SARATOGA – 7/18/2025
By Nick Tammaro | @NTamm1215
SARATOGA DAILY ANALYSIS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BUCCHERO STUD. Learn more about Bucchero at https://www.buccherostallion.com/
RACE 1: 5-4-3-7
The projected price on #5 LADY DELILAH makes her interesting given she’s under-exposed on dirt. She has started over it only twice, both of which came against better. The last time was on a wet track, so the move to a dry strip is enough to give this gal extra consideration. The presence of Luis Saez ensures a forwardly placed trip.
RACE 2: 5-9-7-3
#5 SHOOT IT TRUE is moving to turf for trainer Wesley Ward. She is by Munnings, a solid turf sire and her 2nd dam was a graded stake winner on turf. The recent bullet workout signals her readiness and she should be able to get well clear in the opening stages of this affair. The presence of Frankie Dettori, with his penchant for leading the pack, only makes her more of an early threat.
RACE 3: 6-7-2-1
#6 HOUSE UNITED goes turf-to-dirt but is now back on his best trip. This son of Constitution was an impressive winner two back against lesser and had plenty of speed to offer that afternoon in Louisville. If he can step up today using that same early foot to stalk and pounce, he’ll be tough to beat.
RACE 4: 3-7-8-5
The horse that you want to take out of the 4th race on 6/19 at the Big A is #3 LADY MEIS, who was 4th at 10-1 in that affair. She was wide the entire way and lost precious ground at critical junctures. If she can save more ground today from this inside draw, with a positive rider change to boot, she can be a major threat at a square price.
RACE 5: 5-3-2-7
#5 ONE LAST KNOCK is a first timer by Goldencents, a 11% debut sire and the dam here was a turf winner. There’s more than enough turf pedigree on the dam side to give this one consideration, and shouldn’t she be fast early based on that last workout? That might be all it takes to get her a wire-to-wire score at first asking.
RACE 6: 2-5-1-4
#2 PARTY IN THE ARMY is training well for a good barn and should be ready to roll on debut. . This colt is by 15% debut sire Army Mule and is out of a dam who was a 2x winner and stakes winner in her day. Her lone prior starter was stakes placed, so there’s plenty of pedigree power in play for this debuting NY bred.
RACE 7: 5-1-6-7
The favorite, #5 I’M VERY BUSY, will be tough to handle today if he runs back to some of his best races from last year and the year before. Trainer Chad Brown opts to start him in a soft spot to start his 2025 campaign, and the mile distance is quite possibly his best. The addition of Lasix will bring out his best as well, given the way he struggled in his last two without it.
RACE 8: 3-5-4-2
It’s unclear if #3 LESLIE’S ROSE is really Grade I/II caliber around two turns, even though she won last year’s Ashland. This is her first opportunity at a fair shot since last year as she was never comfortable on the wet track last time out. She should be in stalk and pounce range today and will be dangerous if she can run back to some of her bigger efforts.
RACE 9: 7-1-6-5
Even on turf, the Churchill Downs form is overwhelmingly strong, so #7 KING OF ASHES is the one to beat here. He was narrowly bested last time out in the Audubon from just off the pace and should be in stalk and pounce range again today. The price won’t be much but he’s a likely winner under the meet’s top pilot.
RACE 10: 4-8-9-10
#4 PRINCESS SUMMER is interesting second off a lengthy layoff here after rallying well to be second last time out at Aqueduct. She should be wound tighter second off the bench this afternoon and will be a square price in a competitive heat.
SARATOGA 2025 STATS: 61: 19-10-6 $161.00
