SARATOGA – 8/28/2021
RACE 1: 7-10-8-3
#7 DOCTOR DAVIS was bet down to favoritism last time out on debut and wound up enduring a tough trip. This son of Tourist now has some experience and figures to be a major player with a cleaner break and better-timed ride. He will offer more value today as well.
RACE 2: 5-2-3
#5 JACK CHRISTOPHER is reportedly training exceptionally well for his debut and will be well backed at the windows. He is out of a winless dam who has produced one winner from two foals to race, so the pedigree here is modest. But, the talent he’s shown in the morning is not.
RACE 3: 4-8-3-7
#4 WINDFALL PROFIT is likely better going shorter than the 9.5-10 furlongs she’s gone of late. It also stands to reason that she’ll be better if allowed to relax a tad in the opening stages. She set a very solid pace last time out before being overhauled late. Her chances for an upset are very strong.
RACE 4: 3-5-6-2
#3 VIADERA likely needed her last race and faces a field today that is likely weaker than it was that afternoon. She has a great deal of killer instinct, seemingly having a nose for the wire, and will be wound tighter for this affair second off the bench.
RACE 5: 2-4-6-8
#4 WHITTINGTON PARK ran a bang-up race on debut to finish 2nd behind an impressive winner and is now in line to score at second asking. He showed respectable speed in the unveiling and stayed on gamely, so there’s obvious talent there.
RACE 6: 6-7-9-8
#6 CHARMED endured a tough trip last time out after breaking poorly from the inside and his rider losing an iron. That bad break took him completely out of his game, as he ended up well off the pace when he wants to be forward. A cleaner break can make him a pace player as well.
RACE 7: 6-1-7-5
#6 ESTILO TALENTOSO did not have a clean trip last time out and wound up rallying to be second in the Princess Rooney. She should be more involved early with a cleaner break from the gate, and that will put her closer to #1 GAMINE.
RACE 8: 2-6-8-1
#2 WHITMORE is going to have to negotiate a 7th furlong today under Joel Rosario. He ran a bang-up race last time out to finish 3rd at six furlongs and now figures to get a fair pace setup with #4 LEXITONIAN and #7 YAUPON signed on. Look for him in the late stages.
RACE 9: 4-2-6
The cutback in distance will help #4 FOLLOWING SEA, who figures to lay back and make one run from off the pace. He was overmatched in the Haskell last time out, mainly because the distance was too long. If he can avoid being left too far behind early, it will greatly help his cause.
RACE 10: 6-2-4-8
#6 LETRUSKA is the one to beat given her reign of terror over this division in 2021. She is the speed of the speed on paper and will be tough to catch if left alone on the front end. Even if she has to rate just off the pace, she will be tough to handle barring big improvement from a rival.
RACE 11: 3-6-1-2
#3 ROCKEMPEROR can make amends for a career worth of frustration for his backers. He is a late runner who’ll get some pace to run at here and he will offer value given the competitive nature of this field. Irad Ortiz, Jr. getting back aboard is a positive, given how well they did together last year at Santa Anita.
RACE 12: 1-2-3-4
#1 MIDNIGHT BOURBON is the one to catch for trainer Steve Asmussen as he looks to earn a Grade I after a series of solid efforts. There’s little to no speed in this affair outside of this runner and Ricardo Santana, Jr. figures to benefit from that setup. If he can get some separation from #2 ESSENTIAL QUALITY it will make him tough to handle.
RACE 13: 1-6-12-10
#1 DANCING FIREFLY is the one to catch from the inside and should be involved from the start under Luis Saez. She was well backed in her last start and wound up showing speed before fading. This is her preferred surface and she’ll be involved from the opening bell.
