SARATOGA – 8/24/2023
RACE 1: 2-4-5-6
#2 SHOTGUN PATSY is in for a tag for the first time and the drop should help her cause. She has shown nothing in two prior starts but had a bit more speed at second asking. The inside draw is an advantage going the mile on the main track and Junior Alvarado and Bill Mott will look for their second straight win after getting a nightcap win on Wednesday.
RACE 2: 7-10-1-5
#7 INSTAMATIC is a second time starter who took a great deal of money on debut and lost all chance at the start. He put together a decent bid but was never really a factor. The experience should do him a world of good and he looks to have continued to train well after garnering attention in the mornings prior to his debut.
RACE 3: 3-6-2-5
#3 EASTER is clearly the one to beat off a huge performance when 3rd last time out. He made the only off the pace move that day in a race otherwise totally dominated on the front end. The pace should be decent enough to set up his late bid and this French-bred has not run poorly since coming to America and joining Graham Motion’s barn.
RACE 4: 6-3-4-7
The class drop should do it for #6 COMPLETE AGENDA, who faced drastically tougher foes last time out. He showed nothing that day on a wet track but now returns to a dryer strip for trainer Tom Morley. He was claimed for 35k so the move back into the claiming ranks is hardly cause for pause.
RACE 5: 3-2-6-4
#3 LADY ARWEN is a second time starter who got a ton of money on debut and ran a game race after a poor break from the gate. So many of these 2YOs end up needing a race, especially if they break poorly on debut. This daughter of Audible should benefit from the experience for a barn whose second time starters hit at a solid clip.
RACE 6: 9-8-6-1/1A
#9 FAUCI made a bold bid from off the pace last time out and should get some pace to run at here. He faces a tougher field than he did in that late July heat, but lures Flavien Prat for a barn that has had plenty of success in turf sprints at the Spa. The price should be attractive as well in a competitive affair.
RACE 7: 6-1-4-2
#6 SWEET MYSTERY appears to be the best horse in this race based on her best efforts. She was a good second in her last start going this clip against a rival who enjoyed a soft trip on the front end. The pace should be a tad more contested here and that will help this daughter of Cupid in the closing stages. Her strong recent run at 9 panels is encouraging to boot.
RACE 8: 8-2-1-7
#8 VITAEMI got involved in a white hot pace last time out for trainer David Jacobson in her first start off a brief break. She now goes 2nd off the bench as the main speed, and this trainer and jockey combined for a nifty wire-to-wire score Saturday with Durante. Look for her to come out of the gate with her mind on business.
RACE 9: 2-4-8-9
The last two efforts from #2 CONSUMER SPENDING were far better than they look on paper. She has not gotten a particularly strong pace setup in either of those two and still overcame them to win going away. There will be some pace in here and that should set things up quite nicely for the less fancied Chad Brown/Klaravich Stable color bearer.
RACE 10: 9-5-1-2
#9 TOOFAREASTISWEST is the one to beat off a good 4th place finish in a live MSW race going long. Shortening up in distance should help his chances a great deal, as he chased the whole way before coming up empty late last time out. This distance is going to suit him much better and this is a far softer field than the one he met last month.
SARATOGA 2023 STATS: 304-76-45-30 $476.10
