BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $895

I’m a big fan of the Fox Sports talent and crew covering Saratoga this summer, and I consider many members of that team personal friends. However, I can’t help but worry about some of the occupational hazards in their midst as they cover this meet, and I’m not talking about COVID-19!

During socially-distanced interviews, there’s what we in the business call a “boom mic” that swings back and forth to pick up sound from the people talking. Every time it swings back and forth, I worry it’s going to conk someone in the face. Imagine a jockey coming away from piloting a thousand-pound animal without a scratch, yet having to get off a live mount after being examined due to a run-in with a microphone.

(Keep doing a great job, everyone. I love watching the shows every day!)

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: My Pick Four ticket was played to try to get value out of my best bet in the finale, but we didn’t get that far. My play went bust in the third leg, although scratches did reduce the bankroll hit to $13.50.

FRIDAY’S PLAY: I’m going to take a swing here. I know the front end hasn’t been the place to be on turf so far this meet, but the more I look at the sixth, the more I like #2 NO MO TEMPER. The 12-1 shot ran fine in her first start in 18 months downstate, and I’m just not in love with the shorter prices. I’m putting $10 to win and place on her, and I’m hoping she lulls them to sleep on the front end in this turf marathon.

TOTAL WAGERED: $20.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Voting Agreement, Race 3
Longshot: No Mo Temper, Race 6

R1

Assume
Hands Up
Scarlet’s Song

#5 ASSUME: Drops way down in class for aggressive connections after getting checks against straight maidens a few times at Gulfstream. Her debut going short was fine, and it seems like she’s found her friends; #4 HANDS UP: Ran second in a maiden claimer two back at Churchill but takes a steep drop after misfiring last month. She’s a consistent sort that seems to be working well; #1 SCARLET’S SONG: Stands a chance at improving and will likely be a square price. She showed some late interest in her debut at Laurel, and perhaps she’ll take a step forward with experience and a change in surface.

R2

Kinky Sox
Hetty G.
Overtime Olivia

#1 KINKY SOX: Ran well when second in her first start at this level and looms large. She was well clear of the third-place finisher that day, and a repeat of that effort will likely make her pretty tough to beat; #3 HETTY G.: Didn’t break well last time out in the same race my top pick exits, so I don’t have much trouble drawing a line through it. She ran well to win two starts ago, and I think she’ll be closer to the pace here; #2 OVERTIME OLIVIA: May be well-bet but has not won in a while. She’s another with some early speed, and she was a tough-luck second two back downstate.

R3

Voting Agreement
Peaceful
Henni Penny

#6 VOTING AGREEMENT: Won her debut at this route and makes her second start off a long layoff here. She’s got some tactical speed and may get first run on the pacesetters as the field turns for home; #2 PEACEFUL: Is another that won here last summer, and she did everything but win last time out at Belmont. The question is, can she repeat that type of effort, or is a bounce in the offing?; #4 HENNI PENNY: Looks best of the rest and may be a bit of a price. She was third in the race Peaceful exits and has never been out of the money in four career starts on turf.

R4

Stay Fond
Blunt Force
Cold Hearted Pearl

#6 STAY FOND: Came back running in her first start since February, when she rallied from last to first at this distance downstate. She has, however, shown much more early zip in prior starts, and I think she’ll be in a better spot down the backstretch; #8 BLUNT FORCE: Has shown she loves this seven-furlong trip, with two wins in her last three starts (both at this distance). Tom Amoss seems to have trained some speed into her, and the outside draw is a big help; #3 COLD HEARTED PEARL: Has tired in two starts since being claimed but may be worth another shot here. She’s won twice at this distance and has enough speed to be prominent out of the gate.

R5

Jill’s a Hot Mess
Going Going Gone
Samborella

#6 JILL’S A HOT MESS: Makes her third start for her third different trainer at a third different track, but seems like the one to beat. She was a good second against similar company downstate and is the only runner with experience that has shown early zip; #5 GOING GOING GONE: May have needed her debut, where she chased my top pick before fading. She goes to the Rudy Rodriguez barn, which adds blinkers (a powerful move for these connections); #9 SAMBORELLA: Fetched $500,000 at auction last summer despite a modest pedigree and has some solid works on the tab. With the exception of the most recent drill, though, they don’t jump off the page, and at her likely price, I’ll try to beat her.

R6

No Mo Temper
Cap de Creus
Ebony

#2 NO MO TEMPER: Is worth a long look, especially at her likely price. Her effort off a long layoff wasn’t bad, and she may inherit the early lead by default in this turf marathon. It’s not hard to see a scenario where she gets pretty comfortable on the front end; #9 CAP DE CREUS: Has significant back class and will likely be favored. However, she’s burned a lot of money in her career, and her only win was in a dirt race in the mud at Keeneland. At her likely price, I can’t back her; #7 EBONY: Misfired in her U.S. debut, but perhaps she needed that race after a long layoff. Her prior connections saw fit to run her in a Group 1 in France last summer, and Graham Motion does well with horses second off the bench.

R7

Munnings Muse (MTO)
Snicket
Quantitativbreezin

#8 SNICKET: Had a rough trip earlier this month at Belmont, and a case could be made that she should’ve been placed first that day. Rosario rides back for Clement, and a cleaner trip here would make her very tough; #10 QUANTITATIVBREEZIN: Rallied to be second in her debut downstate, and she raced a bit greenly that day. The experience should help her here, and she’s a contender despite the less-than-ideal outside draw; #7 MAGNOLIA’S LADY: Took a step forward when third last time out in the same race my top pick exits. She showed some early zip in that race, and she should be among the leaders going into the turn.

R8

Free Enterprise
Strike That
Mount Travers

#7 FREE ENTERPRISE: Was third in his return to the races last month at Churchill, and based on back figures, he’s strictly the one to beat. He got really good late last year, and it’s logical to expect a return to that form in this spot; #9 STRIKE THAT: Hasn’t finished worse than second in five career starts and comes off the bench for Robertino Diodoro. He ran into Volatile last time out, and that one will likely be favored in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt this weekend; #1 MOUNT TRAVERS: Hasn’t won in a while, but his comeback race was fine, as he ran a good second in the mud at Belmont. Linda Rice’s barn has been going well, and the faster they go early, the more likely it is this one will be heard from late.

R9

Jack and Noah
Old Chestnut
Power Up Paynter

#2 JACK AND NOAH: Has a lot of early speed and may be dangerous if he’s allowed to dictate terms. The fourth-place finisher from the Sir Cat has already come back to win, and this colt will likely be the one they have to catch; #4 OLD CHESTNUT: Hasn’t won in a while and was third in the Sir Cat, but is one to watch in case another runner goes with my top pick. There is some other speed signed on, and perhaps that softens up the chalk; #7 POWER UP PAYNTER: Didn’t do much running a few days ago when sixth against state-breds, but his race two back was a solid come-from-behind effort. A repeat of that performance could get him a check at a price.

R10

Royal Suspect (MTO)
Bricco
K. K. Ichikawa

#3 BRICCO: Ran quite well last time out, especially since that was his first start since October. That was his second time hitting the board in as many career starts, and his running style indicates a two-turn configuration won’t be a problem; #14 K. K. ICHIKAWA: Has to get lucky to draw in off the AE list, but will be a contender if he does. He debuted running third downstate and will get Lasix for the first time here; #1 AINTITFUNKYNOW: Runs for a tag for the first time, but I’m not sold. Yes, the class drop helps, but he hasn’t been running against world-beaters prior to this event, one that actually came up reasonably strong for the level. At his likely price, I’m going elsewhere.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $928.50

My girlfriend is a third-grade teacher. She doesn’t know what the upcoming school year will look like, but she’s constantly working hard to make sure her kids have the best possible learning environment while they’re in her classroom.

One of her primary goals before students return is to diversify her classroom library. She’s noticed that children from underrepresented groups don’t always encounter literary characters that look like them, which can make engaging them in books more difficult than it should be. She’s got a plan to do that, and she’s raising funds to make that happen.

To learn more, go to my Twitter page (@AndrewChampagne) and check out my pinned tweet. If you feel compelled to help, know that I appreciate it very much, and that a bunch of third-graders in the Oakland Unified School District will as well.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: It was a lousy opening week for yours truly. Both bankroll plays fizzled, and I dropped another $20.

WEDNESDAY’S PLAY: This will be tough, as heavy rain is in the forecast as I type this. However, I’ll gamble that #7 TENDERFOOT, who exits a key race that has produced two impressive next-out winners already, will respond to an aggressive class drop. I’ll put $20 to win on him and hope we get that 4-1 morning line price.

TOTAL WAGERED: $20.

SELECTIONS/ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Snap Decision, Race 1
Longshot: Choose Happiness, Race 10

R1

Snap Decision
Galway Kid
Bodes Well

#2 SNAP DECISION: Turned into one of the better steeplechasers in the country last year and comes in on a five-race winning streak. His seasonal debut was excellent, and I just cannot see another horse beating him here; #4 GALWAY KID: Won two in a row after being ambitiously spotted in his debut back in October. He hails from the barn of Jonathan Sheppard, who’s no stranger to success in jump races at Saratoga; #7 BODES WELL: Merits a look in the exotics due to the likely race shape. There doesn’t seem to be much early speed signed on, and there’s a chance this one could lead them a long way at a price.

R2

Box of Chocolates
Bernin’ Thru Gold
Passcode

#3 BOX OF CHOCOLATES: Has lost 15 of his 16 career starts, but he was a good second against slightly better last time out and was claimed by Robertino Diodoro. There’s plenty of speed signed on, and that should set up for his late kick; #7 BERNIN’ THRU GOLD: Drops way down in class and has run up against some stakes-quality foes in the past. The outside post could help him, and he may have found his friends; #6 PASSCODE: Ran reasonably well here twice last summer and comes in second off a long layoff. The 12-1 morning line odds hit me as an overlay, and if you’re an exotics player, he hits me as a must-use.

R3

Cross Border
Blewitt
Yankee Division (MTO)

#1 CROSS BORDER: Will likely be the shortest-priced favorite of the day if the Lubash stays on turf. He was beaten just a length in the Grade 1 Manhattan last time out, and he looms large against what seems like an overmatched group; #6 BLEWITT: Is head and shoulders above this group if it goes to the main track, but has a respectable turf pedigree and may not be out of his element if it stays on the grass. The Velazquez/Pletcher tag team merits respect; #4 DANTE’S FIRE: Came from another zip code to win going away on Independence Day and may be rounding into form for Mike Maker. Irad Ortiz, Jr., sees fit to ride back.

R4

Tenderfoot
Breithorn
Lost in Rome

#7 TENDERFOOT: Exits a race that’s proven to be incredibly strong. Winner Yaupon was one of the most impressive horses of opening week, third-place finisher Savvy graduated at Keeneland, and this one drops in for a tag first off the geld; #2 BREITHORN: Goes second off the bench for Bill Mott and is another dropping in class. The turf experiment last time out didn’t work, but perhaps the shallower waters are what he needs; #8 LOST IN ROME: Has been competitive against similar and rallied to be second downstate last month. The faster they go early, the better his chances figure to be.

R5

Three Jokers
Riken (MTO)
Maxwell Esquire

#4 THREE JOKERS: Looms large on either turf or dirt. His pedigree says grass will not be a problem, and he’s shown significant early zip against better in three stakes starts on the main track; #8 MAXWELL ESQUIRE: Goes out for Christophe Clement, who won everything that wasn’t nailed down during opening week. He was fourth in a stakes race downstate and will likely be rolling late; #3 INSIDE INFO: Was claimed by Linda Rice last month and goes for his third straight win. This is an aggressive jump up in class, but there’s some turf in his pedigree and he’s 1-for-1 over a wet dirt track as well.

R6

O Shea Can U See
Eye Luv Lulu
Just Right

#4 O SHEA CAN U SEE: Hasn’t run a bad one in his last five starts and was second against similar at Belmont. With so much early speed in the race, I want a horse that will be running well late, and this one fits the bill at a bit of a price; #3 EYE LUV LULU: Makes his first start since leaving the Jason Servis barn in the spring, and does so taking a steep drop in class. These connections are aggressive, so perhaps it’s not a total red flag, but at his likely price, I’ll look elsewhere for my top selection; #7 JUST RIGHT: Comes off an 11-month layoff for Todd Pletcher and cuts back in distance significantly. He broke his maiden sprinting here two summers ago, but this spot came up pretty tough for the level.

R7

Micromillion (MTO)
Madison Parc
Crescent Lady

#1 MADISON PARC: Goes back to the lawn in a wide-open race. Her debut going two turns on turf at Santa Anita was fine, the recent bullet workout at Keeneland inspires confidence, and she may be speedy enough to utilize her rail draw; #12 CRESCENT LADY: Drew a terrible post but may be talented enough to overcome it. She’s one of only a few in here with a desire to be on or near the lead, so she may be able to clear most of her rivals early; #4 TWO CENT TOOTSIE: Has had many chances but exits what may be a career-best effort downstate. Jose Ortiz sees fit to ride back after that near-miss, and she may be a contender with a clean trip.

R8

La Hara
Wild Medagliad’oro
Gauguin

#6 LA HARA: Was 2-for-2 last year before going to the sidelines and looms large in his return to the races. Joel Rosario rides for Chad Brown, and the turf workout on June 26 jumps off the page; #2 WILD MEDAGLIAD’ORO: Is the one to beat if this gets rained off the turf, and may also have a shot if it stays on. He showed speed when third in a stakes race at Gulfstream last month, and he may be dangerous if he’s left alone early on; #5 GAUGUIN: Enjoys running second and third, which makes him an owner’s dream and a bettor’s nightmare. Still, if you’re playing vertical exotics, he can’t be ignored second off the bench.

R9

Singular Sensation
Sharp Starr
Eloquent Speaker

#8 SINGULAR SENSATION: Is the only runner in here to have had success going two turns. She was second at this route last summer, and she may take a leap forward second off the bench going back to her preferred configuration; #3 SHARP STARR: Stretches out after a runaway maiden win earlier this month. Two turns is a question mark, but there’s stamina in her pedigree, one that also hints an off track won’t be an issue; #7 ELOQUENT SPEAKER: Edged a next-out winner in her return from a four-month break last time out. She’s another stretching out from a sprint to a route, but she’s also eligible to move forward with conditioning.

R10

Choose Happiness
Lottie’s Mizzion
Gringotts

#12 CHOOSE HAPPINESS: Gets the nod on the class drop in a puzzling Wednesday finale. Her debut sprinting on dirt at Aqueduct back in February was fine, and it helps that that day’s runner-up came back to win at next asking; #3 LOTTIE’S MIZZION: Rallied to be third off a brief layoff last month and could enjoy the extra furlong she gets in this spot. There’s some mud pedigree here, and unlike others, she’s shown an ability to pass horses late; #7 GRINGOTTS: Comes back to dirt after a failed turf experiment downstate. She hit the board two and three back against similar company, and she’s another that could be charging late.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $948.50

Eclipse Award winner and close friend Joe Nevills and I came up with a genius idea, one NYRA could use to make a significant chunk of change. Why not bottle Big Red Spring water and make it available to ship? While it’s true this “water” tastes like lighter fluid, few things are more emblematic of a summer day at the Spa than seeing an unknowing individual be cajoled/tricked into taking a sip.

Doing this brings that fun directly to your home, while also adding a revenue stream that didn’t previously exist. NYRA, if you do this, all I ask in return is a modest royalty and for 10 24-packs of this elixir to be delivered to the Nevills compound in haste.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS: Momos won like a good thing in the opener, and in doing so turned my $31.50 Pick Five ticket into confetti.

SUNDAY’S PLAY: I’ve got two tickets to finish off the weekend. First, I’ll try to extract some value out of my best bet of the day by singling likely third-race favorite #1 DOVIMA in $5 doubles starting in the second with #4 VINEYARD SOUND and #7 HARDCORE FOLKLORE. I’ll also put $10 to win on #4 CALDEE in the seventh, as I think she’s well-meant and the 6-1 morning line odds hit me as an overlay.

TOTAL WAGERED: $20.

SELECTIONS/ANALYSIS

Best Bet: Dovima, Race 3
Longshot: Caldee, Race 7

R1

Sky of Hook (MTO)
Dubb entry
Power Up Paynter

DUBB ENTRY: It’s tough to go against #1 DOWSE’S BEACH and #1A NEW YORK’S FINEST. They’re a combined 10-for-15 on this turf course, and it would be far from a shock if the entrymates ran 1-2 in the Sunday lid-lifter; #2 POWER UP PAYNTER: Is a consistent sort and seems best of the rest. He rallied from well back to light up the tote board at Belmont last time out, and Linda Rice tends to keep horses on the right track; #5 ROYAL ASSET: Hasn’t won in a while but has never finished worse than third in five starts over this turf course. He likely needed his last-out effort, and perhaps he takes a step forward to get a piece of this.

R2

Hardcore Folklore
Vineyard Sound
Deep Sea

#7 HARDCORE FOLKLORE: Returns to the scene of his last victory after an improved effort second off the bench downstate. There’s plenty of speed signed on to set up for his late kick, and talented trainer Charlton Baker may have him trending upward; #4 VINEYARD SOUND: Comes back to the dirt after a failed turf experiment last time out. His dirt race two back wasn’t all that bad, given it was his first start in three months and the winner and runner-up both came back to win; #5 DEEP SEA: Is a short price on the morning line, but I’m going to try to beat him. He hasn’t won since late-2018, and he seems to find ways to get himself into trouble. He’ll have a shot with a clean trip, but can he finally get one?

R3

Dovima
In Front
Johnnie Merle

#1 DOVIMA: Did everything but win in her debut downstate and looms very large in this event. Chad Brown’s numbers with second-out maidens are some of the best in the business, and she may not have caught the strongest group for the level; #4 IN FRONT: Is fittingly named, as she may inherit the early lead by default in what seems like an otherwise paceless race. She’s run into several next-out winners in the past, so there’s back class here as well; #5 JOHNNIE MERLE: Returns after being off since February following two efforts at Fair Grounds. She didn’t break well in either outing, and it’s entirely possible she’s matured during her five-month vacation.

R4

Candy Cornell
Twelfth Labour
Releasethethunder

#3 CANDY CORNELL: Is one of two contenders in here trained by Robertino Diodoro. He’s finished worse than second just once in five starts this season, and most of those efforts have come against groups that seem better than this bunch; #6 TWELFTH LABOUR: Was claimed by Diodoro last time out, and this barn has a track record of moving new acquisitions up significantly. He hasn’t won in more than two years, but his last-out effort at Churchill was solid and perhaps the change in barns will wake him up; #5 RELEASETHETHUNDER: May have needed his comeback race at Delaware Park, where he was beaten as the 3/2 favorite. That day’s winner has since come back to win again, though, and this one ran a number of strong sprint races a season ago.

R5

Effinity (MTO)
Martinez
Generazio entry

#2 MARTINEZ: Has been working well downstate for Shug McGaughey and is bred to be a solid turf runner. He’s by Twirling Candy, there’s class on the dam’s side of the pedigree, and Jose Ortiz sees fit to ride; GENERAZIO ENTRY: I prefer #1A MISCHIEVOUS DREAM, who debuts for Christophe Clement and has a big shot despite an outside draw. He’s by Into Mischief, and his dam is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning turfer Presious Passion; #4 THIN WHITE DUKE: Has hit the board twice in as many starts and tries turf for the first time. His turf Tomlinson rating of 333 is excellent, and Manny Franco has the return mount.

R6

Leitone (MTO)
Kroy
Sentry

#9 KROY: Seems like the main speed in a race that came up very strong for the level. He chased stakes-quality turfer Halladay three back, and if he’s unleashed early and dictates terms from the front end, he could be tough to catch late; #7 SENTRY: Won two in a row before going to the sidelines last fall and comes back in this spot. His best race could absolutely win, but if he’s at that level, why is he being entered for a tag rather than going in an allowance event?; #2 WILLING TO SPEED: Hits me as an overlay at his monstrous morning line price. He’s been competitive against decent company in all five of his starts this year, and John Velazquez could get him into a prime stalking position.

R7

Caldee
Lucifers Lair
Peachy Queen

#4 CALDEE: Has been working well for Brad Cox ahead of her unveiling and has every right to be a good one. Her gate drills, in particular, look impressive, and anything close to her 6-1 morning line price would hit me as an overlay; #9 LUCIFERS LAIR: Goes out for Todd Pletcher and gets a favorable outside draw in her unveiling. The work tab is consistent, and there’s lots to like, but why isn’t first-call rider John Velazquez aboard this one?; #6 PEACHY QUEEN: Fetched $180,000 at auction last September and comes in off of a bullet workout over this surface. She may be sitting on a big race, and if one materializes, rest assured you’ll hear about it ad nauseam given her sire.

R8

Light in the Sky
My Sassy Sarah
Saratoga Love

#5 LIGHT IN THE SKY: Gets a tepid nod in what hits me as a two-horse race. She came up just short in her return to the races last month, and a step forward is logical second off the bench; #4 MY SASSY SARAH: Was third in the race my top pick exits, and like that one, that race was her first start in quite a while. Michelle Nevin’s horses tend to improve second off of layoffs, and she should be running well late; #2 SARATOGA LOVE: Responded to a drop in class with a wire-to-wire score downstate and tries winners for the first time. This is a tougher spot, but Rosario rides back for Clement and she should be prominent early.

R9

Cat’s Pajamas
Lashara
Stunning Sky

#8 CAT’S PAJAMAS: Has won two in a row since coming back to the races as a 3-year-old. Furthermore, there isn’t much early speed signed on for a race of this stature, so she could get an easy trip near a slow pace and have first run turning for home; #3 LASHARA: Ran second behind my top selection last time out and has shown a strong turn of foot. She’s got plenty of talent, but can she overcome a likely race shape that doesn’t set up for her running style?; #6 STUNNING SKY: Has considerable back class, having run in four straight stakes races leading up to this event. She’s another that could be compromised by a slow pace, but if they go faster than anticipated early, she could be in line to pick up the pieces late.

R10

Malibu Pro
Shadow Rider
Mills

#7 MALIBU PRO: Takes a big drop in class for aggressive connections and looms large in the Sunday finale. He’s been running up against much, much better horses, and anything close to his prior efforts this year will make him a formidable foe; #5 SHADOW RIDER: Is one of two Rudy Rodriguez trainees in here and may be the bigger price. Like my top pick, he’s dropping way down the class ladder, and the faster they go early, the better his chances figure to be; #8 MILLS: May be peaking as a 10-year-old (yes, a 10-year-old), as he’s won three of his last four starts. He beat several of these rivals last time out, and he’s hit the board in three of four starts at the Spa.