SARATOGA – 7/28/2021
RACE 1: 6-7-2-1
#6 THE MEAN QUEEN is a winner of two straight for a strong new barn and meets a less than stellar field here.
RACE 2: 3-2-6-4
#3 MADISON’S LUNA put forth a game effort last time out when 3rd against slightly tougher at Churchill Downs. He was wrangled back to race off a slow pace following a strong break and wound up rallying nicely in the lane. Any kind of pace battle here helps his cause.
RACE 3: 6-9-1-2
The only meaningful move from off the pace in the NY Stallion Series event that many of these exit was made by #6 STEP DANCER. He came from deep in the pack and wound up finding some traffic trouble at the quarter pole. The presence of #1 DREAMER’S DISEASE ensures a strong early gallop once again.
RACE 4: 7-8-2-5
#7 EAST WING has the look of a “Roy Lerman special” given his penchant for winning with big prices at the Spa. This filly was victimized by a horrific ride last time out as she was on the pace then reined in along the rail before steadying and losing position. A cleaner trip is in the offing.
RACE 5: 1-3-8-2
The fact that high percentage trainer Jorge Abreu wanted to run #1 RAW COURAGE on turf twice is enough for me to think he’ll have some ability. He fared well on dirt both times and now gets that elusive opportunity on the weeds. Having experience and a good inside post helps.
RACE 6: 6-3-2-4
#6 CODY’S WISH ran into a sharp winner in his debut and wound up enduring a tough trip before checking in third. He was shuffled out badly on the turn before re-rallying around the outside and the added ground should do him no harm. Today looks like graduation day.
RACE 7: 6-8-7-4
#6 TAMAHERE was parked wide and pulling hard at Javier Castellano in the Just A Game and now gets serious class relief. While she has not lived up to the hype generated by a smashing win in her stateside debut score, she is in a winnable spot today as a likely heavy favorite.
RACE 8: 2-11-4-3
#2 COLTON’S COMMAND scored a tremendously impressive debut win at Gulfstream that earned him 7/5 favoritism in a salty N1X at Belmont in May. He has run poorly twice and now cuts back for a barn that is 13% with turfers cutting back in distance, good for a $2.10 ROI.
RACE 9: 9-2-4-1
If every runner in here shows up with their best then #9 BELL’S THE ONE will win. She has been very good on her best days and figures to get the right pace setup in this spot. Her last win was impressive and she is a deserving favorite in this affair.
RACE 10: 6-1/1A-2-3
#10 BUNKER HILL faced considerably better last time out and now takes the biggest class drop in racing. He is deserving of an opportunity against lesser and should be more involved early if he can get out of the gate in one piece. The price here will be solid as well.
SARATOGA 2021 STATS: 79-23-11-12 $164.80
