BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $796.10

Programming note: As mentioned earlier this week, I’ll be occupied most of the day Friday and Saturday with The WAVE, a conference being put on by my full-time employer (Life Chiropractic College West). With that in mind, Saturday’s and Sunday’s bankroll section will be produced far in advance, which means the print versions will not have a total or a recap of Friday’s or Saturday’s action.

I’m going to make every effort to have this up on AndrewChampagne.com Friday night. However, due to the three-hour time difference and how busy I’ll be working what amounts to a 16-hour day, this won’t make it into The Pink Sheet.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: I was correct in thinking Dull Knife was a lousy favorite in the sixth, but neither of the longshots I attempted to score with hit the board. We dropped $24.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the fifth race. #5 MUCHO was nearly my best bet of the day. He returns to his favorite track for a barn having a strong Saratoga season. I’ll play $5 exactas using him above and below #3 COVE BLUE and #6 FUEL THE BERN, as well as $5 doubles singling him and using #2 CLOCKSTRIKESTWELVE and #3 ZABAVA in the sixth.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30

– – – – –

BEST BET: Ratajkowski, Race 8
LONGSHOT: I’m Elmer J Fudd, Race 10

R1

Repole entry
Inside Info
Cold Hard Cash

#1 MO READY: Is out of a More Than Ready mare and has a stride that says she wants turf. She was a game second last time out despite not taking to a muddy track at all; #7 INSIDE INFO: Fetched $165,000 at auction (more than 20 times the stud fee of sire Mission Impazible) and has a very strong bottom-side pedigree. His dam is a half to several stakes winners, and this one’s worked well ahead of his unveiling; #8 COLD HARD CASH: Was third in his debut on dirt despite a slow start. This barn’s runners tend to improve with experience, and she’s bred to like the lawn.

R2

Shock Therapy
Walkoff
Johny’s Bobby

#3 SHOCK THERAPY: May be a bit of a price in here, but was a good third against starter allowance foes earlier in the meet. He’s hit the board in his last five starts, a stretch that includes two wins; #5 WALKOFF: Exits a failed turf experiment and drops in class for powerhouse connections. He’s 2-for-2 around one turn and should be running well late; #7 JOHNY’S BOBBY: Defeated weaker foes last time out at Churchill and draws a cushy outside post. This barn has won multiple times at the meet and merits respect.

R3

Value Engineering
Bail Out
Overbold

#1 VALUE ENGINEERING: Improved last time out in his second career start, and that day’s second-place finisher has since come back to win. He’s bred to want the extra distance and looms large in this spot; #4 BAIL OUT: Has burned plenty of money lately but can’t be ignored. He’s finished second in four of his last five starts and may appreciate the cutback in distance; #7 OVERBOLD: Seems like the main speed in this race and could be able to dictate terms down the backstretch. He cuts back slightly in distance and could be a factor despite the closer-friendly turf course.

R4

Prairie Fire
Wailin Josie
Lookbothways

#8 PRAIRIE FIRE: Was bet a bit in her debut and has several strong recent works downstate. This barn has been firing on all cylinders of late, and she may not have to be much to beat this group; #7 WAILIN JOSIE: Seems like the main speed in here and drops in class for this event. Her first two dirt races weren’t bad, and she could get brave on the front end; #11 LOOKBOTHWAYS: Takes a gigantic drop in class and gets a solid post. She’s shown some flexibility in her running style and can run well from several different spots.

R5

Mucho
Fuel the Bern
Cove Blue

#5 MUCHO: Comes back to his favorite track, where he enjoyed a strong start to his career. He broke his maiden for fun before running second in the Grade 1 Hopeful, and he seems primed off a brief freshening; #6 FUEL THE BERN: Took a shot in a strong race for the level at Churchill, but has been rested since that effort. A repeat of his two-back victory would make him a contender; #3 COVE BLUE: Is a bit inconsistent, but could contend if he fires his best shot. His second-place finish last time out at Churchill was solid.

R6

Carlisle Belle (MTO)
Clockstrikestwelve
Zabava

#2 CLOCKSTRIKESTWELVE: Was left with too much to do well behind a slow pace last time out at Monmouth. Both of her wins have come at similar two-turn routes, and he should get a better setup here; #3 ZABAVA: Was impressive two back at Belmont and ran on well late to be fourth earlier this meet. Irad Ortiz, Jr., retains the mount for Mike Maker; #8 PSALMODY: Takes a big drop in class, but hasn’t won in a very long time. She’s a short price on the morning line, but while the drop could wake her up, I find her difficult to trust.

R7

Lunaire
Up the Ante
Maraud

#2 LUNAIRE: Is worth a long look at a bit of a price in a tough turf race. He loves this distance, won at it last time out, and has shown he can run well at Saratoga; #1 UP THE ANTE: Found Grade 2 waters a bit too deep last time out and gets class relief here. He was second in the Grade 3 Saranac here last summer and will likely show speed from his inside post; #5 MARAUD: Comes back to two turns for this race, one where he’ll run for a claiming tag. He was beaten a nose in a Grade 2 race here last year, and all four of his career wins have come at this distance.

R8

Ratajkowski
Behind the Couch
Paved With Gold

#5 RATAJKOWSKI: Did all the dirty work on the front end earlier this meet and was beaten less than a length by a horse that went on to earn a check in a stakes race at next asking. She’s taken steps forward in each start and figures to be tough to beat; #7 BEHIND THE COUCH: Was third in a stakes race two back and tries two turns here. She has the pedigree to embrace such a journey and may still be improving; #4 PAVED WITH GOLD: Adds blinkers after running third in the race my top pick exits. She has talent and may be forwardly-placed, but I have a hunch she may be better suited for turf than dirt.

R9

Another Miracle
Montauk Daddy
Frosted Rose

#3 ANOTHER MIRACLE: Chased a Grade 2 winner in his debut and won professionally at second asking. Turf is a question mark, but he has a solid 297 turf Tomlinson rating, and a repeat of his most recent effort could be enough; #6 MONTAUK DADDY: Led all the way in his first turf effort last month at Belmont. He adds Lasix for Linda Rice and may be the one they have to run down in the stretch; #5 FROSTED ROSE: Closed like a freight train against a restricted maiden field earlier this meet and jumps up into stakes company. It’s a class test, but Rosario staying aboard inspires some confidence.

R10

Chuckles (MTO)
I’m Elmer J Fudd
Awesome Adversary

#5 I’M ELMER J FUDD: Gets a reluctant nod in one of the most puzzling races I’ve handicapped this meet. He adds blinkers on the drop in class and should embrace two turns. Regardless of whether it’s wabbit season or duck season, he seems vewy vewy live; #3 AWESOME ADVERSARY: Has picked up plenty of minor awards, but remains winless in his 16-start career. He’s a must-use, but it’s tough to have profound confidence in a runner that’s had so many chances; #4 MR. VINCENT: Could take a step forward second off the layoff. He was a neck back of my second selection last time out, and that was his first start in nearly three months.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $820.10

If you haven’t read Teresa Genaro’s article from earlier this week on the stuff she’s had to deal with, take some time and seek it out. There’s been a lot of nonsense on social media this past week, and a lot of it’s been pretty difficult to digest. It got to where I actually had to put Twitter away for a while, which, as those who know me will attest, has probably never happened before.

I don’t agree with every word Teresa’s said or tweeted, but you don’t have to do that to see that some of the stuff lobbed in her direction has been absolutely vile. This isn’t a political matter, so don’t even go there. It’s a matter of human decency. When did it become so hard to engage in respectful discourse with others who have differing opinions? This baffles me, and I refuse to think I’m somehow less of a person for expecting others to conduct themselves as if they can’t hide behind a device connected to the Internet.

Let’s all be nice to each other, huh?

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS: Aristocratic ran well, but got reeled in late after setting a very fast pace. We dropped $30.

THURSDAY’S PLAY: I’m taking a swing in the sixth race, where I like a pair of longshots on top. I’ll key #3 FALSE INFO and #4 MY AMANJENA on top of $2 exactas that use those two, #6 MO ZONE, #11 DULL KNIFE, and #12 SOUTHERN BRIGADE underneath. Additionally, I’ll use my top two in $2 doubles that start in the sixth and end with #1 ANDRETTA and #9 HOLLYWOOD CAT in the seventh.

TOTAL WAGERED: $24

– – – – –

BEST BET: Amazing Audrey, Race 1
LONGSHOT: False Info, Race 6

R1

Amazing Audrey
Bareeqa
Frozen Hannah

#2 AMAZING AUDREY: Has finished in the top two in each of her last seven starts and looms large on the drop in class. Her lone start to date over this turf course was an emphatic win, and her best effort would likely crush these; #4 BAREEQA: Is eligible to improve in her second start off of a brief freshening. She likes Saratoga and completes a strong 1-2 punch for the Gargan barn; #1 FROZEN HANNAH: Cruised in the slop at Indiana Grand in a race that doubled as her first start of this outfit. She comes back to turf and ran several solid races on the lawn at Gulfstream this past spring.

R2

British Idiom
Talk You Out of It
Esther’s Fortune

#3 BRITISH IDIOM: Debuts off of a very strong five-furlong gate drill at Churchill. That’s not the only strong move in her work tab, and this barn knows how to win with first-time starters; #10 TALK YOU OUT OF IT: Is already making her fifth start in this race, and the outside draw is a plus. She was third in a stakes race two back, and this doesn’t seem like the strongest race for the level; #8 ESTHER’S FORTUNE: Has a very classy pedigree and flashed some talent in a July 15 drill over this track. When Jose Ortiz rides for this barn, his mounts are usually live.

R3

No Dozing
Plainsman
Tale of Silence

#3 NO DOZING: Has done his best running at this distance and comes in off a second-place finish in an ungraded stakes race at Delaware. That day’s third-place finisher has since come back to win, and this one is making his third start off the bench; #2 PLAINSMAN: Got very good late last year, when he reeled off three wins in a row (including a Grade 3 score). He hasn’t run since and makes his first start for a new barn, but he’s worked very well ahead of his 2019 debut; #4 TALE OF SILENCE: Has tried tough company this year, including the likes of Mitole and McKinzie in the Grade 1 Met Mile. The class drop should help, and there’s speed in here that could set things up for him.

R4

Mystic Lancelot
Relentless Dancer
Now Is

#4 MYSTIC LANCELOT: Hammered for $450,000 earlier this year and has trained well for trainer Todd Pletcher. John Velazquez hops aboard, and he seems very well-meant; #2 RELENTLESS DANCER: Sold for $85,000 earlier this year despite a modest pedigree and has reeled off four straight bullets ahead of his debut. This barn can win with first-time starters, and he may be a nice price; #12 NOW IS: Ran second in an ungraded stakes race last time out at Monmouth and is a threat if he draws in off the AE list. He has an experience edge over this group that could prove helpful.

R5

Sneakiness
Cobble Hill
Swick

#5 SNEAKINESS: Comes back to dirt after an unsuccessful try on turf. He’s been gelded and drops down in class, and his past few works have been strong ahead of this event; #11 COBBLE HILL: Hasn’t run since December, and the drop in class is a bit alarming, but he’s worked well and draws a cushy outside post. He’s another running as a first-time gelding; #7 SWICK: Completes a trifecta of class-droppers and comes in off of two events that seemed fairly strong. This group isn’t nearly as accomplished, so an improved effort could be in the cards.

R6

False Info
My Amanjena
Dull Knife

#3 FALSE INFO: Has been gelded and drops in class for this race. He ran several solid races downstate earlier this year, and his morning line odds hit me as a substantial overlay; #4 MY AMANJENA: Didn’t run well earlier in the meet against similar, but that was his first poor effort since being switched to the turf. I’m willing to give him another shot, especially at his likely price; #11 DULL KNIFE: Drops way down in class on the trip north from Monmouth, but I have my doubts. He’s winless since coming to North America, the post is lousy, and it’s tough for me to trust him at a short price.

R7

Saloon Girl (MTO)
Hollywood Cat
Bond entry

#9 HOLLYWOOD CAT: Came back running off the layoff and returns to the state-bred ranks in this event. Jason Servis tends to keep horses on the right track, and he hits me as the one to beat; #1 ANDRETTA: Put it all together last time out, when she graduated at this route despite a horrible post. She faces winners for the first time, but the light bulb may have come on; #2 ANDARTA: Has a win at this route and almost certainly needed her most recent outing. If she’s fitter for this event and can channel her 2018 form, she’s got a shot at a big price.

R8

Bonita Bianca
Holiday Disguise
Pauseforthecause

#2 BONITA BIANCA: Cuts back from a mile to a distance she’s proven to like. She won this race a season ago and could sit a perfect stalking trip off of a solid early pace; #1 HOLIDAY DISGUISE: Has won several stakes races at this level and is the likely favorite. She’ll likely get plenty of pace to run at, but the rail draw is a red flag given the traffic she may have to work through; #4 PAUSEFORTHECAUSE: Hasn’t won in a while, but does her best running at Saratoga and exits an experiment going further than she wants to run. This is her preferred trip over her preferred track, and she cannot be ignored.

R9

Nasty Affair (MTO)
Double Happiness
Kerry’s Ring

#7 DOUBLE HAPPINESS: Debuts for a strong barn and is bred to be a good one. She’s by More Than Ready, which means she should like turf, and her dam was a stakes-placed runner (one that has already thrown another stakes-placed runner named John’s Island); #8 KERRY’S RING: May be a heavy favorite off of two straight second-place finishes downstate. She’s logical, but she burned a lot of money last time out without an apparent excuse, so it wouldn’t stun me if she loses again here; #12 CRESCENT LADY: Was a close-up third after pressing fast fractions in her most recent start. The post is a killer, but she may be able to clear most of this field early on.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $850.10

Okay, folks, I need your help. I work for a chiropractic college, and later this week, I’ll be helping put on our annual conference. It’s going to be a lot of fun, but it’s also going to be a lot of work (we’re talking 12-16 hours a day later this week, so caffeine will likely be its own separate food group).

To make the bankroll section a bit easier to write later this week, and to provide some fresh content very few others are putting forth, I’m opening up the floor to you. Tweet me your comments and questions at @AndrewChampagne, or use the “contact” feature at AndrewChampagne.com. I read everything that comes in, and if you do this, you may see your name and submission up in lights later this week (I’m not cool enough for a Reddit “ask me anything,” so this will have to do).

I’ve long prided myself on putting forth content people actively want to read. This period is going to be as good as you make it, so let’s have some fun.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: Sister Peacock ran a great race on the lead over a turf course that has not played kindly to speed. Unfortunately, she had to settle for third, and $24 worth of doubles went up in smoke.

WEDNESDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on the third race, where I think #4 ARISTOCRATIC could be very tough to catch on the drop in class. I’ll keep this really simple and plunk down $30 on him to win.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30

– – – – –

BEST BET: Kimari, Race 7
LONGSHOT: Dancingwthdaffodls, Race 10

R1

Snap Decision
Zanzi Win
Renown

#7 SNAP DECISION: Cruised home last time out at Monmouth and faces winners over fences for the first time. He showed a new dimension being on the lead that day, and that style could help him here; #1 ZANZI WIN: Gets Lasix in his American debut and has been running well of late in Europe. This barn has had a strong year to this point; #4 RENOWN: Lost his rider last time out but showed some talent in his prior three starts over fences. He’s run well on the flat here before and could sit a nice stalking trip.

R2

Beyond Gone
Dan the Man Can
More Thunder

#5 BEYOND GONE: Was beaten just a length in his debut earlier in the meet and is in line to take a big step forward. This barn’s horses often move way up at second asking, and Jose Ortiz hops aboard; #3 DAN THE MAN CAN: Comes back to dirt after a failed turf experiment and adds Lasix in this spot. His debut outing was pretty good, and he should be prominent early; #2 MORE THUNDER: Has a few solid workouts ahead of his unveiling and has a right to be precocious given that he’s a son of Goldencents. It helps that Rosario has been enticed to ride.

R3

Aristocratic
Reason to Soar
Orpheus

#4 ARISTOCRATIC: Drops way down in class and seems like the lone early speed in this event. He’s tired in his last several starts, but these waters are far more shallow and he may not have to go too fast early on to make the lead; #3 REASON TO SOAR: Is another class-dropper, and this one comes in from Florida off of a significant layoff. He’s been running against much better, but he hasn’t been the same horse he was in 2018 in four starts this season; #6 ORPHEUS: Hasn’t won in a while but has run second twice at this meet. He’d benefit from a faster-than-expected early pace and should come running late.

R4

Daddy Knows (MTO)
Gosilently
Bad Boy

#7 GOSILENTLY: Makes his second start off the bench and figures to be the main speed. He should improve given the prior race, and it helps that he’s run well twice at this distance; #11 BAD GUY: Has run fairly well in all three of his recent turf starts and may very well be good enough to overcome the terrible post. Irad Ortiz, Jr., signs on to ride, and they should be rolling down the stretch; #5 HONORABLE HERO: Hasn’t won in a while but tried stakes company last time out. He’s better-spotted here and has tactical speed.

R5

Katama Moonlight
Stand for the Flag
My Bronx Tail

#2 KATAMA MOONLIGHT: Hasn’t run since December, but has worked lights-out for powerhouse connections ahead of her return to the races. If she runs to her drills, she could be tough to beat; #6 STAND FOR THE FLAG: Suffered a tough beat here last year in her lone start to date, and has since moved to the Jason Servis barn. This outfit has had lots of success at this meet and can win with horses off of long layoffs; #4 MY BRONX TAIL: Got caught late in her first start since July of 2018 last time out and will almost certainly make the lead here. The question is, does she want to go seven furlongs?

R6

Astoria Kitten
Devils Rendezvous
More Than Silver

#3 ASTORIA KITTEN: Debuts for a hot barn and may not have to be too much to beat these. She’s by Kitten’s Joy and out of a Distorted Humor mare, so she has every right to be a runner; #6 DEVILS RENDEZVOUS: Was a one-paced fifth in her debut on the main track, but she may have needed the race and is bred to like the turf. Her works downstate since that race have been sharp; #4 MORE THAN SILVER: Is bred up and down for turf, so her debut on the main track is easy for me to throw out. She could improve and grab a piece of this at a price.

R7

Kimari
Abscond
Champagne Humor

#5 KIMARI: Just missed in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot and seems to tower over this group. Prior to the trip overseas, she romped by 15 lengths at Keeneland, and a similar effort would thump this bunch; #4 ABSCOND: Got her nose down in her debut at Ellis Park, and that day’s second-place finisher has since come back to win. This barn is quietly one of the best in the country with 2-year-olds; #6 CHAMPAGNE HUMOR: Isn’t just a hunch play, as she rallied to top several next-out winners in her unveiling at Gulfstream. The Florida trainer brings a Gulfstream-based rider up for this event, which is intriguing.

R8

Allured
Passcode
Violent Delights

#7 ALLURED: Hasn’t run since February, but has back form that would crush these and has been gelded since his last start. This is the weakest group he’s ever faced, and if he’s ready, he should win easily; #8 PASSCODE: Just missed here earlier in the meet and stretches out a bit in distance for new connections. He’s got plenty of speed and draws a solid outside post; #4 VIOLENT DELIGHTS: Comes back to dirt and drops back to the right level after a clunker against a strong starter allowance group on turf. He’s run well on dirt in the past and will likely be a square price.

R9

Turco Bravo (MTO)
Golden Spear
Total Tap

#11 GOLDEN SPEAR: Drops down in class and gets a tepid top selection in a wide-open turf race. The post is a big problem, but he may be talented enough to overcome it; #4 TOTAL TAP: Has hit the board in each of his last five starts and chased a next-out winner last time out at Monmouth. Castellano sees fit to ride, and that can’t be ignored; #10 SYCAMORE LANE: Has chased a solid horse for the level in each of his last two starts and may have caught a weaker field here. He’s won over this turf course before and has some tactical speed.

R10

Carrizo (MTO)
Dancingwthdaffodls
Questeq

#8 DANCINGWTHDAFFODLS: Didn’t have a great trip earlier in the meet, but can close and attracts Jose Ortiz. Her race two back was pretty good, and she could come running late at a nice price; #9 QUESTEQ: Exits the same race as my top pick and gets a big rider switch to Javier Castellano. She hasn’t run in a while, but she’s another that can run well late; #1 A DIXIE TWISTER: Has won two in a row and takes on tougher competition here. She draws well; the question is, does she have enough speed to utilize the rail draw to her advantage?

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $874.10

I’ll preface this by saying that Got Stormy is a classy racehorse. It takes class for a horse to come back quickly and win a Grade 1, as she did in Saturday’s Fourstardave. She’s an honest horse, and she can’t control what she runs against.

However, I can’t help but feel like this year’s group of American turf milers is a subpar one. When the world’s top horses come together later this year in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, I’m inclined to use every European runner I can afford in multi-race exotics that include the Mile. With all due respect to Got Stormy, who did something that’s very difficult to do, I just don’t think she beat that much, and I’m also not putting much stock into a time posted on arguably the fastest turf course in Saratoga history.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS: Turf War was left with too much to do late, and doubles and Pick Threes fizzled as a result. We dropped $33.

SUNDAY’S PLAY: I’ll focus on doubles later on in the program. My $6 tickets start in the eighth with #1 FREE KITTY and #3 TALK VEUVE TO ME and finish with #3 SISTER PEACOCK and #9 BOHEMIAN BOURBON in the ninth.

TOTAL WAGERED: $24

– – – – –

BEST BET: Maker entry, Race 2
LONGSHOT: Bohemian Bourbon, Race 9

R1

Majority Rules
Four Ten
One Eyed Jack

#4 MAJORITY RULES: Was a solid second last time out in his first venture around two turns, and that race came back pretty fast for the level. His pedigree says he’ll improve with experience, and he’s a logical favorite; #3 FOUR TEN: Stretches out to two turns and has the pedigree to embrace such a journey. Blinkers come on, and he figures to be forwardly-placed at a nice price; #2 ONE EYED JACK: Was a bit one-paced when third in his unveiling downstate. That day’s runner-up came back to run OK earlier in the meet, and he’s another that could take a step forward given added maturity.

R2

Maker entry
Mo Maverick
Sentry

MAKER ENTRY: I prefer #1A NOBLE THOUGHT, who drops back to the right level after a failed try against Grade 2 foes going very long at Belmont. He’s a consistent sort that could get a perfect stalking trip; #8 MO MAVERICK: Sure seems like the lone speed, and that’s been dangerous on the inner turf in past years, but he hasn’t won in a while and speed hasn’t been holding. He may be favored, but I find him difficult to trust; #9 SENTRY: Cuts back in distance after running a one-paced fourth against a solid field earlier in the meet. This change could wake him up, and he did win at this route last summer.

R3

Sharing
Micheline
Morning Gold

#11 SHARING: Looks like the one to beat if she draws in off the AE list. She was beaten just a neck in her debut, and she’s bred to want every inch of this two-turn trip; #2 MICHELINE: Isn’t necessarily bred to win first time out, but she ought to love going two turns on turf. Her dam, Panty Raid, won several Grade 1 races, including the American Oaks going 10 furlongs on turf; #7 MORNING GOLD: Was second in her debut for a barn whose horses often need a race to get going. She may improve, but I’m a bit hesitant to endorse the quality of the field she ran against earlier in the meet.

R4

Sharpin
Destiny Over Fate
Takecharge Mirella

#10 SHARPIN: Draws favorably on the drop in class second off the claim and could sit an ideal stalking trip. Her efforts two and three back were both solid, and we may get the juicy morning line price; #4 DESTINY OVER FATE: Was a distant second against similar foes earlier this meet, but may have been compromised by her rider losing an iron at the start. She might be better on wet tracks, but she could easily move up a few lengths off of her last race; #1 TAKECHARGE MIRELLA: Takes a steep drop in class for capable connections and has won over this track before. Her races this past spring were sharp, and she’ll be a contender if she can channel that form.

R5

Saratoga Treasure
Mama Mary
Sadie Lady

#2 SARATOGA TREASURE: Has run pretty well in each of her last two starts and returns to the site of her maiden-breaking score two years ago. There’s plenty of speed signed on, which could set things up for her late kick; #8 MAMA MARY: Prevailed by a head in her first start off a long layoff and tries tougher company here. Luis Saez has ridden her several times, and he’ll likely have her on or near the lead; #6 SADIE LADY: Comes in off of a career-best race, and when this barn gets a horse on the right track, they tend to stay there. Joel Rosario keeping the mount is certainly a plus.

R6

Mundaye Call
Plea
Lotta Ott

#10 MUNDAYE CALL: Gets a cushy outside draw in her debut and has been working lights-out over this track. She hammered for just shy of $1 million last summer and has every right to be a very fast horse; #6 PLEA: Debuts for Bill Mott following a strong gate drill earlier this month. The Claiborne homebred is a half to solid sire Congrats, and we may get a bit of a price; #3 LOTTA OTT: Got shuffled back when beaten at 6/5 odds in her debut, but she has an experience edge over most of this field. She could easily improve at second asking, and a cleaner trip puts her right there.

R7

Cross Border
Graded On a Curve
Gosilently

#3 CROSS BORDER: Was very impressive earlier this meet, when he overcame a tricky post to cruise home in a starter allowance race. That day’s third-place finisher came back to win a few days ago, and the better post is a big advantage; #1 GRADED ON A CURVE: Has improved in all three of his starts and tries winners for the first time. The faster they go earlier, the better this closer’s chances figure to be; #4 GOSILENTLY: Was a pick of mine earlier in the meet, when he faded to fifth. However, he may have needed that race, and that was a strong field for the level.

R8

Talk Veuve to Me
Free Kitty
Cookie Dough

#3 TALK VEUVE TO ME: Was a close-up third behind Special Relativity last time out, and that one has since come back to win a stakes race. Blinkers come on, and I’ll give her another shot to recapture her strong 2018 form; #1 FREE KITTY: Seems like the main closer in a race with lots of early speed. She generally fires the same race every time out, and she may be the one they have to hold off late; #2 COOKIE DOUGH: Drops out of graded stakes company to run in this optional claiming event. She may be the main speed, but she hasn’t won in a while and figures to be an underlay.

R9

Bohemian Bourbon
Sister Peacock
Chelsea Cloisters

#9 BOHEMIAN BOURBON: Ran reasonably well when third earlier this meet and gets another favorable setup here. She’ll be running well late beneath strong turf rider Leparoux, and the likely price is a bonus; #3 SISTER PEACOCK: Ships in from Woodbine having danced plenty of dances up there against strong fields. She figures to be prominent early and could appreciate the cutback in distance; #6 CHELSEA CLOISTERS: Hasn’t won in a while, but has run plenty of solid races over the past year and merits respect. She has tactical speed but doesn’t necessarily need the lead.

R10

Cobble Hill (MTO)
Duress
Highway Flyer

#7 DURESS: Didn’t break well in his debut, but showed some interest late and was beaten just two lengths for second. He may appreciate the added distance he gets in the Sunday finale; #9 HIGHWAY FLYER: Unseated his rider last time out and may be an inflated price because of that. He has some back form and could contend with a less-eventful trip; #4 SANDY LANE KITTEN: Drops in class and adds blinkers for this event, which could make him more forwardly-placed in an event without a lot of apparent early speed. This barn has enjoyed a strong meet to this point, and there aren’t any monsters lined up against him here.