SARATOGA – 8/18/2023
RACE 1: 3-6-8-4
#3 COREY AND QUINN is a first timer by Uncle Mo, whose progeny hit at a 14% clip on debut. The dam was a 6x winner on synthetics and banked over 425k in her day. She has dropped 3 winners from as many to race and the worktab here is solid. Tab the tote action to get a line on this debuting filly.
RACE 2: 5-6-7-1
#5 LUNA LOCA is the one to catch this afternoon as she takes an enormous drop in class for trainer Linda Rice. This barn scored two wins on Thursday afternoon and looks to be heating up again for a final push at the trainers’ title. The move class-wise is not very appealing but the pace advantage is too much to overlook.
RACE 3: 8-5-4-7
#8 DIAMOND STATUS ran an absolute hole in the wind last time out chasing a brutal pace before hanging on gamely at the end. The 2-3 finishers in there came from deep in the pack with wide outside moves while the other pace players faltered. This daughter of Midshipman may have needed 14 starts to break her maiden but she did so in style. OFF THE TURF: 7-10-9-6
RACE 4: 6-1-4-8
#6 RHIANNON is a first timer from the barn of Chad Brown by 11% debut sire Medaglia D’Oro who has reportedly been training well. Irad Ortiz, Jr. sees fit to ride this filly and has been aboard in recent morning drills. She faces a weaker than par MSW field for 3YOs and up around these parts and that adds to the appeal.
RACE 5: 1-6-4-7
#1 FIGHTER IN THE WIN just might be able to control this thing on the front end if it stays on turf. The last effort was better than it looks on paper, as he was conservatively ridden and stuck in some traffic in upper stretch. The time when he sought a path was when the race was developing on the outside and this son of Creative Cause was hurt by that. OFF THE TURF: 11-10-5-8
RACE 6: 3-1-10-4
The early trouble that #3 DANCING MISCHIEF found last time out definitely worked against him in the late stages. He wound up coming up short behind a wire-to-wire winner and he should benefit from having gone long once before. The improvement shown in his 2nd outing foreshadows another improved run today. OFF THE TURF: 6-4-9-12
RACE 7: 2-5-3-4
#2 RED RUN takes a massive class drop and will get treated with Lasix once again today. He was a non-factor in the Suburban last time out, but that was to be expected given the strength of that field. He is in a far more reasonable spot today with real pace types. That should be enough to set up his late run.
RACE 8: 9-7-2-10
On turf, #9 FANDOM is the biggest threat to #7 NO NAY METS, as this son of Shocasing was a tremendous winner on debut back in April at Keeneland before a failed Ascot voyage. He’s training well for his North American return and would offer real value if he goes off his morning line price of 5-1. OFF THE TURF: 4-2-8-13
RACE 9: 2-7-9-5
#2 PRISONER got his act together last time out for a barn that picked up its first win of the meet on Wednesday. This fleet-footed veteran showed promise early in his career then went badly off form late last year. He’s now in light with a cozy inside draw and a weight break. The fact he can be forwardly placed is important given the track profile on a daily basis.
RACE 10: 4-8-1-2
#4 WHISTLER’S HONOR finished strongly last time out in a race totally dominated on the front end and likely needed a start. He now goes 2nd off a 180+ day break and should be wound tighter for this affair. There’s more than enough pace in here to setup his late bid and the price will be more than fair. OFF THE TURF: 11-14-4-12
SARATOGA 2023 STATS: 263-68-36-42 $427.20
