(For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing).

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SARATOGA SPOTLIGHT RACES:

Sixth Race – Post: 3:55 ET
Top Pick: 6-Inflation Nation 2-1)
Son of Speightstown ran a winning race over this course and distance in his debut but missed by a short head while more than six lengths clear of the rest while earning a stronger-than-par speed figure for the level. The Christophe Clement barn has excellent stats (22%) with the second time starter angle, and with four easy local breezes since raced this promising juvenile seems certain to produce a forward move, one that certainly figures to make him tough to beat. He’s listed at 2-1 on the morning line but could easily go lower. There is one newcomer in the field to fear. 7-Mo Saturdays has been hard held and not allowed to show his best speed in each of the workouts we’ve viewed on xbtv.com, so it’s hard to gauge how much ability he possesses, but we have a hunch he’s pretty quick. Bred for turf and given a proper foundation to be fit and ready, the son of Mo Town is listed at 6-1 on the morning line and should offer good value at or near that price. We’ll go with the proven element on top – Inflation Nation – but use both in an exacta box and both in rolling exotic play.

Ninth Race: Post: 5:39 ET
Top Pick: Up and Down (8-1)
Let’s take a flier on an interesting first time starter in this abbreviated turf sprint for 2-year-old fillies. This daughter of Creative Cause has displayed more ability in her a.m. works than the final times might indicate, and in an open fray and from what we’ve seen on video she should be highly competitive. Listed at 8-1 on the morning line and probably better than that, she has been in training since the third week in June, so we know she’s more than fit enough, and if she can display the kind of gate speed that we believe she owns, the Chad Brown-trained could pull of a surprise. Among those with prior experience to consider in your exotics are 4-Ticker Tape Home (back sprinting and with form in Canada that charts well with these) and 8-Illicit (speed/fade after cutting out hot splits in her debut and under these conditions last month and likely to stick around longer today).

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SARATOGA RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:

(Races 1-5)
1st race: Pass/No Play
2nd race: 2-Bronx Bomber; 1-Ragtime Blues
3rd race: 4-Sirius Light; 6-Influentialous; 8-Bourbon and Honey
4th race: Value Engineering; 5-Bey Bey Melvin
5th race: Bees and Honey; 6 W W Fitzy; 3-Sweet Willemina

(Races 6-10)
6th race: 6-Inflation Nation; 7-Mo Saturdays
7th race: 9-Dream of Change; 4-Command Point; 5-Maybe Later
8th race: 1-Short Summer Dress
9th race: 7-Up and Down4-Ticker Tape Home; 8-Illicit
10th race: 6-Be Your Best; 5-Idea Generation
11th race: 9-Power Agenda; 1-Midaswellrun; 6-Be the Boss; 9-Once a Giant

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SARATOGA WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:


SIXTH RACE:

Inflation Nation (August 25, Saratoga, 4f, :51.2b TT). Grade: B
Just cruising outside Disarmed (same time), always well in hand through the lane and then galloping out strongly around the clubhouse turn and into the backstretch. Ran a winning race when missing in a photo in his debut and seems certain to come on from the race next time. Nice sort of colt for C. Clement.
View Workout Video

Mo Saturdays (August 26, Saratoga, 4f, :48b). Grade: B+
Under heavy restraint inside and much best over Forever After All (same time) for A. Stall, Jr., able to go considerable faster than permitted and appearing full of run every step of the way, final quarter mile in :24.4. Always has looked good in the a.m. but has never been allowed to show speed. Have to think he’ll be dangerous in his debut.
View Workout Video

Bolt Above (August 14, Saratoga, 5f, 1:01.3b TT TC DU). Grade” B
Slightly second best outside Boppy O (same time), asked through the lane to finish in full stride while far outside around dogs to earn decent clocking. Has some run, probably not a world beater, though.
View Workout Video


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NINTH RACE:

Stars On Fire (August 19, Saratoga, 5f. 1:04b TT TC DU). Grade: B-
In blinkers, broke off a couple of lengths in front inside Margaret Burbidge (same time) and held that one at bay through the lane without need of pressure in nice turf drill around dogs. Looks to have some talent for W. Ward and has been given a solid foundation to be plenty fit.
View Workout Video

Georgees Spirit (August 18, Saratoga, 4f, :50.2b TT). Grade: C
Second best outside Moonage Daydream (4f, :49.3b) in training track drill for J. Abreu, asked in the final furlong but losing all of her punch and winding up a few lengths back at the wire. Maybe grass will help; really expected more, hard to endorse based on this drill.
View Workout Video

More Than a Diva (August 27, Saratoga, 4f, :48.4b). Grade: B
See Up and Down (below).
View Workout Video

Up and Down (August 27, Saratoga, 4f, :48.4b). Grade: B+
Hard held inside More Than a Diva (same time) for C. Brown, strong throughout and able to go much faster if permitted, about a neck in front at the wire, final quarter in a sharp :24.1. Definitely has ability, plenty fit, and should be live at first asking. Workmate wasn’t asked much either but wound up a neck back at the wire.
View Workout Video



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