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SARATOGA SPOTLIGHT RACES:

First Race – Post: 1:05 ET
Top Pick: 6-Photon (9/2)

Sophomore filly was eliminated at the break but then did quite well to rally without undue pressure to be a much better-than-looked fifth (beaten eight lengths) in her debut at Belmont Park earlier this month. She’s come back to train quite well for Kelly Breen (solid stats with the second-time starter angle), so if she leaves with her field today the daughter of Bayern seems certain to produce a significant forward move. She is listed at 9/2 on the morning line and will offer excellent wagering value at or near that price. The logical favorite, Truancy, must be used as well. Second in her debut while nine lengths clear of a next-out winner, the Barclay Tagg-trained filly has every right to produce a better effort today and at 7/5 on the morning line is clearly the one to fear most.

Second Race: Post: 1:37 ET
Top Pick: 4-Be Your Best (10-1)

In an unclassified field of juvenile fillies two-turning on turf, anything goes, so let’s shoot for a price. This first-timer goes for a barn whose maidens often run better than they work, and this Irish-bred filly has looked pretty nice in her morning activity, including a good gate drill a couple of weeks back in which she displayed a degree of early speed and an economical, smooth stride. She is listed at 10-1 on the morning but could easily drift higher, so in a race in which there are no standouts this Horacio De Paz-trained filly may have a chance to pull off a shocker. Others in the field that could participate in the exotics include 1-Candle, from the first crop of City of Light with a solid series of drills for Shug; the Chad Brown-trained 10-Free Look, who has done some good work in the morning but must leave from the extreme outside post, and 8-Ticker Tape Home, a reasonable runner-up in her debut at Woodbine earlier this month.
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SARATOA RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:

(Races 1-5)
1st race: 6-Photon; 2-Truancy
2nd race: 4-Be Your Best; 1-Candle; 10-Free Look8-Ticker Tape Home
3rd race: 6-Dawnland; 2-Let’s Be Clear
4th race: 1a-G Munning; 7-Tap’n de Bank; 8-Unique Unions
5th race: 6-Capital Structure; 7-Coastana; 4-Creative Cairo

(Races 6-10)
6th race: 5-Prank; 2-Splurge
7th race: 5-Soldier Rising ; 2-Value Engineering; 1-Hard Love; 1-Flop Shot
8th race: 2-Arklow; 1-L’Imperator
9th race: Accretive; 7-Corniche; 1-Pinehurst
10th race: 5-Martinez; 7-Sharp Sensation

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SARATOGA WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:

FIRST RACE:

Photon (July 24, Saratoga, 3f, :35.2b TT). Grade: B
Mostly on her own in breezing three furlong drill for K. Breen, final quarter mile on training track in a smooth :23.3. Didn’t get out cleanly in debut and lost his early position, certainly can display improvement next time out with a better break.
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SECOND RACE:

Be Your Best (July 16, Saratoga, 4f, :49.1bg). Grade: B
Led Twenty Six Black (same time) most of the way in team gate drill without really being asked at any stage, steady splits, finishing with something left. Hard to gauge (makes debut long on the lawn) but showed good quickness leaving the barrier so we suspect she’ll be prominent throughout. Nice-actioned filly should handle the turf.
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Freydis the Red (July 16, Saratoga, 4f, :51.1b TT). Grade: B-
Asked a bit inside Mrs. Macomber (same time) and was second best with a moderate final quarter mile in :25.2. Certainly bred to be much better on grass (and will have to be); probably best to see one first.
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Free Look (July 22, Saratoga, 4f, :49.3b TT TC DU). Grade: B+
Head-and-head inside with Conseillante (same time) for C. Brown and was going the easier of the two before galloping out well in front in sharp drill around dogs while gearing up for debut. Daughter of Tapit hasn’t recorded any flashy times but has ability and should be more than fit enough by now.
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FOURTH RACE:

G Munning (July 10, Saratoga, 4f, :48.2b). Grade: B-
Under a tight hold outside NY Traffic (same time) in easy breeze for S. Joseph, Jr. while appearing quite sharp and eager. Freshened since May but is returning in excellent form for new trainer and should improve significantly following a series of poor outings.
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FIFTH RACE:

Ice Princess (July 15, Saratoga, 4f, :49b TT). Grade: C+
Ridden through the lane, final quarter in :24.4 for D. Gargan while gearing up for first start since April. Looked okay, nothing great, winless for almost a year.
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Mezcal (July 24, Saratoga, 5f, 1:00.2h TT TC). Grade: B-
Second best outside Emmanuel (5f, 1:00.1b TT TC), ridden some through the lane (workmate not asked) but unable to close the gap in the final furlong, a half-length back at the wire. Freshened since March, was hoping for a bit better, though workmate is a tough customer.
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SIXTH RACE:

Splurge (July 22, Saratoga, 5f, 1:02.4h). Grade: B-
Finished far ahead of Run For Cover (same time) while coming the final quarter mile in :47.3 (ridden some late) after just galloping leaving the pole during the opening furlong. Was eight lengths in front at the end of the work, so she should have gotten a much faster (1:01 flat on our watches). Daughter of Goldencents finished third in her debut in Florida last month after a poor start and seems likely to improve if she can leave with her field.
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Prank (July 24, Saratoga, 4f, :47.4bg). Grade: B+
Showed good quickness leaving the gate to lead Hoax (same time) early but was taken in hand and allowed to drop back after the opening furlong (trailed by a length), then moved up again along the rail to draw clear by a couple of lengths when eased up after a half mile in sharp spin while gearing up for debut. Daughter of Into Mischief clearly has good zip but really hasn’t been allowed to show it yet). Looks like a very live item first time out for T. Pletcher.
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High Class (July 18, Saratoga, 5f, 1:00.1bg). Grade: B-
Broke well and was ridden from the gate to be head-and-head inside Banterra (same time) but began to weaken entering the turn and dropped back to be clearly second best by almost a length when eased up (workmate not asked much). Good final time but was hoping for more late punch.
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EIGHTH RACE:

Arklow (July 24, Saratoga, 4f, :48.1b TT TC). Grade: B+
Breezed through the lane in solo turf drill (no dogs) while gearing up for comeback, final quarter mile in :24.1, quite nice while never being asked. Getting up in years (now eight) but still seems to be healthy and willing.
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Rockemperor (July 24, Saratoga, 5f, 1:00.2b TC). Grade: B
Solo five furlong turf breeze (no dogs) for C, Brown, under a nice hold through the lane. Last pair were poor, but he could quickly bounce back.
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NINTH RACE:

Pinehurst (July 24, Saratoga, 4f, :47b). Grade: A-
Broke off a couple of lengths behind Three Jokers (same time), engaged that one outside entering the lane and was under stout restraint in the final furlong to prove best by a head (could have been a lot more) while looking quite sharp, final quarter mile in :23.4. Flopped in Dubai but clearly is back on the beam. Major player in the Amsterdam Stakes.
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Pappacap (July 23, Saratoga, 4f, :47.1b). Grade: B+
Easy solo breeze, final quarter mile in :23.4 while striding out nicely in the closing stages. Seems as good as he’s ever been but hasn’t won a race in almost a year (eight races back). Should fire a good shot in the Amsterdam.
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Accretive (July 23, Saratoga, 5f, 1:01b). Grade: A-
Quite keen early and was under stout restraint through the lane while even with Early Voting (same time) while perhaps a tad the best over Preakness winner (neither one permitted to show their best stuff). Won his debut very impressively, could be any kind for C. Brown. We’ll find out what he’s made of in the Amsterdam.
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Corniche (July 24, Saratoga, 4f, :48b). Grade: B
Under strong restraint early outside Provocateur (same time), remained well in hand entering the lane but was slightly second best at the wire under very light coaxing (workmate never asked). Still in the process of getting fit, was hoping to see a little more punch late. Probably wants to be let roll.
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