Thursday's Best Bet: Rastafara runs ragged in Riskaverse
Thursday's 9th race from Saratoga is the $120,000 Riskaverse Stakes for three-year-olds fillies traveling one mile on the inner turf course (Post Time 5:39 p.m. ET).
#7 RASTAFARA (7-2) improved her speed ratings in all three starts for Chad Brown. She figures to stalk the pace under Irad Ortiz Jr., and the recent course/distance maiden winner could easily be this good.
#9 Amy C (6-1) might be dangerous from off the pace but it is tough to win from outer posts at this distance on turf at Saratoga. Some horses like to close into slow fractions and that might be the case with this filly. She looked very good running down optional claimers in a turf route at Belmont Park June 25, and that was a slow early/fast late affair. She chased fast fractions and came up empty in the Lake George (G3) July 23, and her stablemates Technical Analysis and Fluffy Socks finished 1st and 2nd that day.
#11 Minaun (5-1) was a wide 5th from the outside post in the Lake George (G3) last time. Chad Brown’s filly is stuck outside again and might be able to make some noise if she is able to work out some kind of trip in her third start after a layoff.
#6 Designer Ready (12-1) went last-to-first in her turf route debut at Woodbine last fall, and ended up 3rd in the Ginger Brew at this distance on turf at Gulfstream Park second time out. She ran last in the Herecomesthebride (G3) Feb. 27 and Bill Mott has her now.
#2 Keeper of Time (6-1) won a couple of turf sprints in Ireland and Brendan Walsh is her trainer now. She upset a Group 3 at seven panels when last seen April 11.
#10 Love and Money (9-2) set the pace and kept on going in her turf sprint bow, and carved out above par splits and weakened to 4th at this course/distance July 17. She should be able to make the early lead due to the lack of pace and will take them as far as she can under Luis Saez. She needs better energy distribution if she expects to succeed at this trip.
#1 Magisterium (15-1) finished in the top three in all but one of her ten outings. She should be forwardly placed from the hedge in a race without much early zip, but the former claimer has dropped seven straight and might be best used underneath.
#4 Third Draft (6-1) got plenty of pace help in a nose victory at this course/distance July 17. She is capable of sitting closer to the pace when the fractions are on the slow side.
#8 Hit the Woah (10-1) is back on turf for Christophe Clement and her best turf effort from two outings was a close-up show finish in the Sanibel Island March 27. She reconnects with her winning rider Joel Rosario.
#5 Triple Digit (30-1) exits a neck defeat vs. entry level foes at Delaware Park and that was her second turf route win from three starts.
#3 Stand by You (30-1) fired from off the pace in all four dirt attempts around one turn. She does not own a strong turf pedigree.
Wagers:
#7 to Win
Exacta 7/9-11
Exacta 9-11/7
Trifecta Key 7/2-6-9-11
Recent Best Bet Winners
Aug. 2 - Cavalier Cupid/Rambert Exacta ($7.00), Trifecta ($22.60)
Aug. 4 - Pearl Tiara/Diamond Solitaire Exacta ($11.60)
Aug. 6 - ART COLLECTOR ($5.60), Exacta ($21.60)
Aug. 7 - Pappacap/Finneus Exacta ($27.80), Trifecta ($76.60)
Aug. 10 - LEAKY CAULDRON ($6.00), Exacta ($15.20)
Aug. 11 - ARREST ME RED ($6.10)
Aug. 16 - BULLSEYE BEAUTY ($7.20)
Aug. 17 - American Union/Unflappable Max Exacta ($7.60)
Aug. 19 - RIJEKA ($8.00)
Aug. 20 - EDGEWAY ($4.00)
Aug. 22 - Mutamakina/Etoile/Merveilleux Trifecta ($110.90)
Aug. 23 - Just Might/Mucho Exacta ($15.40), Trifecta ($148.40)
Aug. 24 - FULSOME ($3.20)