BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $671

It’s tough to believe, but the conclusion of Wednesday’s card will mark the halfway point of the 2020 Saratoga meet. It’s been a different summer, for a variety of different reasons. We’ve seen awe-inspiring efforts from the likes of Tiz the Law, Gamine, and Serengeti Empress, but they’ve come in races that usually happen near the end of the meet and act as a crescendo to weeks of rising action.

Fittingly, there will be different questions to answer between now and Labor Day. Which riders will leave Saratoga early to head to Churchill Downs? What horses will line up in the remaining Grade 1 races? Will I hang on to my lead in the pick box and win a fifth title in seven summers?

We’ve seen plenty of fireworks to this point. I hope there are more still to come.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS: Timely Tradition had an all-time nightmare trip in Sunday’s sixth. He still gave me a thrill with a big move around the turn, but thanks to all of his trouble, he could only manage a fourth-place finish. I dropped $30, but I hope that one runs back later in the meet.

WEDNESDAY’S PLAY: I like the late Pick Four sequence, and the card ends early enough to where I can play it without putting my editor’s deadline in jeopardy. My 50-cent ticket starts in the seventh and reads as follows: 2,4,7,10,12 with 2,7 with 2,4 with 4,6,10.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Maker entry, Race 5
Longshot: Love Me Tomorrow, Race 10

R1

Fearsome
Zoom Zoom Zoe
Brianbakescookies

#7 FEARSOME: Goes back to the steeplechase ranks after chasing some pretty good turf horses in the Grade 3 Louisville. That was his first start in six month, and his lone start over fences was a nice win in a $50,000 stakes race; #3 ZOOM ZOOM ZOE: Won her debut from way back, which isn’t an easy thing to do. She tries winners for the first time and doesn’t catch an easy field, but she’s in the most capable of hands running for Jonathan Sheppard; #5 BRIANBAKESCOOKIES: Has won just once in six starts since going to the hurdles, but he’s only finished worse than third once during that stretch. Jack Fisher has had a strong meet, and this one’s usual race gives him a shot in a wide-open event.

R2

Tiz He the One
Strike That
Releasethethunder

#1 TIZ HE THE ONE: Was claimed last time out by Mike Maker, who does exceptional work with high-level claimers. He was 9/2 against Firenze Fire in a Grade 3 two back at Laurel, and he has back races that would beat these comfortably; #5 STRIKE THAT: Has three wins and three seconds in six starts and goes second off the layoff for Robertino Diodoro. Oddly, the barn is 0-for-16 at the meet as of this writing, but he’s got a big shot to get his trainer off the duck; #3 RELEASETHETHUNDER: Beat a weaker group earlier in the meet and makes his first start for new trainer Ray Handal. I’m not sure he’ll want the extra furlong he gets here, but this is another consistent runner with some stakes credentials.

R3

Money in the Bank
Daring Disguise
Shandian

#7 MONEY IN THE BANK: Goes second off a long layoff and was a good second against similar company downstate. He’s run well going short on turf a few times now, and a step forward would allow him to climb the ladder and grab the briefcase here; #4 DARING DISGUISE: Ran second at less than even-money last time out to drop to 0-for-12, but there’s a reason he takes money. From a figure standpoint, he more than fits here, and this barn is having great success here this summer; #6 SHANDIAN: Is 0-for-14 but drops back in for a tag after a failed try against better earlier in the meet. His effort three back for this tag at Belmont was fine, and he did run fairly well in two tries at this route a season ago.

R4

Radiantrithym
Tied Up
Fair Lassie

#7 RADIANTRITHYM: Hasn’t won in more than a year but was claimed by Linda Rice last time out, and she’s excellent with new acquisitions. This seems like a weaker group than what she’s been facing, and the outside post may give Jose Ortiz plenty of options; #6 TIED UP: Is a proverbial win machine with 11 triumphs in 22 career starts. She certainly seems like the controlling speed and she’ll likely be the one to catch, but the 0-for-3 local mark is a concern; #2 FAIR LASSIE: Drops way down in class to run for the lowest tag of her career. She lost all chance at the break last time out, and a cleaner start may put her in position to grab a piece of this.

R5

Maker entry
Digital Software
Break Beat

MAKER ENTRY: I prefer #1A FREEDOM FORCE, who comes back to the lawn and turned in a strong five-furlong work a few days ago. His lone turf race to date was a very strong one for the level, as he ran fourth behind three next-out winners at Gulfstream; #3 DIGITAL SOFTWARE: Burned a lot of money when fourth at 3/5 at Keeneland. His debut at Churchill was solid, and perhaps the last-out effort was a bounce, but there don’t seem to be any excuses for that performance and I can’t endorse him at his likely price; #2 BREAK BEAT: Was fourth in his debut, but he’s bred to get better with experience and longer distances. His 344 turf Tomlinson rating is excellent, and the recent turf work indicates he’s set to take a step forward at second asking.

R6

Eloquent Speaker
Kinky Sox
Shesasuperfreak

#7 ELOQUENT SPEAKER: Cuts back to a sprint after running third going two turns early in the meet. Her win two back at Belmont was strong, and it helps that that day’s runner-up has since come back to win twice in a row; #6 KINKY SOX: Has taken a step forward as a 6-year-old with two wins in her last three starts. She rallied to top a weaker group last time out, and the faster they go early, the better her chances figure to be; #1 SHESASUPERFREAK: Was a decent third at this level and route earlier in the meet. She hasn’t won in a while, but her last-out Beyer Speed Figure of 66 is the second-highest such number in this field.

R7

Quick Return (MTO)
Scuttlebuzz
Sandro the Great

#7 SCUTTLEBUZZ: Comes back to the turf after running fourth in an off-the-turf race last month. His lone turf start was the best race of his career and he’s bred to love the one-mile route (by The Factor, out of an Elusive Quality mare); #12 SANDRO THE GREAT: Ran second in that off-the-turf race and looms large despite a terrible post. He’s bred to be very good and he’s in arguably the hottest barn on the grounds, but the post and cutback in distance are legitimate concerns; #2 TACKLE: Hammered for $250,000 two summers ago and comes in off a bullet workout for Bill Mott ahead of his debut. He’s a half-brother to eight different winners, including Grade 2 winner Recapturetheglory, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he ran well at a price.

R8

Candy Tycoon
Forza Di Oro
Lil Commissioner

#7 CANDY TYCOON: Was my top pick in the Grade 3 Peter Pan, when he blew the break and never had a chance against the likes of Country Grammer and Caracaro. These waters are far shallower, and with a clean break, I think he has a big chance to bounce back; #2 FORZA DI ORO: Hasn’t run since December but has been working very well for Bill Mott. He showed talent as a 2-year-old and was 5-1 in the Grade 2 Remsen. If he lives up to his potential, he could develop into a horse of considerable talent; #4 LIL COMMISSIONER: Has won four of his last six starts and cruised against a weaker group in his first start for Rob Atras downstate. Two turns is a question mark, but he scratched out of a lower-level spot to run here, which can be interpreted as a sign of confidence.

R9

Thoughtfully
Make Mischief
Lucifers Lair

#4 THOUGHTFULLY: Did everything right in her debut, when she romped by nearly nine lengths at Churchill Downs. Her work tab here has been very solid, and she’s another strong 2-year-old prospect for a barn with plenty of them; #2 MAKE MISCHIEF: Was second in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on Opening Day and seems like the main speed in this race. Mark Casse’s yet to win a race at the meet, but this daughter of Into Mischief obviously has plenty of potential; #5 LUCIFERS LAIR: Graduated at first asking earlier in the meet for Todd Pletcher, whose 2-year-olds always merit respect. The turnaround is a bit quick by the barn’s standards, and the one work since is a red flag, but dismiss this barn at your own peril.

R10

Love Me Tomorrow
Deeply Analytical
Mebs Web

#10 LOVE ME TOMORROW: Has had several chances but will get one more shot from me here given the likely race shape. She sure looks like the main speed in this race, which is filled with a number of horses that may not want to pass others, and I love the outside draw; #6 DEEPLY ANALYTICAL: Stopped pretty badly when seventh of 10 as a 3/2 favorite in her lone start to date. She hasn’t been seen since, takes a big drop in class for Jorge Abreu, and is as tricky a read as any horse on the entire card; #4 MEBS WEB: Showed improvement when third against similar company earlier in the meet. She should be more fit second off the bench, and while Eric Cancel hasn’t visited the winner’s circle much, his in-the-money rate is strong and he gives the horses he rides chances to get home first.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $701

It’s no secret that there’s been plenty of rough riding on the New York circuit of late. In a recent article for The Daily Racing Form, Dave Grening reported several of Saratoga’s top riders have been handed suspensions for a number of recent incidents. Grening added that all of these riders have appealed and been granted stays, which allow them to continue riding until their cases are heard.

I cannot stress enough how much I hate this procedure. The safety of horses and the humans around them has to be racing’s number-one concern, and there have been times where riders have gone beyond “race-riding” and into dangerous territory. These cases need to be heard immediately, and riders who break the rules and jeopardize the well-being of thoroughbreds and those on their backs need to be handed punishments that fit the crime, not slaps on the wrist with minimal days and exceptions for major stakes races.

If any NYRA stewards are reading, I urge you: Change the way you do this. If you don’t, the culture you’ve allowed to develop on the track will only get worse, and someone might get hurt.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS: Serengeti Empress turned in arguably the finest performance we’ve seen at any racetrack all year long in winning the Grade 1 Ballerina. Unfortunately, she wasn’t on my Pick Five ticket. I dropped $21 after scratches.

SUNDAY’S PLAY: I think the sixth could be a fantastic betting race, so that’s where my money will go. I’ll key #2 TIMELY TRADITION above #6 PRIMACY and #8 PALIO FLAG in $4 exactas and below those two in $2 exactas. I’ll also put $10 to win on Timely Tradition and single her to start $4 doubles that end in the seventh with #5 MO ME MO MY and #9 STRETCHTHESTORY.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Fouette, Race 4
Longshot: Our Country, Race 8

R1

Stoney Bennett
Deep Sea
Vineyard Sound

#2 STONEY BENNETT: Came back running off the bench when second after more than a year away from the races. He goes back to the Linda Rice barn and looks like the speed of the speed in a race that came up pretty salty for the level; #7 DEEP SEA: Got to the winner’s circle for the first time in a long time when eking out a win at this level earlier in the meet. Jose Ortiz rides back for Rudy Rodriguez, and his flexibility is a plus; #1 VINEYARD SOUND: Was a neck behind Deep Sea in that event and ran a winning race when setting the early fractions. The slight cutback to six furlongs could help him, and he has the speed to take advantage of the inside draw.

R2

Seasons
Ice Queen
Misspell

#5 SEASONS: Has every right to be a special turf horse. She’s by Tapit, out of the great turf mare Winter Memories, and has been working very well ahead of her career unveiling. Jimmy Toner doesn’t have horses stabled at Saratoga, so it’s safe to assume he means business when he ships; #6 ICE QUEEN: Has a few strong gate works for Bill Mott and merits a look at a price. Her 314 turf Tomlinson rating is the third-best such number in the field; #7 MISSPELL: Is one of two in here for Chad Brown, and she’s bred to be a good one. She’s by American Pharoah and fetched $325,000 at auction last year, but the long string of Monmouth works is a red flag. That’s where Brown keeps his second-stringers, so that gives me some pause.

R3

Critical Value
Say Moi
Smooth With a Kick

#4 CRITICAL VALUE: Has won three of five starts, two of which came against state-bred stakes foes. Two turns is a bit of a question mark, but I can excuse her run in the Grade 2 Demoiselle given the long layoff after that effort (it’s safe to assume something went wrong); #2 SAY MOI: Ran a good second downstate after setting the pace in her first try against winners. Two turns shouldn’t be a problem given her pedigree, and Rosario rides back for Mott; #1 SMOOTH WITH A KICK: Comes back to the dirt after two races on the turf, and she holds a win at this route last summer. A repeat of that effort could give her a shot in a field light on numbers, but heavy on handicapping intriguing.

R4

Fouette
Steal My Sunshine
Lightfoot Miss

#7 FOUETTE: Hammered for $400,000 last September and has shown plenty of talent in a few gate drills here and at Keeneland. The outside post should help her in her unveiling, and I think she’ll be tough to catch; #2 STEAL MY SUNSHINE: Is the lone runner in here with any experience, and she tired after setting decent fractions on turf at Belmont. She’s worked well since that effort and could step forward at second asking; #3 LIGHTFOOT MISS: Debuts for Bill Mott and is another that has worked well from the gate. Sire Violence can throw precocious runners, and it wouldn’t be shocking if this one was ready to run.

R5

Thankful (MTO)
Bastet
Windfall Profit

#6 BASTET: Was wide in her debut on the circuit on Independence Day and may very well get the lead by default here. There isn’t much early zip signed on, and John Velazquez may be able to ration her speed effectively; #5 WINDFALL PROFIT: Has just missed in a pair of efforts this year and will likely take plenty of money here. I can’t say I’d be stunned if she won here, but I also think there’s a chance she’s a runner that finds ways to come up short; #1 VENUS OYZO: Is worth a look at a big price. She took a big step forward in her turf debut, which isn’t shocking given her pedigree, and I don’t think two turns will be much of an issue.

R6

Timely Tradition
Primacy
Palio Flag

#2 TIMELY TRADITION: Has won three in a row since being claimed by Ray Handal, who has been riding a wave of momentum this summer. She’s got plenty of speed, but she’s also shown she doesn’t necessarily need the lead in order to run well, which could be key; #6 PRIMACY: Earned her diploma in a fast time down at Belmont and steps up in class here. She may benefit from a speed duel, which seems likely, and when Chad Brown gets a horse on the right track, they tend to stay there; #8 PALIO FLAG: Won on debut at Keeneland going seven furlongs, which isn’t an easy thing to do. Her two works on the training track look solid, and she’s bred up and down to improve with experience.

R7

Mo Me Mo My
Stretchthestory
Shannon’s Girl

#5 MO ME MO MY: Drops in for a tag for the first time and didn’t run terribly against better earlier this meet. That day’s winner is a classy runner, and this field doesn’t seem nearly as classy as the ones she’s been running against; #9 STRETCHTHESTORY: Tried stakes company two back and likely needed her return to the races off a six-month break. She’s another class-dropper and is trained by Christophe Clement, who’s won plenty at the meet; #2 SHANNON’S GIRL: Is another runner going second off the layoff, but while she doesn’t win much, she does have a history of running reasonably well in turf sprints. Luis Saez sees fit to ride, and one has to assume he had some options here.

R8

City Man
Our Country
Mr Jaggers

#8 CITY MAN: Was beaten less than a length in the Grade 3 Transylvania against far better runners, and I think he’ll appreciate the class relief. He’s never run a truly bad race, and those efforts have come exclusively in stakes races for almost a year; #2 OUR COUNTRY: Has struggled to find the winner’s circle since impressively winning a maiden race here last summer. I think he’s got enough early speed to be prominent early, and that a return to his favorite track could wake him up; #5 MR JAGGERS: Was a popular winner at even-money last time out at Belmont and tries winners for the first time. He’s improved in each of his 2020 starts to date, but this seems like a tough spot for the level and he may not get a repeat of the last-out dream trip.

R9

Endorsed
Bodexpress
Its All Relevant

#1 ENDORSED: Ran Code of Honor to a half-length two back before finding Grade 1 company too tough in the Met Mile. This restricted stakes race seems more his speed, and he’s run well here in back-to-back summers; #5 BODEXPRESS: Has served as racing’s favorite headcase and is best known for unseating John Velazquez in last year’s Grade 1 Preakness. If he’s on his best behavior, though, he can certainly win this, and he’ll likely be prominent from the first jump; #4 IT’S ALL RELEVANT: Has won two in a row and takes a step up into the stakes ranks. He won going two turns two starts ago at Aqueduct, although he’ll likely need to work a bit harder up front in this spot.

R10

Imperio D
Brunate
Pier Forty

#1 IMPERIO D: Gets a reluctant nod in a tough finale to handicap. He ran a decent second against similar earlier in the meet. He’s got some early speed, and it’s encouraging to see Manny Franco ride back in a big field; #8 BRUNATE: Improved to be third in the same race my top pick exits, and he runs for the red-hot H. James Bond barn. The faster they go early, the better his chances figure to be, as he may want to sit back and make one run; #9 PIER FORTY: Drops in class to his lowest claiming level second off the bench, and he has back dirt races that would make him competitive here. The question is, how many more chances can the betting public give a horse that’s 0-for-13 lifetime?

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $742

I tweeted this question Wednesday, but when did it become a bad thing to run third in a graded stakes race?

I’m referring, of course, to field sizes for the major races on Saturday’s program. The Travers drew an eight-horse field, which is fine, but none of the other graded events drew more than seven. The Grade 1 Test will see Gamine go off as an odds-on favorite against a field of just five other rivals, and there will be no show wagering on that race.

I miss the days when owners and trainers were inclined to take shots in big races. Instead, they can cherry-pick, and in some cases, they’re forced to pick their spots because the current thoroughbred isn’t as durable as ones of years past. It’s an unfortunate situation that keeps repeating itself, and it won’t be corrected until people with far more money and influence than your fearless scribe do something about it.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS: Two unenthusiastic win-place bets, two unenthusiastic fourth-place finishes. I dropped $20.

FRIDAY’S PLAYS: I think the middle portion of the card presents some opportunities to make money. I’ll play doubles starting in the fourth race that try to beat #7 BASELINE DRIVE, who hits me as an underlay. I’ll start $4 plays with #2 CHEROKEE SONG, #4 KEMBA, and #8 CAREFREE HIGHWAY, and look to finish them in the fifth with #1 BRIDLEWOOD CAT or #3 FAIR REGIS. I’ll also key Kemba in $1 exactas above and below Cherokee Song, Baseline Drive, and Carefree Highway, partially as a hedge and partially to lean on my live longshot of the day.

TOTAL WAGERED: $30.

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Silky Blue, Race 8
Longshot: Kemba, Race 4

R1

Klickitat
Selfmade
Spiritual King

#1 KLICKITAT: Is in a “now or never” spot, having gotten nailed on the wire as a 7/5 favorite in his return to the races downstate. He’s run well going two turns before and doesn’t seem to catch a strong field, so circumstances seem right; #8 SELFMADE: Was a good second in his turf debut, which doubled as his first start for trainer Bill Mott. His pedigree says two turns won’t be a problem, and he could step forward second off a six-month layoff; #6 SPIRITUAL KING: Showed little sprinting at Belmont but stretches back out to a route of ground. He ran well going long at Gulfstream earlier this year and should be prominent early.

R2

Super Computer
Lookin for Trouble
Cotton

#5 SUPER COMPUTER: Has been working very well ahead of his debut, and he’s bred to be a good one. He’s a full brother to stakes-placed sprinter Dial One, and if his morning form comes to the afternoon, the family may have another runner on its hands; #7 LOOKIN FOR TROUBLE: Showed plenty of speed before fading to fourth in his debut at Belmont. This barn sometimes needs its horses to get a race or two before they step forward, and I think his experience edge will help; #6 COTTON: Rallied to be second in the race my second selection exits. It’s not inconceivable for him to improve, but this barn is cold as ice, and that makes runners from there difficult to trust.

R3

Puffery (MTO)
Music of Life
Bean Counter

#2 MUSIC OF LIFE: Came to hand this past winter and spring at Gulfstream and takes a drop in class for aggressive connections. She ran well here when third against far better last summer, and her usual race will make her tough to beat; #9 BEAN COUNTER: Finally broke through to record her first win in a while last time out at Belmont. She’s got plenty of tactical speed and may have improved since March, when she chased my top pick going two turns in Florida; #6 SUN SUMMERS: Was claimed out of a winning effort in June and steps up in class for this one. If there’s a knock here, it’s that she may want a bit longer than today’s mile distance, as some of her better efforts have come with extra ground she doesn’t get here.

R4

Kemba
Baseline Drive
Cherokee Song

#4 KEMBA: Seemed to like turf just fine when third against straight maidens at Belmont. She takes a slight drop in for a tag, and while she’s never gone two turns, progeny of Hard Spun can generally go a distance of ground, so she’s very intriguing at her likely price; #7 BASELINE DRIVE: Faltered at 4/5 in her debut at Gulfstream against Florida-breds and runs for a tag at second asking. However, state-bred to an open maiden claimer isn’t much of a drop, and despite a lofty pedigree, I just can’t endorse her on top, especially since value will likely be non-existent; #2 CHEROKEE SONG: Has done her best work going long and was a fast-closing fifth beaten just a length earlier in the meet. She comes back quickly for a barn winless on the Saratoga season, but if there’s action up front, she’s the one who stands to benefit.

R5

Bridlewood Cat
Fair Regis
Jennemily

#1 BRIDLEWOOD CAT: Exits a failed turf experiment, but could be sitting on a big one second off the bench. She ran several big races going short on dirt late last year, and her most recent local drill indicates she likes it here; #3 FAIR REGIS: Hasn’t won in nearly a year but never seems to fire a dud. With 12 top-three finishes in 15 starts since the beginning of 2019, she’s as honest as they come and should sit a nice stalking trip; #6 JENNEMILY: Has won three of four since being claimed by the Steve Asmussen barn and ships up from Laurel for this event. She won here last season in wire-to-wire fashion and figures to be prominent early in a salty race for the level.

R6

Royal Approval
Credit Enhancement
Army Wife

#5 ROYAL APPROVAL: Showed enough when second in her debut to earn a spot on Wesley Ward’s Royal Ascot team. She didn’t do much running that day, but on the other hand, it’s Royal Ascot, so I’m more than willing to give her a pass; #10 CREDIT ENHANCEMENT: Hammered for $180,000 at Keeneland last year and has every right to be a good one. She’s from the same female family as Grade 1 winner In Lingerie, and Chad Brown can get a turf horse ready to run as well as anyone; #8 ARMY WIFE: Is another bred up and down to be a strong horse. She’s by top turf sire Declaration of War, and the recent gate works are heads-turning enough to make me think there’s plenty of gas in the tank.

R7

Archumybaby
Excess Capacity
Lady by Choice

#3 ARCHUMYBABY: Has run well in two starts for Orlando Noda and stretches back out to her favorite distance. In five starts going seven furlongs, this hard-knocking mare boasts three wins and two seconds; #6 EXCESS CAPACITY: Hasn’t won in a while but takes a big drop in class that could wake her up. She did damage at this level last year and boasts a win at this route from her days with prior connections; #1 LADY BY CHOICE: Had every chance here earlier in the meet when she was given a great ride, but she hung in that race and could only manage a fourth-place finish. She was, however, just a half-length behind my top pick, so I can’t discount her completely.

R8

Silky Blue
Jen’s Battle
Amos

#1 SILKY BLUE: Got her nose down in her first start on turf, and the horse she nosed, Fresco, has since come back to win a state-bred stakes race. She had every right to need that effort off of a long break, and any improvement would make her a formidable foe; #7 JEN’S BATTLE: Won two in a row before trying open starter allowance company last month, and those waters were simply too deep. She gets in with state-breds here, and it’s encouraging to see Rosario climb back aboard; #8 AMOS: Was reeled in last time out after leading in the stretch, but has run well going long on turf before. The 3-1 odds hit me as an underlay given her 1-for-12 lifetime mark, but she can’t be ignored in vertical exotics and may be favored if this gets moved to the dirt.

R9

Cazadero
Momos
Roderick

#6 CAZADERO: Has done everything right to this point and looms large in the historic Grade 2 Saratoga Special. He’s won his two starts by a combined 13 ½ lengths, and when Steve Asmussen gets a precocious horse on the right track, they tend to stay there; #7 MOMOS: May have turned in the most impressive performance by a 2-year-old so far this meet. He never looked like a loser in airing by more than six lengths, and Christophe Clement has been winning races left and right here this summer; #11 RODERICK: Surged well clear in the stretch at Belmont to dust a short field by more than eight in his unveiling. He’s worked well since that race, and Irad Ortiz, Jr., sees fit to ride back when one had to figure he had multiple options.

R10

Tilsa
Yellen
Microcap

#2 TILSA: Cuts back after showing speed going longer in her two prior starts. I’m not overly enthusiastic about anything in this field, but she’s shown some potential and drops in claiming price, so she hits me as the most logical winner; #6 YELLEN: Returned from the sidelines with a third-place finish against similar at Belmont. She ran second in a rich race at Kentucky Downs last year, and a step forward would give her a big shot; #10 MICROCAP: Debuts for Chad Brown and may go off shorter than her 7/2 morning line price, but I have doubts. She’s been training at Monmouth with his second-string runners, and those horses don’t always run well after they’re shipped up I-87.

BANKROLL

BANKROLL: $762

Big news: ESPN’s Norman Chad will be joining my weekly show, “Champagne and J.D.,” in just a few days! He, of course, is one of the main voices of the World Series of Poker, and may be best-known by avid newspaper readers for his longtime “Couch Slouch” column, which has been picked up by papers from coast to coast.

We’ll be interviewing him Friday night, and it’ll be online either late Friday or early Saturday. J.D. Fox and I have worked hard to put together a high-quality weekly show, and we’d put it up against anyone else’s in the horse racing and/or gambling spaces. We’re excited to have Norman join us, and we hope you enjoy the show when it drops later this week.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS: Playwright broke near the back of the pack in the sixth and stayed there. I dropped $25.

THURSDAY’S PLAY: I’m not the biggest fan of this card, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the condition of the turf course after Tuesday’s storm. I’ll keep this simple with a pair of $5 win/place bets on #5 WARFRONT FIGHTER in the opener and #6 PIPES in the fourth (turf-only).

TOTAL WAGERED: $20

ANALYSIS/SELECTIONS

Best Bet: Wicked Title, Race 6
Longshot: King’s Honor, Race 9

R1

Warfront Fighter
Macho Jack
Love Code

#5 WARFRONT FIGHTER: Was dueled into defeat when fourth behind a next-out winner downstate, and this seems like a softer spot. He’s shown some flexibility in his running style, and it helps that he passed a few horses in his return off the bench two back; #4 MACHO JACK: Hasn’t been seen since October, when he was a close-up second at Keeneland against far better. If he’s ready, he probably wins, but he might have some company on the front end and the layoff of nearly 10 months is a concern; #3 LOVE COE: Likely needed his debut, which came on turf at Belmont. He was claimed out of that race by an outfit that doesn’t reach in for many horses, and he’s worked well since coming to Saratoga.

R2

Malibu Mischief (MTO)
Keota
Wicked Amber

#2 KEOTA: Came up a half-length short in her first start for Chad Brown, but she looms large in this spot assuming it stays on the grass. The likely early speed horses have shown tendencies to stop, and she could sit a perfect stalking trip; #5 WICKED AMBER: Hasn’t won in a while but could benefit from the likely race shape. She was a late-running fourth earlier in the meet despite a bad break and a trip rating behind a slow pace, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she rallied at a bit of a price; #6 JADES GELLY: Was third against similar at Belmont last month and turned in a bullet drill after shipping north a few weeks ago. She was just a half-length behind my top selection that day, and Javier Castellano sees fit to ride back.

R3

Star of the West
My Sacred Place
I Saw It All

#2 STAR OF THE WEST: Flopped at 9/5 earlier tin the meet and will look for redemption against a much softer group. His win two back at Belmont was very good, and a return to that form would make him tough to beat; #7 MY SACRED PLACE: Exits a tough claimer on turf and goes back to his preferred surface while taking a huge drop in class. The Brad Cox barn has yet to really get going at the meet, but this one figures to take plenty of play at the windows; #6 I SAW IT ALL: Merits some consideration underneath after losing all chance at the break in his local debut. If they go fast early on, it could set up for him to come rolling for a piece of it at a big number.

R4

Stoney Bennett (MTO)
Pipes
Calculated Risker

#6 PIPES: Comes back to turf second off the layoff and drops in class for an aggressive outfit. He ran too well to lose going long on the lawn here last summer, and he has back races that would make him very tough; #4 CALCULATED RISKER: Has run reasonably well against higher-quality foes and comes back to the turf for the first time in a while. He’s won on the grass before, and he’ll also be dangerous if this event gets moved to the main track; #2 CATCH A CAB: Beat similar company two back and returns to the right level after fading to fifth against optional claiming foes. If there’s hesitation here, it’s because it seems like he’s better at one-turn routes than two-turn configurations.

R5

Lollygag
Guardian Moon
Ruby Stiletto (MTO)

#7 LOLLYGAG: Is my top pick in what I found the most interesting race of the day. She raced a bit greenly in her unveiling at Keeneland before putting it all together in the stretch and making up lots of ground. This seems like a softer spot; #6 GUARDIAN MOON: Is bred up and down to be a strong turf horse. She’s by Declaration of War and out of a Malibu Moon mare, and she’s shown some promise in the morning for a strong debut outfit; #8 GOING GOING GONE: Has disappointed in two starts on the main track but could find new life switching to the turf. Orb has thrown a few solid turf runners, and she’s out of a Giant’s Causeway more, so she’s got every right to like the grass.

R6

Wicked Title
Gesture
La Negrita

#4 WICKED TITLE: Won here a season ago and moves to the barn of Linda Rice first off the claim. She was third against slightly better horses last time out, and if you toss the turf outings, you’re left with a filly that seems to be worth much more than $16,000; #2 GESTURE: Wasn’t disgraced in her first try against winners at Gulfstream in June. She was second going a bit longer, and she’ll add blinkers in her local debut here; #3 LA NEGRITA: Stepped up to run second against similar last time out and earned a new career-best Beyer Speed Figure in the process. Irad Ortiz, Jr., sees fit to ride, and he should have this one up close to the pace early on.

R7

Eliade
Dyna Passer
Tizahra

#6 ELIADE: Merits another shot second off the layoff for trainer Chad Brown. She ran in some big spots last season in France and got stuck rating well behind a slow early pace in her North American debut. I expect a step forward second off the bench; #3 DYNA PASSER: Has lots of back class and is the likely favorite. She was third in a rich event at Belmont last September, and her usual race would make her a major player here; #2 TIZAHRA: Has won two in a row for Ian Wilkes, whose horses have been running very well so far this meet. The distance is a bit of a question mark, but the pedigree says it shouldn’t be too much of an issue and she’s never been better form-wise.

R8

Fresco
Turbo Drive
Dream Bigger

#1 FRESCO: Broke her maiden in a stakes race last time out, which isn’t something you see very often. She didn’t face the best field that day, but it’s not like the waters are all that much deeper here and she may still have room to improve; #4 TURBO DRIVE: Pulled off a 17-1 shocker in rallying from 11th earlier in the meet. He may need more pace than he’ll get here, but if nothing else, his last-out performance shows he’s got the talent to compete at this level; #5 DREAM BIGGER: Is in my top three solely in the event this gets moved to the main track. He’s won three stakes races on dirt, but turf is very much an unknown.

R9

Elusive Ruler
King’s Honor
Catorat

#5 ELUSIVE RULER: Looks very imposing dropping in class for the Wilkes barn. Luis Saez will hop aboard, and anything close to his last three performances against better company would make him formidable; #8 KING’S HONOR: Is worth a look at a price. He hooked some genuine buzzsaws last summer, broke his maiden, found stakes company too tough, then needed a race off the bench. Castellano hopping aboard on the class drop leads me to believe there’s something here; #6 CATORAT: Won here last year and was third against similar downstate in his first start in more than 10 months. The stretchout to two turns should help him, and he’d benefit from a fast early pace.