Saturday's Best Bet: Gufo is all business in Sword Dancer
Saturday’s tenth race from Saratoga is the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes for 4-year-olds and up traveling a mile and a half on the inner turf course. Post time is 5:05 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Saratoga entries and results.
No. 6 Gufo (9-2) puts blinkers back on and might be ready to defend his title. He finished out of the trifecta for just the second time in eighteen outings when finishing 5th in the United Nations (G1) July 23. He can bounce back in this spot if he gets pace to chase.
No. 3 Broome (3-1) closed, led, and settled for the place in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) last fall. He was a Group 1 winner in France last year and won a Group 2 in Great Britain two months ago. His winning rider Ryan Moore is in to ride and he is probably the one to beat.
No. 7 Tribhuvan (5-1) is dangerous when he gets out there and has has mind on running. He did just that in the Fort Marcy (G2) and United Nations (G1) last year, and in the Manhattan (G1) this year. He is a bit inconsistent and this race might be a bit too far, but he fits with these on his best day.
No. 1 Adhamo (7-2) exits a nice win in the United Nations (G1). He has not quite lived up the hype since arriving in this country but his last was a step in the right direction. He should save all the ground behind the speed for the productive Flavien Prat and Chad Brown team.
Get my expert Del Mar full card picks for Aug. 27 (available now).
Wagers:
No. 6 to win
Exacta Box 3-6
Trifecta 3-6/1-3-6-7/1-3-6-7
Recent Best Bet winners
Aug. 5 – Ready to Purrform ($9.80), trifecta ($469.00)
Aug. 6 – Nations Pride/Annapolis exacta ($29.20)
Aug. 7 – With the Moonlight ($4.30), exacta ($7.50)
Aug. 8 – Loyalty ($7.00), exacta ($23.80)
Aug. 10 – Running Bee ($6.70)
Aug. 12 – Bankit/Sea Foam/Brooklyn Strong trifecta ($378.00)
Aug. 14 – Slew's Tiz Whiz ($8.80)
Aug. 17 – Legends Can't Die/Mackillop/Mo Rewards trifecta ($480.48)
Saturday - Spenderella/Bellabel exacta ($16.20)
Monday - Carpenters Call ($4.40), exacta ($52.80)
Tuesday - Best Actor ($7.00), trifecta ($278.20)
Wednesday - Nimble Beast/Uncle Buddy/Tribal Notion trifecta ($45.00)