Saratoga: 2022 Vanderbilt Exotics Wagers

Five horses will try to take down the exquisite #4 Jackie’s Warrior (1-5) in Saturday’s $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) at Saratoga. The 127-pound highweight in the cast will be giving his counterparts up to 11 pounds in the six-furlong dash, but I feel that he will still come out on top.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the four-year-old colt has built upon his stellar three-year-old campaign by going three-for-three this season, coming off of impressive tallies in the Churchill Downs S. (G1) and True North S. (G2) most recently. He possesses splendid early speed, and also dons an unblemished four-for-four mark at The Spa.

Jackie’s Warrior figures to be an overwhelming favorite in a field lacking his credentials, but if he runs close to his sharp half-mile morning drill on the Oklahoma last time out, then he has to be the key on top despite his miniscule number. Regular guide Joel Rosario will be in the silks atop the fleet standout.

Dueling early with Jackie’s Warrior has proven to be detrimental to horses in the past, so finding a runner to come from off the pace for the gimmicks is my plan.

#2 Willy Boi (8-1) can run from on or off the early tempo and is perfect in three tries since joining the barn of Jorge Delgado. By Uncaptured, the gelding overcame a wide voyage en route to a victory in the Smile Sprint (G2) at Gulfstream Park in his latest offering, and the Sunshine State-bred could be a difficult foe if he improves off that lifetime-best performance. He has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in three straight and can’t be overlooked with Chantal Sutherland riding.

Saffie Joseph’s #3 Ny Traffic (6-1) comes in with a pair of wins versus lesser in succession and rates a top-three chance with improvement. The New York-bred five-year-old has some back class to him, he is versatile, and has posted two smart half-mile drills on the main surface here. The presence of Irad Ortiz in the silks adds to his appeal.

Vanderbilt Exotics

• $25 exacta: 4 with 2 ($25)
• $12 exacta: 4 with 3 ($12)
• $5 trifecta: key 4 with 2, 3 ($10)
• $1 superfecta: 4 with 2 with 3 with all ($4)