Stakes Saturday at Saratoga

 We look in on one of the best Stakes races of the summer at Saratoga.

Saratoga Race 11 {Whitney Stakes~G1~1 1/8 mile~4 year-old Up~Graded Stakes}

With sloppy conditions expected, the field has been reduced to eleven.

Past Performances used:  Equibase.

An extremely high-quality group of lads will compete for the million-dollar purse. There is plenty of speed to create a fast pace. Speed figs are fairly close. Four millionaires make their appearance in this annual contest. A number of entrants can hit that milestone with a win. Only three have not raced over the Saratoga track. It should be an incredible race.

#5 First Mission (Geroux / B. Cox) should do well with a pressing attack. It will be his first race over the Saratoga track. He loves the dirt, distance, and has won over sloppy conditions. This guy does have the highest speed number at the distance and holds three superb workouts. A millionaire son of Street Sense, he is 77% in the money from nine starts.

$2 WIN  /  $3 PLACE  /  $5 SHOW.

#3 National Treasure (Prat / Baffert) is the morning line favorite. He holds the third highest last out speed number and four stamina producing workouts. He will be part of the speed crew up front. A millionaire son of Quality Road, he is 61% in the money from thirteen starts.

$2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#4 Warrior Johny (Gaffalione / Bauer) has improved his speed figs in each of his last six races. He is good over wet conditions, at the distance, and over the Saratoga track. This guy could be sitting on a big race. Look for him to track the pace closely. A son of Cairo Prince, he is 63% in the money from nineteen starts.

$2 SHOW.

Other Wagering Interests

#10 Skippylongstocking (J. Ortiz / SA Joseph) should be forwardly placed battling for position. He excels over wet conditions. The veteran of the group, he loves the distance. A millionaire son of Exaggerator, he is 62% in the money from twenty-four starts.

#1 Post Time (J. Russell / B. Russell) will stretch out to this distance with four powerful peaking workouts. He has won in both of his starts over wet conditions. Look for him to track and strike in the stretch. A son of Frosted, he is 100% in the money from eleven starts.

#9 Bright Future (Castellanos / Pletcher) is another to track the pace closely and fire heading into the stretch. He has won both of his races up at Saratoga. Four solid peaking workouts add to his cause. A son of Curlin, he is 77% in the money from nine starts.

$1 Exacta Wheel ($5.00)

#5 First Mission  ///  #3 National Treasure,  #4 Warrior Johny,  #10 Skippylongstocking,  #1 Post Time,  #9 Bright Future.

Reverse the Wheel ($5.00)

#3,  #4,  #10,  #1,  #9  ///  #5 First Mission.

Best of luck to you with all your Stakes Saturday wagers!!!

On the TURF for Superfecta Sunday

On this Superfecta Sunday, we take in a grand graded stakes race on the Turf in Southern California.

Del Mar Race 7 {La Jolla~G3~1 1/16 mile~TURF~3 year-olds~Graded Stakes}

A neat field of eight will step onto the Turf in this annual contest. There is some speed to keep the pace rolling. Speed numbers are very close which makes it any one of these lads race. All, but one of this crew have not raced at this exact distance. Our task is to string together a winning 10 CENT Superfecta Box ticket. It should be a very exciting race.

#5 Stubbins (Bejarano / O'Neill) will be stretching out in distance from his last with the highest last out speed number and two strong workouts. This lad has won three times and has been in the money 85% from seven career starts. He is our Bronze Horseshoe selection. A son of Morning Line he should race close to the pace.
$2 SHOW.

#6 Jasikan [IRE] (Prat / Sadler) has coined two wins in a row. He holds the fourth highest (tie) last out speed number and two hearty, peaking workouts. He will be stretching out to this distance for the first time. A son of Bated Breath [GB], he should be closing fiercely.

#1 Neptunes Storm (Van Dyke / Baltas) should challenge as another with two wins in a row. He holds the third highest last out speed number at a longer route and four superb workouts. Coming off a brief rest, he should be forwardly placed. A son of Stormy Atlantic, he is 77% in the money from nine starts.

#8 Rijeka [IRE] (Fuentes / Baltas) should contend sharing the fourth highest last out speed number and putting in two sharp peaking workouts. This lad loves the Del Mar green ahving finished three of four times racing over it. A son of Roderic O'Connor [IRE], he should be tracking the pace firmly.

10 CENT Superfecta Box ($2.40)

#5 Stubbins  +  #6 Jasikan [IRE]  +  #1 Neptunes Storm  +  #8 Rijeka [IRE].



Stakes Saturday Results
Saratoga R9.  WHITNEY-G1.  Our first pick, McKinzie won (1st) for win money of $1.85.  Our second pick, Preservationist, finished 4th.  Our third pick, Vino Rosso, finished 3rd for show money of $1.45.
We hit our $1 Saturday Exacta Wheel play, #6 McKinzie with Yoshida [JPN], to earn $11.60 for our effort.
Superfecta went 6-7-5-8.
Bankroll advances to $16.53.

Stakes Saturday for Champions

Stakes Saturday is upon us and there is exciting racing to be run in upstate New York.

Saratoga Race 9 {Whitney~G1~1 1/8 mile~3 year-old Up~Graded Stakes}

A reduced field of seven will saunter over to the gate in this annual race of great significance. It comes up extremely light on speed. Consequently, one of these fellas will have to pick up the pace by default. Speed numbers are fairly close among the contenders. There are four millionaires going to post in this high quality field. It should be a thrilling race.

#6 McKinzie (Smith / Baffert) should go off as the favorite and may take them from post to wire. He holds the second highest last out speed number and four tremendous peaking workouts. This colt shares the highest speed number at the distance and is an enviable 90% in the money from eleven career starts. A son of KD winner Street Sense, he checks off all the KPI's for the win.
$1 WIN

#8 Preservationist (Alvarado / Jerkens) will pose a mighty challenge with the highest last out speed number at a longer route and three superb peaking workouts. This lad has rattled off three wins in a row. He is a lightly raced 100% in the money from eight career starts. A son of Arch, he should be racing close to the pace and launch into the stretch.
$1 PLACE  /  $2 SHOW.

#5 Vino Rosso (J. Velazquez / Pletcher) is a very consistent sort that should bring it to the pace-setters. This colt holds the third highest last out speed number at a longer route and four strong peaking workouts. A son of Curlin, he has acquitted himself well over the Saratoga track. Look for him gunning it in the stretch.
$1 SHOW.

#7 Yoshida [JPN] (Rosario / Mott) looks to improve over his last two outings with four hearty, peaking workouts. He is the only one in this field to have a win over the Saratoga track good enough for the second highest speed number at the distance. A son of Hearts Cry [JPN], he will be closing hard in the stretch.

$1 Saturday Exacta Wheel

#6 McKinzie  /  #8 Preservationist.  #5 Vino Rosso,  #7 Yoshida [JPN].

10 CENT Superfecta 

#6 McKinzie  /  #8 Preservationist  /  #5 Vino Rosso,  #7 Yoshida [JPN]  /  ALL.




Last Superfecta Sunday (7/28) Results
Arlington International Race Course R8.  Starters Optional Claiming.  We just missed on our 10 CENT Superfecta box effort capturing three of the four required. Superfecta went 7-4-8-5.
Our Bronze Horseshoe selection, Mongol Bull, finished 6th.
Bankroll gets dumped to $11.43.