After Sovereignty stole the show once again on a big day in New York with his absolutely dominant win in the Travers (G1), they are back at it to close the penultimate racing week of the year at Saratoga Race Course. The star power is not the same as yesterday, but the field sizes and wagering are strong nonetheless. Hopefully, we can close out the week with a touch more energy than our long shot Captain Cook had when getting nailed by Patch Adams at the wire in the H. Allen Jerkens (G1). Here are a few horses I will make the centerpieces of my Sunday afternoon at the Spa.

Race 3:

#6 Man in Finance is the one to beat in this state-bred first-level allowance over the main track, but is also difficult to trust at his 6-5-ML offering. The Central Banker gelding won impressively on debut at Aqueduct last September before heading to the sidelines after failing as the public choice in a 2YO NY-bred stakes event. He has not been seen since, so I will take a swing against with #4 Roofer. The Honest Mischief colt is just 1 for 10 in his career, but the victory was an impressive one two-back wiring out a field at the Big A in late June. I can forgive his fourth-place effort last out because the quick Mitchell Friedman trainee ran into a very fast horse in the early stages taking him out of his game. He has been a better colt with blinkers and should be sent aggressively to the front this afternoon by hot riding Ricardo Santana Jr. Hopefully, he does not take too much heat on the backstretch.

Play: #4 Roofer (6-1 ML)


Race 6:

Quietly North America’s all-time leading conditioner is putting together a phenomenal summer at Saratoga. Steve Asmussen is 12 for 39 over the last 40 days in New York with a $2.19 ROI, has won four races already this week, and could win one on Sunday with #5 Voila Magic. This pricey Louisiana-bred won on debut at Keeneland against open company before heading down to the Bayou to take on stakes company against fellow state-breds. He failed in all five tries, so Asmussen did what he does best. Gave his colt time. It appears to have done him well since he is spotted ambitiously for his return and lures Flavien Prat. I am going to trust the hot barn to have this son of Volatile ready to roll off the layoff at what should be a playable price in this solid first-level allowance event at 6.5-furlongs.

Play: #5 Voila Magic (9-2 ML)


Race 9:

This first-level allowance at 6-furlongs over the main track marks the return of dominant debut winner #8 Senza Parole. The Don Alberto homebred dazzled in her first start over this racetrack almost a year ago to the day for trainer Chad Brown. She comes in off a long series of drills and beats these for fun if able to get back to her best. That said, it is hard to swallow odds-on given the layoff and experience disadvantage she is at. I will try to beat her with a filly moving up in class in #5 Despo’s Dream. The Mitole filly has been taking on lesser, but comes in off a pair of victories over this surface and was claimed out of her last race by trainer Linda Rice. Rice shows confidence moving her up in class and into a spot where she should get a favorable mid-pack trip off an honest early pace. Her last two wins have been at 6-1, hopefully we up the ante later today!

Play: #5 Despo’s Dream (15-1 ML)