How to bet the Cab Callaway Stakes

A cast of eight Empire State-bred sophomores will vie in Thursday’s Cab Calloway division of the $150,000 New York Stallion Series S. in Saratoga. I feel that the race is top-heavy with a pair of potential standouts in the field, and I will try to make my money in the vertical exotics. 

Cab Calloway Wagers

• $10 trifecta 3 with 5 with 1,2 ($20)
• $5 trifecta 3,5 with 3,5 with 1,2 ($20)
• $1 trifecta 3,5 with 1,2,3,5 with 1,2,3,5 ($12)

The Carlos Martin-trained #3 Friend Ofthe Devil (7-5) has a spotless three-for-three mark lifetime on the lawn and has yet to be headed on the grass while sprinting on each occasion. The $145,000 yearling purchase led throughout in a facile stakes triumph at Aqueduct in June in his initial black-type test, but will face a tougher cast on Thursday, and the son of Honest Mischief will also run long for the first time, as well. 

Friend Ofthe Devil has not appeared to be headstrong on the green to this stage of his development, and the pacesetter will likely have clear sailing in the early going in this heat, too. He’s not a sure thing at two turns, but the bay has to be given a huge chance with Christopher Elliot in the silks. 

Peter Brant’s homebred #5 George Briggs (8-5) overcame the 12 post in a dominant maiden conquer on the Aqueduct lawn in November. In his second start, he finished a good third behind a sharp winner in the Colonel Liam S. at Gulfstream Park versus open foes. The three-year-old son of Fog of War comes in fresh for this outing and will appreciate the move back in with New York-bred company for layoff savant Chad Brown. The bay possesses the best turn of foot in the field and will benefit most if the pace backs up in the lane. The logical win threat will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons, which is always a positive thing. 

I think two runners in the field might have a chance to crash the exacta if one of the two favorites fails to fire. #2 Buttah (12-1) has quality to him and could be any kind while making his first grassy attempt in this endeavor. The Gary Sciacca pupil drilled a half-mile on the lawn two works back, and if he takes to the green, then he can be in the mix for a placing late at a price. 

#1 Coach Case (6-1) didn’t show much in his first run with winners here last time, but the Slumber colt did graduate at this venue two back, and it’s hard to omit anything from the barn of Miguel Clement in stakes races at this meeting. The bay homebred will be seen saving ground to the head of the stretch under Dylan Davis.