SARATOGA BEST PLAYS:

EIGHTH RACE – Post: 5:05 ET
3-Customer List (7/2)
We’ll forgive her poor comeback run in the Penn Oaks last month over a soggy surface that we’ll assume she didn’t handle and gamble that this daughter of Wooton Bassett can rebound with the type of effort that produced a highly-impressive debut maiden win last summer at Monmouth Park. The French-bred sophomore retains I. Ortiz, Jr., adds Lasix, and shows two bullets grass workouts since raced to expect the C. Brown-trained filly can deliver a winning performance in this first-level allowance event restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

NINTH RACE: Post: 5:39 ET
6-Me and My Shadow (7/2)
Eight of the nine entrants in this year’s renewal of the Schuylerville S.-G3 won a maiden race last time out, so this is a highly competitive sprint for juvenile fillies who are in various stages of development. Though she won her debut over the Woodbine all-weather surface, this daughter of Violence rates top billing based on the speed and manner in which she dispatched her rivals while lengthening with strength and power in the final furlong. According to trainer M. Casse, she has trained very well on dirt in the interim so we’ll give her top billing and hope she can reproduce her winning form against this deeper, tougher field. At 7/2 on the morning line, she’s a play in the win pool and in the exacta with 1-Just Cindy and 9-Summer Promise.


ROLLING EXOTIC WAGERING STRATEGIES:
Horses are listed in order of preference. Main ticket runners are differentiated from backups (or savers) for players who wish to play smaller tickets.

(Races 1-5)
1st race: 6-Bear Alley
2nd race: 6-Chocolate Gelato. Backups: 1-Half a Chance; 3-Will be Famous
3rd race: 3-Takafumi, 2-Be Here. Backup: 9-Grand Journey
4th race: 3-Remote. Backups: 2-Timo; 1-Tiz a Giant
5th race: 4-Tommy Gun, 2-Catching Cupid. Backup: 7-The Institute

(Races 6-10)
6th race: 4-Just Say When, 5-Fast N Furious, 9-King Moonracer
7th race: 7-Tarabi, 6-Favor
8th race: 6-Consumer List
9th race: 6-Me and My Shadow. Backups: 1-Just Cindy; 9-Summer Promise
10th race: 5-Fast Corey, 6-Abuse of Power. Backups: 4-Rigby

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SARATOGA WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
xbtv.com began recording workouts at Saratoga on Thursday, July 7. Our video library will expand considerably throughout the season.


SECOND RACE:

Thirty Thou Kelvin (July 7, Saratoga, 4f, :49.4bg (TT). Grade: B-
Training track gate drill outside Showemyourheels (same time) for D. Gargan, under strong restraint in a slowish opening quarter mile before being asked a bit approaching the clubhouse turn while stride-for-stride outside workmate, maybe a tad the best at the end of the drill with steady, even splits. Daughter of Bolt d’Oro has some ability but may be a down the road type at this stage.
View Workout Video


Chocolate Gelato (July 7, Saratoga, 5f, 1:00.4b). Grade: B+
Broke off a length in front of Goddess of Fire (same time) and was always going the easier of the two, never really asked at any stage, head-and-head at the wire but then about a half- length in front while traveling out to the 7/8 pole while strictly on her own, splits of :23 flat, :46.4 and 1:00 flat on our watches, faster than given and quite impressive for this unraced daughter of Practical Joke. Brought $475,000 at the Fasig-Tipton March Sale, where she breezed a furlong in :10 flat and looked outstanding in doing so. Have to think she will be extremely live at first asking for T. Pletcher.
View Workout Video


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FOURTH RACE:

Remote (July 7, Saratoga, 4f, :50.2b TT). Grade: B+
Easy training track breeze for C. Clement while appearing sharp and eager, splits of :37 flat and :50.2, cruise control while traveling out to the 7/8ths pole. Lightly-raced marathoner has plenty of improvement in him, it would appear.
View Workout Video

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SEVENTH RACE:

Goddess of Fire (Saratoga, July 7, 5f, 1:00.4h). Grade: B-
Broke off a length behind outside Chocolate Gelato (same time), was head-and-head at the wire, but then fell back slightly while traveling out to the 7/8 pole, a half-length back at the end with splits of :23 flat, :46.4 flat and 1:00 flat, several ticks quicker than given, useful drill but clearly second best behind younger stable mate. Not bad, workmate is a tough customer, apparently.
View Workout Video


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EIGHTH RACE:

Wonka (July 8, Saratoga, 4f, :49.3b (TT). Grade: B-
Inside and clearly best with Nostalgic (same time) for W. Mott, never really asked much, final quarter mile in :24.3. Okay move for grass specialist, seems to be holding her form.
View Workout Video

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