SARATOGA – 8/6/2023
RACE 1: 8-7-4-3
#8 WEIGH THE RISKS was going to be one of the choices in a similar affair a week ago that was washed off the turf. She gets the nod once again for Chad Brown given her strong training, specifically over the turf. The lone winner on the dam side of her pedigree did so on the weeds so there’s reason to believe this one can fire first time out.
RACE 2: 7-5-2-3
#8 MANAGING MISCHIEF is a firster from the barn of Tim Hamm, who has had notable success with juveniles over the years. He came to Saratoga and won graded stakes with Dayoutoftheoffice in 2020 and this firster appears to be training strongly for her debut. Progeny of Maximus Mischief are 5-24 first time out as juveniles so far.
RACE 3: 7-1-4-6
#7 SHINFULL is on a serious class drop for the meet’s top trainer and should be tough to handle based on recent form. The NY bred N2X events she’s exiting are far tougher than people realize and the speed figures she’s earned make her the one to beat today. If she has more speed to offer it will only help her cause.
RACE 4: 4-7-6-1
#4 TALBEYAH was briefly in traffic in upper stretch of the Robert G. Dick Memorial, a common race among a few runners in this bunch. That likely kept her from a better finishing spot, though the trouble was not as severe as the running line might indicate. Nonetheless, she gets an upgrade at pilot and presumably a cleaner journey today.
RACE 5: 5-1/1A-7-2
#5 SPRINKLEHEAD is likely to get the lead in here on the class drop for Jason Barkley, who’s seeking his first Saratoga win. This veteran has run well in two starts since being claimed, the second of which was a much tougher 25k seller than this affair. His pace edge is apparent and his rider is not one to miss out on those.
RACE 6: 9-1-4-2
#9 BEFORE YOU GO GO is an aptly named daughter of MItole out of the mare Wake Me Up. That daughter of Act of War is a half sister of 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Hansen and this gal worked a strong :10 and 1/5 at the Fasig-Tipton Timonium sale in May. She’s training well and draws favorably on the outside.
RACE 7: 9-1-5-11
#9 IT WASN’T ME is dropping in class for Brad Cox off an improved second career start where she tracked the pace in a race taken off the turf in the Hoosier State. Her lone prior turf try came against much better and shouldn’t be held against her, so this is is a reasonable spot second off the layoff.
RACE 8: 2-3-9-10
#2 MAGIC CROSS has to improve here but something has to give pace-wise with seemingly every horse in here coming in off a wire-to-wire win. This filly was a blowout winner on debut in a slow time, which is hardly surprising with 2YOs debuting at 5.5 panels. The added ground should only help and Bill Mott is having a particularly strong run in 2023 with his 2YOs.
RACE 9: 4-5-1-2
#4 PENTAGON is in a great spot class-wise for Shug McGaughey after rallying to be second last out against N1X foes on the Jersey Shore. This is a reasonable spot given the preponderance of claimers signed on and there should be a decent enough pace. Shug’s barn finally showed signs of like Saturday with a win in the Lure.
RACE 10: 9-3-2-7
#9 PRIX DE WEST has a strong dam side for turf including a second dam who was a grass winner overseas for Andre Fabre. The dam herself produced 2 winners from 3 to try it and both of them earned Beyer figures over 70 on the lawn. The experienced runners in here leave a lot to be desired and a fresh face seems appealing.
