SARATOGA – 8/10/2023
RACE 1: 6-5-3-4
#6 HONEY DIJON is a second time starter who came back from her debut with a bullet workout for a barn that is quietly having a good run at this meet. She is due to improve with experience being by a sire whose progeny have done very well with 2YOs. Look for her to have more speed with the quick recent workout.
RACE 2: 3-1-4-6
Trainer Oscar Barrera, III has had a bad run since Aqueduct but had a runner wake up Wednesday afternoon and now debuts #3 TERESA. She is training well for her unveiling and is out of a dam who was a 6x winner. She needn’t be much to contend in this affair, where the experienced runners are underwhelming
RACE 3: 1-8-13-11
#1 TALLAHATCHIEBRIDGE has performed well enough on turf to be given the nod here on the surface switch. He was victorious last time out on the lawn at Tampa and has enough dirt from against better horses to be given serious consideration here. There’s also an edge to breaking inside at the one mile trip at the Spa.
RACE 4: 5-1-7-3
#5 DUST DEVIL was victorious here on opening day and now goes first off a claim by John Toscano, Jr. He was a game winner last time out from just off the pace and should get a decent early tempo to run at in the late stages today. This barn is 20% with dirt starters first off of claims over the last 5 years ($2.05 ROI).
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RACE 5: 5-6-8-3
#5 RECENCY has trained well for her unveiling for Chad Brown and has a strong dam side pedigree. The concern here is distance as she is bred to go longer than today’s six panels. Progeny of Tapit hit at a 14% clip on debut and the dam here was a 7x winner of nearly 700k as she took down multiple NY bred stakes events.
RACE 6: 3-6-8-4
Experience is still an advantage at this stage of the game and #3 LE DOM BRO brings forth the extent of it in here. He has finished 2nd twice in MSW events in South Florida and should have enough speed to get involved in the opening stages. The firsters in here don’t inspire a great deal of confidence.
RACE 7: 1A-3-9
#1A VIRTUAL REALITY was likely too close to a dead rail on opening day of this meet and understandably tired in the late stages. She should be very tough to handle today, even from an outside post position given her early speed and proven dirt form. There’s not much of that signed up in this affair today.
RACE 8: 5-9-6-2
#5 MOVING PICTURES appears to have this field over a barrel given the class edge and recent speed figures he’s earned. Reylu Gutierrez is aboard and should have this son of Mohaymen close to the pace from the outset. Anything close to his best races today would make him very tough to handle.
RACE 9: 13-7-14-12
#13 SOUTH STREET goes 2nd off a claim after starting in a salty N1X last time out that was won by NY bred stakes winner Barese. This son of Quality Road is a winnable spot today off the turf at a distance that suits him well. Trainer Linda Rice is masterful at spotting these scenarios for her horses and this one should be in position when the running starts.
RACE 10: 13-11-10-6
#13 RIDE UP cuts back in distance while taking the biggest class drop in racing today for Linda Rice. He is in for a tag for the first time and shortens up to 5.5 panels, which will require him to get his motor cranked much earlier. The class edge is too much to overlook, though, and makes him a very attractive runner.
SARATOGA 2023 STATS: 202-55-28-31 $359.50
