Friday's Best Bet: Ready to Purrform fulfills promise at Saratoga
Friday’s eighth race from Saratoga is the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes for 3-year-olds traveling one mile on the turf course. Post time is 5:05 p.m. EDT.
No. 6 Ready to Purrform (9-2) won his first two starts last year and ended his juvenile campaign with a disappointing effort as the beaten favorite in a Breeders’ Cup undercard stakes event at one mile on turf. He returned with a neck defeat in the James Murphy Stakes on the Preakness undercard, and exits an okay show finish in the Manila Stakes at Belmont Park. He improved his speed ratings in his two starts this year and should work out a decent stalking trip in his third start after a layoff. He is back around two turns and Joel Rosario stays put, and he might be able to turn the tables on No. 7 Double Clutch (5-1). The latter is lightly raced and on the upswing. He followed up a stalk and pounce maiden win at this distance at Keeneland with a rallying runner-up finish in the aforementioned Manila. Manny Franco knows him now and he might have more to offer in his second start after a layoff.
No. 8 Celestial City (6-1) is slowly improving for Shug McGaughey, and the late runner can make some noise if the pace heats up a bit. His winning rider Javier Castellano is enjoying a fine meet.
Wagers:
No. 6 to win
Exacta 6-7/6-7-8
Trifecta 6-7/ALL/8
Recent best-bet winners
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)
July 26 - Nice Ace ($5.00)
July 28 - Fun to Dream ($4.20), trifecta ($35.60)