for this barn and can win on her best day. Having said that, she runs into trouble a lot, and that’s not a great trait to have in turf sprints where there isn’t much time to recover; #2 BOWL OF CHERRIES (3-1): Ran second when switched to the turf earlier this meet and earned a career-high 85 Beyer Speed Figure. A repeat of that effort would make her competitive in what hit me as a pretty puzzling race.

R6

Marsalis
Night Time
Today’s Flavor

#6 MARSALIS (5/2): Looked like a winner turning for home in the Kelly’s Landing (I know, I needed him that day), but he ran second behind a very fast horse in Bango. Lasix comes back on the drop out of stakes company, and anything close to that performance would make him a formidable foe; #3 NIGHT TIME (15-1): Hasn’t run since March, but put forth some big numbers at Turfway Park and seems to be working well ahead of his return. This race has a lot of speed signed on, and he should be going the right way late at a big price; #4 TODAY’S FLAVOR (4-1): Was fourth behind Elite Power in the Grade 2 True North and fourth behind Doppelganger in the Grade 1 Carter. This spot represents class relief, and George Weaver’s horses have run big so far at this stand.

R7

Vettriano
Canigetaloan
Trust Fund

#10 VETTRIANO (9/5): Has been working lights-out ahead of his debut and has every right to be a good one. This son of Liam’s Map hammered for $350,000 earlier this year, and Chad Brown seems to have him tuned up; #3 CANIGETALOAN (8-1): Has some very fast drills in his tab ahead of his unveiling for a barn that won with a first-time starter on Wednesday. In particular, the four-furlong gate drill two works back was excellent, and it looks like he could be a runner; #6 TRUST FUND (7/2): Has been working steadily for Todd Pletcher and sold for $150,000 across the street as a yearling. This son of Practical Joke is another well-meant first-time starter in an intriguing field that seems to include several of them.

R8

General Jim
More Than Looks
Carl Spackler

#8 GENERAL JIM (9/2): Comes back to the turf in the rescheduled Grade 2 Hall of Fame after running several big races on dirt earlier this year. I think he bounced in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens off of a big two-back effort in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile, and his best effort gives him a big shot at a fair price; #1 MORE THAN LOOKS (5/2): Capitalized on an ideal race shape in the Grade 3 Manila, where he rallied from last to first in an event with fast fractions. I don’t know how fast they’ll go here, but he’s improved with every start and could conceivably take another step forward; #2 CARL SPACKLER (3-1): Ran a clunker in the Grade 2 American Turf, where he was a 2-1 favorite. He’s been rested since, but shows a strong recent work tab for connections that must be respected.

R9

Americanrevolution
Bankit
Sundaeswithsandy

#1 AMERICANREVOLUTION (1-1): Makes his 2022 debut here and is strictly the one to beat if he’s ready to run. He won the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in 2021, ran second to Olympiad in two big spots a season ago, and seems to have the Evan Shipman field over a barrel; #5 BANKIT (4-1): Is an easy horse to root for and notched his ninth win last time out in the Commentator downstate. That race has produced a couple of next-out winners, and Rosario rides back for Asmussen; #4 SUNDAESWITHSANDY (15-1): Was claimed earlier this year by Michelle Nevin and has since seemingly found career-best form. He’s run two 92 Beyer Speed Figures in a row, and while this is certainly a class test, he seems to be going the right way and may provide value in the exotics.

R10

Three Unions
Saratoga Gaze
Michele M.

#7 THREE UNIONS (5-1): Has run just once since November and had every right to need that April effort at Aqueduct. It’s not inspiring to see another layoff line, but she drops in class, ran well in two turf sprints a season ago, and has every chance to win this if she’s ready to go; #10 SARATOGA GAZE (4-1): Hasn’t won in more than a year but showed speed in each of her last two starts. She does her best running with Prat aboard, and he’ll get a leg up again here; #5 MICHELE M. (7/2): Adds blinkers on the drop in class and returns to a sprint distance after tiring going longer at Delaware last time out. Her two-back race going shorter wasn’t bad, and she makes as much sense as any in a race where I honestly don’t have much in the way of strong opinions.

R11

Sweetest Princess
Red Hot Chick
Ghostly Girl

#8 SWEETEST PRINCESS (7/2): Has found trouble in each of her last two outings, but drops in for a tag for the first time and that could wake her up. She was third in a stakes race not too long ago, and I think she could find herself in an ideal stalking spot in the Friday nightcap; #7 RED HOT CHICK (6-1): Broke her maiden two starts back and found first-level allowance company a bit too tough. The rider switch to Prat is a big one, and this field certainly doesn’t have any world-beaters in it; #3 GHOSTLY GIRL (4-1): Has been running in starter allowance company most of this year and has been consistently picking up checks against those fields. I’m not convinced turf is her best game, but her last-out effort on the lawn at Ellis Park was decent enough.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,141.50

If something weird can happen to someone while traveling by air, chances are it’s happened to me the past few years.

On Wednesday, my streak continued with an aborted landing in Chicago. Apparently, a plane that was supposed to be off the ground was still on the runway when we attempted to land. As a result, we went back into the air and circled around for a bit before completing the landing about 15 minutes later.

The important thing, though, is that I’m here and headed to the track with family this weekend. I’m an easy guy to find; if you’re there, look up!

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS: My Pick Five was refunded when my first-leg single scratched.

THURSDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the sixth race, which to me is the most fun betting race on a card where those may be hard to come by (I’m still assuming, by the way, that all turf races are off the grass). I’ll box #3 LE DOM BRO, #6 ALWAYS DIALED, and #10 GAME MISCONDUCT in $3 exactas, and I’ll put a $12 win bet on Always Dialed, who’s my top selection.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Wednesday: 5-for-8
Meet: 27-for-94

Best Bet: Knockzcatoffzfence, Race 2
Longshot: Game Misconduct, Race 6

R1

Permed
Honey Dijon
Bundchen

#5 PERMED (5/2): Has run second twice in two prior efforts downstate and looms large regardless of the surface. She’s got plenty of early speed, and Luis Saez sees fit to ride (he fills in for Irad Ortiz, Jr., who’s serving a suspension); #6 HONEY DIJON (5-1): Showed some speed last time out before fading to fifth, and I think there’s reason to believe she’s sitting on a bigger effort. Joe Sharp doesn’t always have first-time starters fully cranked, and the recent bullet drill inspires some confidence; #3 BUNDCHEN (2-1): Contested the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot last time out, and this spot’s just a bit weaker than that one. My hesitation is due to the fact that she failed to capitalize on what looked like a perfect trip in her debut, which came over a muddy track.

R2

Knockzcatoffzfence
Montauk Mystique
Strange Fruit

#1 KNOCKZCATOFFZFENCE (2-1): Has found a very soft spot in which to debut and comes in off of several strong local workouts. I’m a bit surprised she’s running for a tag, to be honest, and anything close to her work tab would make her the one to beat; #4 MONTAUK MYSTIQUE (7/2): Flashed some early speed last time out before fading badly to finish eighth against higher-level opposition. Her pedigree says she’ll like a wet track, and perhaps the class drop will wake her up; #6 STRANGE FRUIT (9/2): Didn’t run well in her local debut last time, but she has enough back form to hint that that may be an aberration. Her two-back effort saw her run second against similar downstate, and she’s one of only a few in here that’s shown she can run on late.

R3

Rock the Weekend (MTO)
Tallahatchiebridge
More Than Work

#13 ROCK THE WEEKEND (6-1): Has won two in a row and was claimed last time out by a barn that knows how to win with new acquisitions. He’s got some tactical speed and has the potential to sit a perfect stalking trip; #1 TALLAHATCHIEBRIDGE (7/2): Hasn’t been seen since February, but he beat an allowance field that day and has plenty of back form on turf and dirt. This barn is firing so far at this stand, and these connections are aggressive enough to where the drop in class isn’t a red flag for me; #3 MORE THAN WORK (10-1): Was third in an off-the-turf race at this level last time out. That, though, was a fast race with a much-the-best winner, and this field seems a bit weaker.

R4

Dust Devil
Maximum Impact
Two Thirty Five

#5 DUST DEVIL (6/5): Exits a win at this route earlier in the meet and goes first off the claim for a barn that doesn’t reach in for many but excels when it does. He should have plenty of pace to rate behind, and a repeat effort likely beats this bunch; #6 MAXIMUM IMPACT (8-1): Had a very nice two-back win at this level at Churchill and also boasts a win over an off track earlier this year at Mahoning Valley. I’m taking the last-out race at Charles Town with a grain of salt, as some horses just don’t like the bullring; #1 TWO THIRTY FIVE (3-1): Led most of the way in the race my top pick exits, but was claimed that day and has shown he likes wet tracks. He’s 4-for-9 over off going, and he has enough early speed to utilize his inside draw.

R5

Miss d’Or Cherie
Recency
Ekwanok

#9 MISS D’OR CHERIE (7/2): Has been working consistently downstate and draws a cushy outside post for her unveiling here. She hammered for $300,000 at the OBS sale earlier this year, and there’s reason to believe she’s got some talent; #5 RECENCY (9/2): Makes her first start for Chad Brown and is bred in the purple, being by Tapwrit and out of a mare named Flipcup who was a runner. She hammered for $325,000 last summer and may be a contender despite her pedigree saying she wants way more ground; #3 EKWANOK (12-1): Comes in with an improving work pattern for Rob Atras, one that includes a solid half-mile gate work on August 5th. Kendrick Carmouche wins a lot for this barn, and he figures to have her in the mix early on at a price.

R6

Always Dialed
Le Dom Bro
Game Misconduct

#6 ALWAYS DIALED (6-1): Is a very, very easy horse to root for given the connections, and judging by the work tab, he seems to have some potential. His drills over the training track have been solid ahead of his debut; #3 LE DOM BRO (5/2): Has run second twice at Gulfstream and tries restricted company in this spot. The July 14th work hints that mud won’t be a problem, but if this barn is so confident, why is it also entering a 20-1 shot?; #10 GAME MISCONDUCT (20-1): Rushed up after a stumble in his debut and understandably faded when the real running started. However, he gets a much better draw here, and Javier Castellano sees fit to ride back. I think he could easily improve and grab a piece of this at big odds.

R7

Quarrel
Be My Sunshine
Virtual Reality (MTO)

#9 QUARREL (10-1): Can run a bit on either dirt or turf, and I think she’ll like the stretchout to two turns. Her lone win came going two turns on turf at Aqueduct, and she’s got tactical speed in a race without a lot of that elsewhere; #10 BE MY SUNSHINE (8-1): Tried the Grade 3 Selene at Woodbine last time out, and that didn’t go well. She drops back down to what’s probably the right level, and the two dirt works make me think she’ll handle that surface just fine if she gets the chance; #1A VIRTUAL REALITY (4-1): Settled for second in the first race of the meet and did so in visually-unimpressive fashion. She was on the lead that day and that field crawled home. It’s possible she wins, but I think she’ll be a significant underlay solely because of her powerhouse connections.

R8

Moving Pictures
With Know Name
Magical Ways

#5 MOVING PICTURES (5/2): Has a record that looks much better if you draw a line through the two-back clunker on turf. He takes a bit of a class drop to run here and just missed in the slop back in May at Belmont; #4 WITH KNOW NAME (8-1): Hasn’t run since October, but comes in off of a very sharp workout and will make his first start since being gelded. The ultimate equipment change can move horses forward significantly, and Castellano hopping aboard for Morley is usually a good sign; #2 MAGICAL WAYS (2-1): Found starter allowance foes much too tough in his last two starts and drops back in for a tag. The drop merits respect, but it wasn’t like he beat world-beaters to break his maiden in April, and this isn’t a bad group for the level.

R9

South Street (MTO)
Deputy Connect
Miracle Mike

#13 SOUTH STREET (9/5): Was one-paced last time out against what was probably a better group of horses. He’s bred to love a wet track, first-call rider Jose Lezcano is up for Linda Rice, and he looms large if this race gets moved off the turf; #7 DEPUTY CONNECT (6-1): Probably found the nine-furlong distance last time out a bit too far, and it didn’t help that the winner ran off the screen. Prat rides back for Brad Cox, and the cutback to a one-mile trip should really help him; #5 MIRACLE MIKE (12-1): Graduated last time out by rallying from 10th to get the money against maiden claimers. He tries winners for the first time, but his debut in the slop last year was a strong race and this field isn’t without early speed, which could set up for his late kick.

R10

Pay Zone
Kasimba
Ride Up (MTO)

#11 PAY ZONE (7/2): Has shown early speed in all three of his prior outings and likely makes the lead on either turf or dirt. In particular, though, his two dirt outings time out well against this group, and he seems like the one they’ll have to catch; #6 KASIMBA (3-1): Has run second in all four of his lifetime starts and ships up from Monmouth for this one. This is another that wants to go early, though his last-out try was sharp enough to make me think turf’s really what he wants; #13 RIDE UP (8/5): Drops in class for a trainer that’s won a lot of races so far this summer. Having said that, I don’t think this one is a sprinter, and he might be left with plenty to do late against some horses with early speed. At his likely price, I’ll happily try to beat him.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,141.50

I never thought the 2013 Saratoga meet would be approached in terms of weirdness. I was going through a time of great stress personally and professionally while watching Saratoga awkwardly celebrate its 150th anniversary. Chris Kay had just taken the reins at NYRA, and it was clear from the start that the emperor had no clothes. A press box colleague, Paul Moran, was fading away. My own job situation would change not long after that (but not before receiving some of the most tone-deaf emails I’ve ever gotten from a co-worker).

However, 10 years later, the 2023 meet has made that one look positively tame by comparison. The less said about what happened this past weekend (on any number of fronts), the better. NYRA’s job is to fix the plethora of issues that have sprung up, and I sincerely hope they do that.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: Best bet Gypsy Tales ran a clunker. We dropped $50 after scratches.

WEDNESDAY’S PLAY: Before moving forward, one note: I’m assuming everything’s off the turf, both in this section and in my analysis/selections. We’ll focus on the early Pick Five, and my 50-cent ticket starting in the second (technically the first…) goes as follows: 9 with 2,3,5,7,9 with 8 with 6,8,9,10 with 4,7,13,14,16.

TOTAL WAGERED: $50.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Sunday: 3-for-9
Meet: 22-for-86

Best Bet: Betsy Blue, Race 9
Longshot: Fancy Azteca, Race 8

R1: CANCELLED.

R2

Pillbox
Kantarmaci entry
Harlan’s Bond

#9 PILLBOX (6/5): Takes a gigantic class drop for extremely aggressive connections and looms large from a cushy outside post in the Wednesday quasi-opener. He has a series of dirt works at Gulfstream that jump off the page, and this barn is off to a hot start at this stand; KANTARMACI ENTRY (7/2): I prefer #1A CARBON, who takes a significant drop and has run well over off tracks in the past. She hasn’t won since March of 2022, but she’s also been going against starter allowance types that would crush most of these; #6 HARLAN’S BOND (5-1): Goes out for a barn that’s yet to get going here, but she’s bred to like a wet track and goes down the class ladder. Her record also looks better if you toss the two turf clunkers.

R3

Tricky Temper
Miss d’Or Cherie (MTO)
Play Free Bird

#3 TRICKY TEMPER (2-1): Isn’t an MTO, but I think she’s shown far too much precocity in the mornings to ignore if they keep her in the field. This daughter of Into Mischief is working very fast for a barn that doesn’t often have young horses fully cranked, and I think there’s a lot to like; #9 MISS D’OR CHERIE (3-1): Debuts for Christophe Clement and has been working steadily downstate. She may want a bit longer, but if this field gets ravaged by scratches, it might not matter too much; #2 PLAY FREE BIRD (6-1): Has an experience edge over most of this field and runs for a barn that tends to race its horses into shape. Luis Saez sees fit to ride back when he probably had some options, and damsire Stormy Atlantic is an excellent off-track influence.

R4

Ouster (MTO)
Costa Terra (MTO)
Classic Catch

#8 OUSTER (7/5): Ran very well in the slop earlier this season going a distance of ground and figures to get a very similar setup here should this race be moved to the main track. Two of his better races have come over wet going, and we now know that the 10-furlong trip shouldn’t be an issue; #9 COSTA TERRA (3-1): Ran in some big races earlier in his career and found the winner’s circle again in an off-the-turf race earlier this season. He’s bred to want to run all day, and he’d benefit from some speed in front of him; #4 CLASSIC CATCH (4-1): Ran in a pair of graded stakes races earlier this season and didn’t do terribly. Recent works hint these connections want the turf, but he also stands a chance if they choose to run him on the main track, too.

R5

Crazy Cami
Echo Lake
Althena

#9 CRAZY CAMI (7/2): Was one-paced in her debut for a barn that doesn’t do great with first-time starters. The recent bullet drill shows she may be moving forward, and the presence of damsire Pulpit is a big, big plus given the likely going; #8 ECHO LAKE (5-1): Debuts for Chad Brown, and those last two works are good enough to make me think she’s ready to fire. There’s some class and precocity in the bottom side of her pedigree, and the 5-1 price hits me as an overlay; #6 ALTHENA (20-1): Has a very strong two-back gate drill and is bred to handle the slop. I’m not sure she’s quite as fast as a few others in here, but the skies opening up would align with her pedigree and what she wants to do.

R6

Jody’s Pride
Honey Dijon
Solve the Puzzle (MTO)

#7 JODY’S PRIDE (5/2): Is another bred to love the lawn, but one I can’t ignore if she runs on the main track given her workouts. Specifically, that July 22nd gate drill looks excellent and signifies she may have talent on both turf and dirt; #13 HONEY DIJON (8-1): Showed some speed in her debut on Opening Day and seems to have bounced out of that effort in fine form. Improvement is logical at second asking, and she’s bred to get better with experience, too; #16 SOLVE THE PUZZLE (2-1): Will likely go off favored solely because of the connections provided this race gets moved to the dirt. It’s not like she doesn’t fit, but she’s bred to want much more distance, and if either of the top two stay in the field, I think it’s worth playing against her in the win pool.

R7

Asymmetric
Morning Cup
Clubhouse

#4 ASYMMETRIC (2-1): Scratched out of an allowance he would’ve likely been competitive in and instead runs in a non-winners of two claimer. That’s a bit curious, but these are aggressive connections that may be gearing up for runs at owner and trainer titles, so I don’t think it’s too big a red flag; #8 MORNING CUP (6-1): Comes back to dirt after a failed turf experiment against better horses first off the claim. He boasts a recent bullet drill over a sloppy track, along with a pedigree that hints he likes that type of surface; #10 CLUBHOUSE (3-1): Ran well enough to be second in a minor stakes race earlier this year at Aqueduct and takes a massive class drop. However, they tried him on turf last time to no avail, and there’s only one workout since that clunker, which provokes some pause.

R8

Fancy Azteca
Coppa Girl
Raging Sea

#4 FANCY AZTECA (12-1): Was claimed by Rick Dutrow last time out, when she drew off impressively downstate. Her prior connections thought enough of her to run her in the Cicada this past March, she’s won going a mile before, and I think there’s a fair bit to like at a big price; #7 COPPA GIRL (9/2): Woke up in a big way last time out, when she romped by nearly eight lengths in the slop at Ellis Park. Ellis form sometimes doesn’t come to Saratoga, but the off-track form sure might, and she’s got enough speed to be prominent from the jump; #3 RAGING SEA (8/5): Hasn’t run since November, when she was third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. It’s entirely possible she’s moved forward since then, but in hindsight, that wasn’t the best group, and her workouts are just-OK. Her likely price seems like an underlay.

R9

Betsy Blue
Timeless Journey
Venti Valentine

#5 BETSY BLUE (3-1): Stretches out to a mile and has enough back form to indicate she can do that without too much of a problem. She likes wet tracks and should also get plenty of pace to chase, so her best effort would make her tough; #6 TIMELESS JOURNEY (9/2): Does her best running over wet going, having won three times in four such starts. She won a similar-level stakes race earlier this year at Aqueduct at this distance over good going and attracts Joel Rosario; #1 VENTI VALENTINE (3-1): Has danced plenty of big dances, including last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, and is another that relishes rainy days. Her three-back win in the mud at Aqueduct was very sharp, and she’s a contender provided she can negotiate a trip from her inside post.

R10

Chulligan
Morethanafeeling
Squid Gamer (MTO)

#12 CHULLIGAN (6-1): Ran the best race of his career first time out in the slop, when he rallied from way back and ran out of racetrack. This sure looks like a similar type of scenario, and unlike many of his rivals, he’s at least shown he can pass others late; #1 MORETHANAFEELING (8-1): Has improved in his last several outings and has plenty of back form on both turf and dirt. A return to NY-bred competition could bring out the best in him, and he’s a contender regardless of the surface at a bit of a price; #15 SQUID GAMER (3-1): Has been one-paced in most of his prior dirt efforts but is bred to like the mud and could catch a weak field marred by defections if it comes off the turf. That could move him up and make him a contender in the Wednesday nightcap.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,191.50

I like having fun with my Saratoga content. I enjoy knowing that some people get joy out of reading my stuff, and it’s why I’ve brought it back, as a passion project, after a weird situation last month. Unfortunately, anything of that sort would be a facade at this point.

I’m writing this moments after the Grade 1 Test. Maple Leaf Mel, a phenomenal story in a sport desperate for phenomenal stories, looked home free in mid-stretch and on her way to a sixth win in as many starts. However, to the horror of the thousands in attendance and those watching a nationwide broadcast on FOX, she broke down a few strides before the wire and was euthanized on the track, per David Grening of The Daily Racing Form.

Situations like that are why I’ll never judge anyone for not being a fan of horse racing. At its best, it’s the greatest gambling game on the planet, one that’s capable of bringing large crowds to thundering crescendos in ways not a lot of things can do. At its lowest points, though, stuff happens that makes being a fan incredibly hard.

I wrote the rest of this section out before the Test. I’m not sure I could have done so after seeing that. My condolences go out to the horse’s connections and fans.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS: I scratched down to two $10 win bets. Be the Boss got nailed at the wire, Speaking Scout had too much to do late, and I dropped $20.

SUNDAY’S PLAY: I’ll try to extract some value from my best bet of the day, #4 GYPSY TALES in the sixth. In addition to a $28 win bet on that one, I’ll single her in $4 doubles starting in the fifth, with #1 GRUMPS LITTLE TOTS/#1A DURKIN’S CALL and #3 HIGHER QUALITY, and ending in the seventh, with #2 POSITIVE MESSAGE, #9 IT WASN’T ME, and #12 FANCY STAX. Finally, I’ll play a $2 Pick Three starting in the fifth using all of those horses.

TOTAL WAGERED: $60.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Saturday: 3-for-12
Meet: 19-for-77

Best Bet: Gypsy Tales, Race 6
Longshot: Higher Quality, Race 5

R1

Weigh the Risks
Later Darling
Dubb entry

#8 WEIGH THE RISKS (7/2): Is bred up and down for turf and has every right to be ready to run on debut. This daughter of Mendelssohn and a Candy Ride mare goes out for powerhouse connections after fetching $205,000 at auction last fall; #3 LATER DARLING (9/2): Boasts a few strong turf workouts ahead of her debut for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. Offspring of More Than Ready tend to like the lawn, and she’ll be a contender if she can run to her drills; #1 IT’S HOT IN HERE (5-1): Has European, turf-heavy pedigree and comprises half of Chad Brown’s 1-2 punch in this field. Flavien Prat sees fit to ride, and she’s got as good a chance as most of them in this wide-open lid-lifter.

R2

Ways and Means
Calle Amada
Managing Mischief

#5 WAYS AND MEANS (5/2): Has been training very well ahead of her unveiling, and that includes a very strong five-furlong gate drill here on July 23rd. In a field of several well-meant firsters, that workout jumps off the page, and judging by the rest of her tab, that’s not an outlier; #2 CALLE AMADA (5-1): Debuts for Pletcher, attracts John Velazquez, and brought a hefty $410,000 price tag at auction last summer. If there’s any hesitation here, it’s because offspring of sire Street Sense may want a bit more ground than this six-furlong distance; #8 MANAGING MISCHIEF (8-1): Sold for $160,000 despite a pretty modest pedigree, and the last two works hint that she’s coming into form ahead of her unveiling. If you’re looking for value in a race with some of the biggest names on the circuit, this may be the one you want to use.

R3

Shinfull
U Should B Dancing
Crowding Out

#7 SHINFULL (3-1): Drops into the straight claiming ranks in her first start for Linda Rice, who’s as good as anyone with new acquisitions. First-call rider Jose Ortiz hops aboard, and she should be going the right direction late; #3 U SHOULD B DANCING (4-1): Makes a similar class move, with a similar running style, and attracts Flavien Prat. She ran in some pretty fast races downstate earlier this year, and this drop may be what she needs to bounce back; #1 CROWDING OUT (6-1): Loves this turf course and has shown plenty of early zip, which should be an asset from the rail. Her last-out effort is an easy throw-out given the trouble she had at the start, and she should be prominent from the jump.

R4

Whatlovelookslike
Myriskyaffair
Federalist Papers

#3 WHATLOVELOOKSLIKE (9/2): Comes in after winning two in a row downstate and stretches out to a marathon distance. However, she’s bred to love such a route, and Prat sees fit to ride back. She also looks like one of the main speed horses in here, and that doesn’t hurt; #5 MYRISKYAFFAIR (9/2): Has suffered a few hard-luck losses of late, but seems to run the same sort of speed figure every time out and has shown she can go very long. It also helps that her lone wet-track race was a good one, so if it rains and they move this to the main track, look out; #6 FEDERALIST PAPERS (6-1): Was a close-up third at this distance last time out, and she didn’t get much pace to run at that day. She’s won over this turf course before, and she’d benefit from a faster-than-expected early pace.

R5

Higher Quality
Baker entry
Hammerin Aamer

#3 HIGHER QUALITY (8-1): Flopped in a Grade 3 at Monmouth, where he clearly had no business running. He returns to this claiming level, where he ran three strong races in a row prior to that ambitiously-spotted endeavor, and I think he could sit an ideal stalking trip; BAKER ENTRY (3-1): I prefer #1 GRUMPS LITTLE TOTS, who does his best work at this distance and could have plenty of pace to rally into. Of his six career wins, four have come at this one-mile trip; #7 HAMMERIN AAMER (7/2): Has been around forever and will make his 65th career start in this spot. His 0-for-9 local record isn’t ideal, but most of those races have come against much better horses, and this barn does very well with horses first off the claim.

R6

Gypsy Tales
Before You Go Go
Helcia

#4 GYPSY TALES (5/2): Did everything but win last time out, when she was second beaten a nose at Ellis Park and beat the third-place finisher by nine lengths. I’m expecting improvement at second asking, especially given the exceptional two-back work, which is something I love seeing in Steve Asmussen trainees; #9 BEFORE YOU GO GO (3-1): Draws a cushy outside post for her unveiling and boasts an improving work tab for Pletcher. This daughter of champion sprinter Mitole appears to have inherited some of her sire’s speed; #6 HELCIA (8-1): Turned in an impressive “breeze” at this year’s OBS sale and sold for $600,000. She’s not necessarily bred to be a sprinter, but the two-back gate drill looks great and Chad Brown can certainly win with first-time starters.

R7

It Wasn’t Me
Fancy Stax
Positive Message

#9 IT WASN’T ME (9/2): Drops into the maiden claiming ranks for aggressive connections and may have needed her last-out run at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Even so, she made a big middle move that day before flattening out, and I’m expecting improvement here; #12 FANCY STAX (6-1): Ran well when third in her debut downstate despite some trouble. The far outside post isn’t ideal, to be sure, but her pedigree says this two-turn trip won’t be an issue, and at least we know she can pass other horses; #2 POSITIVE MESSAGE (15-1): Merits a long look at a big price in her second start off a layoff, one in which she drops in for a tag for the first time. She’s shown early speed against better horses, several of whom have turned into stakes winners, and there’s every chance she gets comfortable and hangs on for a piece of it.

R8

Becky’s Joker
Saratoga Secret
Here U Come Again

#10 BECKY’S JOKER (7/2): Much of the way you’ll handicap the Grade 2 Adirondack hinges on your view of the Grade 3 Schuylerville. I think that race was legitimate, and the 21-1 winner has since turned in two strong workouts ahead of her second career start; #6 SARATOGA SECRET (8-1): Didn’t run poorly when second in that race and has since turned in two solid works of her own. The rider change to Flavien Prat is a notable one, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see a career-best performance; #3 HERE U COME AGAIN (5/2): Never looked like a loser in her debut at Ellis Park and tries tougher competition here. If there’s any hesitation, it’s because the two local works sure seem significantly slower than the ones she had prior to her unveiling. At her likely price, I’ll try to beat her.

R9

April Antics (MTO)
Strand of Gold
Dontmesswithtess

I’m going to be honest: Other than thinking #7 STRAND OF GOLD (6-1) is bred to like this marathon distance and could be on an upswing, I don’t have a clue. If you’re playing in the multi-race exotics, go as deep as you can.

R10

Forward Move
Prix de West
Stow On the Wold

#3 FORWARD MOVE (5/2): Faltered as an 8/5 favorite last time out, but I think he’s got plenty of room to move forward here. This is a softer field, he’s got a start under his belt, and this barn is starting to heat up; #9 PRIX DE WEST (8-1): Didn’t do much running in his debut back in April, but switches to turf and drops down into the maiden claiming ranks. His pedigree was impressive enough to merit a $150,000 price tag at auction in 2021, and I’m willing to give him another shot; #2 STOW ON THE WOLD (7/2): Has run well against maiden special weight foes and is yet another runner dropping in for a tag for the first time. This barn is a bit chilly right now, but his usual race gives him a shot in the Sunday finale.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $1,211.50

If you have a used book store wherever you happen to live or travel, be a regular. You truly never know what you’ll find.

My fiancee and I were in Orange County last weekend to see some friends. We stopped at a place in Tustin, just outside Anaheim, and I found a copy of “The Shoe: Willie Shoemaker’s Illustrated Book of Racing.” Released in the 1970’s, this copy had not just newspaper clippings someone left inside the book, but autographs personalized to someone named Ray from co-author Dan Smith and Shoemaker himself.

The actual retail price was the best $10 and change I’ve spent in a long time. If the Ray this was personalized for happens to see this, your book’s in good hands.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS: It wasn’t anything earth-shattering, but we did turn a profit. Scratches reduced plays to $5 exactas in the opener, one of which connected. In all, we turned $20 into $48.

SATURDAY’S PLAY: I’ve got a few mid-priced leans scattered throughout the card. I’ll have $10 win bets on the following horses: #6 DRILLING FOR GOLD (race 1), #7 BE THE BOSS (race 5), #5 SPEAKING SCOUT (race 7), and #5 INTERPOLATE (race 8).

TOTAL WAGERED: $40.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Friday: 3-for-7
Meet: 16-for-65

Best Bet: Victorious Wave, Race 3
Longshot: Interpolate, Race 8

R1

Trade Imbalance (MTO)
Drilling for Gold
Agate Road

#6 DRILLING FOR GOLD (6-1): Is bred up and down for turf and comes in off a steady string of workouts for Graham Motion. Dam Danceforthecause has been exceptionally strong, and this one’s kin to two stakes winners and another runner that won at first asking; #4 AGATE ROAD (12-1): Is out of a Grade 1-winning 2-year-old mare and has worked steadily ahead of his unveiling. He hammered for $650,000 at last year’s Keeneland sale and has every right to be a good one; #7 WALLEY WORLD (6-1): Sold for $220,000 as a yearling and debuts on turf for Chad Brown, which automatically makes him worth a second look. It’s worth noting, though, that it’s Manny Franco aboard and not one of this barn’s first-call riders.

R2

Be You
Uno Mas Bourbon
Domestic Product

#1 BE YOU (2-1): Has been working very well leading up to his unveiling for powerhouse connections that have won a lot of 2-year-old races here. This son of Curlin has to negotiate a trip from the rail, but if he breaks sharply, I don’t think they catch him; #10 UNO MAS BOURBON (8-1): Has an experience edge over most of this group and at least did some running to salvage fifth after a slow start. The blinkers go on at second asking, and I’m expecting a step forward at a bit of a price; #5 DOMESTIC PRODUCT (3-1): Debuts for Brown after a steady, strong string of local drills. There’s some class on the bottom side of his pedigree (her second dam is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Cherokee Moon), and it wouldn’t be surprising if he could run.

R3

Victorious Wave
No More Talk
Glory Road

#8 VICTORIOUS WAVE (2-1): Won first off the claim for this outfit last time out and comes back to the NYRA circuit for this one. He draws favorably, doesn’t run into the strongest group for the level, and would be a major player if he runs his usual race; #5 NO MORE TALK (9/2): Was pretty sharp this past spring, but faltered as a 6/5 favorite in his local debut last time out. The new barn is ice cold, but anything close to his performances downstate would give him a big shot; #6 GLORY ROAD (3-1): Wants to sit back and make one run, and has done so to great effect at this level over the past few seasons. The faster they go early, the better his chances figure to be, and this barn does very well with new acquisitions.

R4

Zeebear (MTO)
Ortus
Born Dancer

#9 ORTUS (5/2): Stretches out to two turns for the first time, but his lone win came going a mile downstate, so this distance shouldn’t be a problem. He’d benefit from a duel up front, and there does at least appear to be some zip elsewhere in the field; #8 BORN DANCER (6-1): Wired a field of maidens last time out in his 2023 debut and goes second off the bench in this spot. He was third behind the classy Dakota Gold here a season ago, and his tactical speed is a plus; #4 SELL SOMETHING (15-1): Does his best running going two turns and stretches back out to such a route here. His lone start over this turf course was a win, and his only other win came going two turns on turf at Aqueduct this past April.

R5

Be the Boss
Asymmetric
Golden Arm

#7 BE THE BOSS (8-1): Comes back to dirt after tiring in a pair of turf sprints downstate. It’s pretty clear he just isn’t a turf horse, and his three-back dirt effort at Belmont was a strong win. He’s 2-for-3 with a second at this distance and hits me as a value play at or near that morning line price; #2 ASYMMETRIC (7/2): Has clearly had his issues, with just one start since last June. He had every right to need the last-out clunker, though, and the rider switch to Castellano is a notable one; #4 GOLDEN ARM (6-1): Returns to the main track after a clunker on turf last month. His first-out win was a strong effort, his two-back effort wasn’t bad, and I’m expecting him to be prominent early on.

R6

Caravel
Remuda
Nobals

#4 CARAVEL (3/5): Has reeled off five wins in a row and established herself as the country’s top female turf sprinter. She’ll once again take on the boys in the Grade 3 Troy, and anything close to her last-out effort in the Grade 1 Jaipur would make her a very formidable favorite; #8 REMUDA (10-1): Gets a major class test, but I was impressed with his last-out score at Laurel Park. He earned a very fast clocking that day and stands to benefit from swift early fractions; #7 NOBALS (7/2): Has found his form in the last few starts, one of which was a 38-1 shocker in a Grade 2 at Churchill Downs. The aptly-named gelding has one way of going and will likely be the one they’re chasing into the turn.

R7

Speaking Scout
Dakota Gold
Smokin’ T

#5 SPEAKING SCOUT (9/2): Has tackled some tough customers and came away with a Grade 1 win in last year’s Hollywood Derby at Del Mar (my goodness, that’ll always sound wrong). His last two tries against Grade 3 company were solid, and Flavien Prat sees fit to ride in the Lure; #3 DAKOTA GOLD (5/2): Cruised home against overmatched NY-breds in the Hudson Valley last time out and steps up into open company here. He’s been competitive in similar spots before, his versatility is a plus, and he’s not an illogical favorite; #2 SMOKIN’ T (7/2): Is an ultra-consistent turf runner who generally runs the same race every time out. That was good for a second-place finish in a similar spot at Monmouth Park back in May, and he has the speed to potentially sit a perfect stalking trip just off the speed.

R8

Interpolate
Maple Leaf Mel
Pretty Mischievous

#5 INTERPOLATE (15-1): OK, let’s get crazy. This one had a genuine excuse in the Grade 3 Victory Ride, when she conceded tons of ground early and never got involved. I think she’s the lone true closer in a race full of early zip, and that gives her a big chance in the Grade 1 Test at a gigantic price; #8 MAPLE LEAF MEL (2-1): Has never been headed in five career starts and comes in off of back-to-back graded stakes scores. She draws very well and figures to be the one they’ll have to catch; #1 PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (9/5): Has won back-to-back Grade 1 races, and I’d love her if the race was a little longer. However, I’m not sure going this short is what she truly wants, and the rail draw is a legitimate concern. She can win on her best day, but she might need that type of effort against this bunch.

R9

Far Bridge
Program Trading
Webslinger

#5 FAR BRIDGE (2-1): Has never been worse than second in five career tries and exits an impressive win in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, which didn’t set up for his late kick at all. Still, he mowed down the pace-setters that day, and he’ll look to do so again in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby; #2 PROGRAM TRADING (7/2): Has done nothing wrong to this point, with two wins in as many starts. I loved the new dimension he showed last time out, when he pressed the pace and won going away, and he may luck into a similar trip in this spot; #6 WEBSLINGER (4-1): Was compromised by the slow Belmont Derby pace and could only salvage fourth money that day. However, he nosed my top pick earlier this year at Churchill Downs and has more tactical speed than he showed last time out.

R10

Cody’s Wish
Last Samurai
Charge It

#6 CODY’S WISH (1/2): Combines “best story in racing” with “most talent in racing” in ways we haven’t seen in quite a long time and looms large in the Grade 1 Whitney. I don’t think two turns will be an issue for him, and anything close to his electric score in the Grade 1 Met Mile will leave everyone else running for second; #4 LAST SAMURAI (15-1): Is a plodding type that needs a lot to go right, but there’s plenty of speed signed on in here and he’s capable of putting forth an effort that would fit here. Those Oaklawn races weren’t that long ago, Prat sees fit to ride, and should he REALLY be the fifth choice in here?; #2 CHARGE IT (5-1): Romped over the weakest Grade 2 Suburban field in some time last time out, but did at least earn a 106 Beyer Speed Figure. Two turns is a legitimate question, as is his desire to race anywhere but Belmont Park, but it’s not like he’s totally illogical.

R11

Caramel Chip
Frat Pack
Brew Pub

#10 CARAMEL CHIP (7/2): Hasn’t run a bad race since moving to his current barn earlier this year and was a close-up third at this route last time out. This will already be his 11th start of the year, but he’s shown plenty, gets a fantastic draw, and attracts Irad Ortiz, Jr.; #5 FRAT PACK (9/2): Tries winners for the first time after an easy, maiden-breaking score downstate. He’s been working at Monmouth, which is sometimes a red flag for the Chad Brown barn, but a step forward second off the bench would put him right there; #3 BREW PUB (8-1): Cuts back in distance after finishing second going a mile at Belmont. He ran in spurts that day, and given how well this barn is going, I think he’s got a chance to improve at a bit of a price.

R12

Whittington Park (MTO)
Beuys
My Sea Cottage

#12 BEUYS (7/2): Doesn’t draw terribly well in the Saturday finale, but seems like the lone closer in a race with lots of early speed, and Oisin Murphy sees fit to stick around. I think they’ll go pretty fast early, and that would set things up for this one to come pick up the pieces; #4 MY SEA COTTAGE (8-1): Wired a field earlier in the meet and steps up in class for this allowance event. While he probably wants the lead, he’s at least shown some ability to sit back if he has to, and that may give Jose Ortiz a few options early on; #2 DANZIGWITHTHESTARS (10-1): Absolutely loves Saratoga and cannot be ignored, especially given his running style. He wants to sit back and make one run, and while he probably needs to improve on figures in order to win this, leaving him off of vertical exotics tickets seems dangerous.