SARATOGA – 7/22/21
RACE 1: 6-4-3
#6 GIBRALFARO comes from a top barn and should be set for his best effort of 2021 making his third start off an extended layoff.
RACE 2: 6-3-7
#6 PREGAME is in for a tag for the first time today and hails from a barn that had two runners outperform expectations over the weekend. The race this colt ran in his most recent dirt start would be good enough to win here, and the winner of that race came right back to score.
RACE 3: 1-5-2
#1 VIRADIA goes 2nd off a claim by Wayne Potts after facing much tougher in her last outing. She fits better at this 12.5k level and has the early speed to get involved from the opening bell. If she can get command, her chances only improve given the lack of pace in this bunch.
RACE 4: 5-2-1-7
Through the last 6 months, trainer Wayne Potts has done well first off of claims in NY and #5 TENDERNESS appears to be the one to catch in this compact and paceless field. She narrowly missed last time out against weaker and was close to the slower inside paths that day, so there’s reason to expect improvement.
RACE 5: 4-3-10-2
#4 EXPAND THE MAP is a firster by Dark Angel and went for 313k as a yearling. The dam here was Group III placed overseas and these connections have specialized in recent years with horses purchased overseas. She is training up a storm and meets a field that offers mainly question marks.
RACE 6: 7-3-1-10
#7 QUICK POWER NAP hails from a barn that has done exceptionally well with first time starters in the last year on turf (18%, $3.73 ROI). This filly is out of a turf winner and is kin to 2x turf winner King of Ranch. She seems to be training well to boot and these connections are active at the windows so tab the tote action.
RACE 7: 7-10-8-4
The cutback in distance figures to help #7 RED PEPPER GRILL, who comes in 2nd off a claim after facing tougher when last seen at Parx. This filly can be dangerous sitting back to make one run in a race with what looks like a decent amount of speed. You’ll get a square price too for a barn that knows how to win up here.
RACE 8: 6-5-2
The real question is if #5 LOVELY LUCKY will win because she’s so much better than her rivals in this field. The concern is that she went off form prior to the layoff and comes back with nothing but painfully slow workouts for a barn notorious for starting under-trained horses. The alternative appears to be #6 MIA MARTINA, who has the pedigree to go long and should be in an ideal stalking position.
RACE 9: 6-3-1A
#6 LOVE AND LOVE is the most talented horse in this race and comes in off a solid effort going shorter. She was close to a hot pace before weakening late while racing on the slower inside that afternoon. She’s a prior winner at this trip and on this surface and should be in a stalking spot from the opening jump today.
RACE 10: 4-12-5-2
#4 SOCIAL WHIRL did all the dirty work last time out setting a vicious pace before weakening late. She is the one to catch from the inside today and we can only hope her veteran rider is willing to use her speed. If she gets clear of this bunch she might be tough to catch.
