Friday's Best Bet: Be Better looks best in Curlin Stakes
Friday’s seventh race from Saratoga is the $135,000 Curlin Stakes for 3-year-olds traveling a mile and an eighth on the main track. Post time is 4:18 p.m. EDT.
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No. 8 Be Better (4-1) is lightly raced and on the upswing for Todd Pletcher. He stretched out in distance and graduated second time out June 5, and that was his first start in more than nine months. He moved forward in a sharp dirt route victory July 4, and runner-up Cyberviking won his next start. He projects an outer stalking trip while out in the clear.
No. 9 Artorious (7-2) rallied for the place in his Keeneland sprint debut in the spring, and gamely earned his diploma in a flat mile affair at Belmont Park June 10. He stretches out to two turns for the first time and probably fits with these.
No. 7 Creative Minister (2-1) made giant strides in short order earlier this year. He stretched out and graduated in the slop second time out April 9, won an optional claiming route May 7, and was 3rd in the Preakness (G1) May 21. He was no threat in the Belmont (G1) last time and has been freshened for this. The logical contender seeks his first stakes win at less than appealing odds.
No. 2 Gilded Age (10-1) got a great setup in a head victory at this distance July 4. I liked him in the UAE Derby (G2) March 26, but he never got involved that day, and that was after a solid show finish in the Withers (G3). He has plenty of stamina but this race probably won’t set up for him.
Get my expert Del Mar full card picks for June 29 (available now).
Wagers:
No. 8 to win
Exacta Box 8-9
Trifecta 7-8-9/7-8-9/2
Recent best-bet winners
July 1 - Net a Bear ($6.20), trifecta ($87.80)
July 2 - Crystal Cliffs ($4.20) - dead heat
July 3 - Chasing Artie/The Virginian exacta ($29.00)
July 6 - First I've Seen/Hannah's Haven exacta ($17.40)
July 9 - Butterbean/Falconet exacta ($22.00), trifecta ($74.20)
July 11 - Mo Clare's ($6.80)
July 16 - Beren/Wondrwherecraigis/Pickin' Time trifecta ($146.00)
July 22 - Practice Squad ($12.60), exacta ($26.20), trifecta ($31.40)
July 23 - Dolce Zel ($8.60), trifecta ($96.00)
July 24 - Bellabel ($8.00)
July 25 - Heywoods Beach ($8.20), trifecta ($70.60)
Tuesday - Nice Ace ($5.00)
Thursday - Fun to Dream ($4.20), trifecta ($35.60)