Player Quick Pick: Saratoga for 8/8/2014
by Andrew Champagne
NYRA’s affinity with mostly-turf late Pick Four sequences will continue Friday at Saratoga. The first three legs are on grass, capped off by the feature, the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Let’s get to t.
RACE #7: This is a $25,000 claimer, and I’ll go either two or three-deep depending on if an also-eligible draws in. #8 Defining Product (4-1) comes in off two underwhelming races on a synthetic surface, but if you toss those races and look at his turf form, he more than fits in here. I’ll also use #9 Dominate (6-1), who drops down in class from the $40,000 level after a strange trip earlier this meet.
If a few horses scratch, I’ll also use #12 Anmaat (4-1). He drops in out of starter allowance company, but he possesses good tactical speed and won going two turns in his debut earlier this year at Gulfstream Park.
RACE #8: Here we have a turf sprint for state-bred fillies and mares.
I’m using three here, as #3 A P Johnson (5/2), #5 Baby B (4-1), and #8 Fantastic Eyes (6-1) are all on my ticket.
Baby B is my top pick. Trainer Rick Schosberg has had an excellent year with horses going short on turf, and the light bulb may have come on last out, when she broke her maiden. Her 67 Beyer number is the highest last-out figure in the race, and a repeat of that performance makes her a major player.
RACE #9: This is the feature, and it’s attracted a talented field of seven. I’m going three-deep, using #1 Give No Quarter (3-1), #6 Bashart (4-1), and #7 Bobby’s Kitten (7/5).
Bobby’s Kitten will likely take a ton of money, but the other two I’ve used could conceivably win this. Give No Quarter couldn’t have been more impressive last out, when he rallied from sixth to win going away, and Bashart loves Saratoga and goes second off the layoff for Christophe Clement.
RACE #10: The finale is a $20,000 maiden claimer on dirt for sprinting fillies and mares. It features a favorite who will likely be odds-on, but she’s extremely beatable.
That favorite is #6 Murmure (7/5), who drops way down in class for Todd Pletcher. Her works aren’t bad, but she hasn’t really factored in four lifetime starts to this point. I’m using her, but I don’t really trust her.
Ultimately, I wound up going four-deep, also using #4 Lady Seeker (10-1), #7 Prove It All Night (10-1), and #9 Bird Rockette (4-1).
Prove It All Night is pretty intriguing at that price. She’s shown ample early speed in her career, and her last start was a much-needed race (her first since September). This isn’t a great field, and at least you know this one will be involved early.
If Anmaat doesn’t draw in, this ticket costs $36. If he does, it’ll cost $54. If you play it, best of luck!
NYRA’s affinity with mostly-turf late Pick Four sequences will continue Friday at Saratoga. The first three legs are on grass, capped off by the feature, the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Let’s get to t.
RACE #7: This is a $25,000 claimer, and I’ll go either two or three-deep depending on if an also-eligible draws in. #8 Defining Product (4-1) comes in off two underwhelming races on a synthetic surface, but if you toss those races and look at his turf form, he more than fits in here. I’ll also use #9 Dominate (6-1), who drops down in class from the $40,000 level after a strange trip earlier this meet.
If a few horses scratch, I’ll also use #12 Anmaat (4-1). He drops in out of starter allowance company, but he possesses good tactical speed and won going two turns in his debut earlier this year at Gulfstream Park.
RACE #8: Here we have a turf sprint for state-bred fillies and mares.
I’m using three here, as #3 A P Johnson (5/2), #5 Baby B (4-1), and #8 Fantastic Eyes (6-1) are all on my ticket.
Baby B is my top pick. Trainer Rick Schosberg has had an excellent year with horses going short on turf, and the light bulb may have come on last out, when she broke her maiden. Her 67 Beyer number is the highest last-out figure in the race, and a repeat of that performance makes her a major player.
RACE #9: This is the feature, and it’s attracted a talented field of seven. I’m going three-deep, using #1 Give No Quarter (3-1), #6 Bashart (4-1), and #7 Bobby’s Kitten (7/5).
Bobby’s Kitten will likely take a ton of money, but the other two I’ve used could conceivably win this. Give No Quarter couldn’t have been more impressive last out, when he rallied from sixth to win going away, and Bashart loves Saratoga and goes second off the layoff for Christophe Clement.
RACE #10: The finale is a $20,000 maiden claimer on dirt for sprinting fillies and mares. It features a favorite who will likely be odds-on, but she’s extremely beatable.
That favorite is #6 Murmure (7/5), who drops way down in class for Todd Pletcher. Her works aren’t bad, but she hasn’t really factored in four lifetime starts to this point. I’m using her, but I don’t really trust her.
Ultimately, I wound up going four-deep, also using #4 Lady Seeker (10-1), #7 Prove It All Night (10-1), and #9 Bird Rockette (4-1).
Prove It All Night is pretty intriguing at that price. She’s shown ample early speed in her career, and her last start was a much-needed race (her first since September). This isn’t a great field, and at least you know this one will be involved early.
If Anmaat doesn’t draw in, this ticket costs $36. If he does, it’ll cost $54. If you play it, best of luck!
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