Closing week at Saratoga continues on Thursday afternoon when the New York Racing Association presents a ten-race card headlined by the $200k Bernard Baruch. The 1 1/16-miles event over the grass goes as Race 9 with a post time set for 5:44 PM eastern making it a key race in all late horizontal wagers and one of several chances to take part in our “Fall Into Fortune” promotion. Just register on the promotional landing page, bet $100, and get a $10 bonus on select tracks on Tuesday and Thursday in September. The good news for NYRA fans is that this Thursday the select track is Saratoga. Here are my thoughts on the feature, as well as a few other spot plays I will wager on to earn my easy ten bucks.


Race 2:
My first play comes in this auction-restricted MSW event for 2YOs sprinting over the grass where the majority of runners are entering with zero or one start under their belt. None of the debut runners wowed me at their expected off-odds, so I opted to roll with second-time starter #1 Rufus the Red. The son of Kantharos debuted over the main track on August 7 in a 12-horse field where he attracted Irad Ortiz, was bet down to 9-2, and was essentially cost all chance when breaking slow and steadying right after the gates opened. Trainer Tom Morley moves the colt to the grass, which should work well considering his dam Spelker won 3 of 14 sprinting over the sod throughout her career for over $154k. Hopefully, Ricardo Santana Jr. can cure her debut gate issues in lifetime try number two.

Play: #1 Rufus the Red (9-2 ML)
Picks: 1-8-3


Race 8:
Interestingly this MSW event for 3YOs+ over the main track attracted five first-time starters. This is a late time for six-figure purchases in most of these barns to start their racing career, so I will side with a known commodity. #7 Bogus Operandi debuted at Delaware Park in late July in a race won in dominating fashion by gate-to-wire odds on favorite Amberjack. The son of Maximus Mischief tried to go with the eventual winner when the real running started, but was no real match. That said, he was sent off at 11-1 and dusted the rest of that field. Trainer Rick Dutrow thought enough of his gelding’s effort to ship north to the Spa and take a run at a much bigger purse. It appears Dutrow has found a good spot with veteran John Velazquez set to take the call. I expect a move forward and trip to the winner’s circle.

Play: #7 Bogus Operandi (5-2 ML)
Picks: 7-8-6


Race 9: Bernard Baruch
The aforementioned feature at two-turns over the grass has a noticeable lack of early speed signed on. This is likely to put a few of the top contenders in a tough spot, but not #3 Pass the Hat. The son of Collected has been on the sidelines since his third-place finish in the Kelso (G3) during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The Pin Oak stud runner is far from a need the lead type, but should be able to control the tempo early given his inside draw and the true lack of zip the rest of the field contains. Perhaps, #7 Risk Tolerance will get aggressive out of the gate, but either way I like this $300k Keeneland September ’22 purchase chances of taking advantage of a soft pace off the freshening. Especially, since he ran well in both of his first two starts in Saratoga Springs in June and July.

Play: #3 Pass the Hat (5-2 ML)
Picks: 3-4-2