Belmont @ Saratoga

Friday, June 7, 2024

Weather watch:   Iffy again but on Wednesday morning NOAA improved the forecast slightly.        

 

Short Note.

This blogger will not wager on 2 year-old races at this abbreviated meet.  A selection in a 2 year-old race will only be used for a Pick 3, Pick 4, or Pick 6 wager.

Surface change?   Cancel all selections and wagers if any race is moved from the turf and placed on the main track. 

Corrections:  On Wednesday afternoon, this blogger amended the "Weather Watch" and corrected the misspelling of 'fillies' in 3 places.   No changes to selections or wagers were made.    

Friday’s Card

Race No. 1.  Post time 12:20 P.M.   A 7 furlong race for maidens.    Purse = $100K.

   A great betting race!  Todd’s #1 “Trulli Warrior” (7-2) shows an encouraging a.m. timed workout pattern.  He’s the pick.  The wager:  $2 Double #1 with #5, then $1 Pick 3:  1 w 5 w 6.   Total = $3.   

Race No. 2.  Post time 12:53 P.M.   A 10 furlong race for older horses.    Purse = $115K.

  Chad’s #5 “Leading Contender” (5-2) lays over this field.   Expect odds closer to 9-5.  The wagers:  $2 Double #5 with #6, then $0.50 Pick 4:  5 w 6 w 11 w 3/10.   Total = $3.   

Race No. 3.  Post time 1:27 P.M.   A 9 furlong turf race restricted to horses that have run in a claiming race where the claiming price was $50,000 or less.  Purse = $65K.

  Trainer Linda Rice’s #6 “Yo Daddy” (5-1) has had 8 weeks to get ready for this effort.  He shows a nice a.m. workout pattern too.   The wager: $2 Win #6 and turn the page.  Total = $2.   

Race No. 4.  Post time 2:01 P.M.   A 7 furlong dirt race restricted to horses that have run in a claiming race where the claiming price was $50,000 or less.  Purse = $65K.

  Sackatoga Stable’s #11 “Leftembehind” (10-1) put in a nice effort in December at this distance.   He is not the worst stab in the world.   The wager:  $2 Double #11 with #10.   Total = $2.   

Race No. 5.  Post time 2:36 P.M.  A turf sprint.   Purse = $115K.

  Yes, #3 “Clear the Air” (7-2) has shown speed, but that has been out of state.   Instead, I’ll take one of the locals, i.e. #10 “Mischievous Angel” (4-1).  It is high time that this gelding starts to earn back some of that $600K he fetched in the sales ring.   The wagers:  $2 W/P/S #10, then $1 Pick 3:  10 w 7/11 w 3.   Total = $8.    

Race No. 6.  Post time 3:11 P.M.  An 8 furlong turf race restricted to 3 year-olds. Purse = $110K.

  Christophe’s #6 “Spirit Prince” (7-2)  has been “in the money” in all five starts.   So he is logical - - - right?   Yes, but he has not exactly been a speed demon.   Next, after trying to make #7 “Pirate” (6-1) a dirt horse, trainer Todd tries the grass.   He will have to be quick about it to beat #11 “Sanderson” (12-1) to the wire.   The wagers:  $1 Exacta Box 7/11, then $1 Pick 3:  7 w 3 w 1/10.   Total = $4.   

Race No. 7.  Post time 3:46 P.M.   A 6 furlong sprint restricted to fillies and mares.   Purse = $110K.

  Trainer Bill Mott’s #3 “Roswell” (5-1) shows three solid a.m. workouts at Churchill.   Those workouts indicate a progression and are hard to ignore.   The wagers:  $1 Pick 6:   3 w 10 w 6 w 4 w 1/2 w 9, then $1 Double #3 with 1/10.   Total = $4. 

 

Race No. 8.  Post time 4:21 P.M.  A 6 1/2 furlong dirt race restricted to horses that have not won twice.   Purse= $110K.

  On April 26th at Keeneland, #10 “One Giant Leap” (15-1) stumbled at the start from an inside post position and lost all chance under Johnny V.   This entrant did not come to Saratoga just to taste the water.   The wagers:  $1 Exacta Box 1/10, then $2 Double #10 with #6, and finally $1 Pick 3:  1/10 with 6 with 4.   Total = $6. 

      

Race No. 9.  Post time 4:55 P.M     The Intercontinental.  An Grade II,  5 1/2  furlong turf stakes race for fillies and mares.  Purse = $200K.

  In this year’s edition of the Intercontinental, the question is “Can any filly build enough of a lead to get to the wire first before #6 “Roses for Debra” (6-5) unleashes her late kick?”  Of her opponents today, I think not.   The wagers:  $0.50 Pick 4: 6 w 4 w 1/2 w 9, then $2 Double 6 w 4.  Total = $3.   

Race No. 10.  Post time 5:30 P.M. The Just A Game.  An 8 furlong Grade I turf stake restricted to flies and mares.    Purse = $500K.

   Hmm.  Of the seven entrants, five are trained by Chad Brown.   Wow!  Next, this is a very contentious race.   Usually this blogger is able to throw out several entrants as “impossible”.   Not this time   Now, as for the selection, the pick is #4 “Coppice” (3-1).   This filly is “rounding into form” and will be very competitive.   The wagers:  $2 W/P/S #4, then $5 Just a Game/Belmont Double:  #4 in this race with “Resilience” in the Belmont Stakes, then $1 Pick 3:  4 w 1/2 w 9.   Total = $13.   

Race No. 11.  Post time 6:05 P.M. The New York.  A Grade I, 9 1/2 furlong turf stake restricted to fillies and mares.    Purse = $750K.

  Jockey William Buick is here to ride #2 “English Rose” (2-1) for Charles Appleby.   This filly failed to fire in her last race, so Buyer Beware!   Next, Chad’s #1 “McKulick” (10-1) loves the longer distance.  Yes, she won the Grade II Glens Falls here last year, but that was on the inner turf.  I’m picking both fillies.   The  wagers:   $1 Exacta Box 1/2, then $2 Double #1 with #9.  Total = $4.   

 

Race No. 12.  Post time 6:40 P.M. The Acorn.  A Grade I, 9 furlong stake restricted to 3 year-old fillies and mares.    Purse = $500K.

 Five weeks ago #9 “Thorpedo Anna” (8-5) smoked the field in the Kentucky Oaks.   Why would we expect anything different?   Oh - - and those 8-5 odds are a pipe dream.  The wager:   $2 Win #9.   

Total Wagers for Friday, June 7th = $54

 

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