Betting With, and Against, Booked in the Sanford Stakes

A cast of nine two-year-olds will jaunt six furlongs on the Saratoga dirt in the $225,000 Sanford (G3) on Saturday. The highly competitive heat features eight runners who won on debut, and my feeling is that this tilt could go a number of different ways. 

The morning-line choice is the Steve Asmussen-trained #2 Booked (3-1). By good young sire Yaupon, the juvenile was second to a fine winner at first asking at Churchill Downs, which preceded a swift and professional victory on the course on June 7.

Booked – With

$6 Trifecta: key 2 with 4,7,9 ($36)

Booked – Against

$3 Exacta: box 4,7,9 ($18)
$1 Trifecta: 4,7,9 with 2,4,7,9 with 2,4,7,9 ($18)

Purchased for $325,000 as a yearling, Booked has posted a pair of nice workouts following his score. The Indiana-bred has the ability to rally past runners, which is a great trait for a youngster. He wouldn’t be a surprise with Ricardo Santana, Jr. retaining the mount.

#4 Pocket Listing (9-2) is something of a wildcard coming in from the Golden State for trainer Doug O’Neill. The California-bred son of Listing was so much the best when airing over state-bred foes at Santa Anita in his unveiling, and while he faces much better on this occasion, the bay still has to be given a chance as he could be almost any kind. Manny Franco picks up the mount atop the Reddam homebred. 

#7 Ashcroft Lane (5-1) led in gate-to-wire fashion in an off-the-turf heat at Aqueduct in his first attempt and earned a healthy 92 Brisnet Speed rating in the process, which tops the field. The New York-bred son of Keepmeinmind somewhat validated his first-out triumph after posting a bullet work on the Oklahoma here most recently, and the chestnut will be a major player if he races to his latest morning move. The Falcone trainee will retain the services of Dylan Davis. 

#9 Rasai (10-1) earned a 91 Speed rating for his dominant debut tally at Gulfstream Park for Sano and will have Tyler Gaffalione in the irons. The homebred son of Honor Code is bred to get better with distance and experience, so the move to six furlongs will likely aid his chances from the advantageous outside post. He wouldn’t be a surprise to me at a nice price.