Saturday Plays: Daily doubles at Saratoga, Monmouth

For busy handicappers with time to analyze only a few specific races, doubles are a great way to make the featured races more interesting.

On Saturday, the featured race at Saratoga is the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, while the big race at Monmouth Park is the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Here are doubles ending in those two races.

Saratoga Race 4: Maiden

The comments for Wings Like Eagles’ June 24 running line at Belmont reveal a troubled trip from start to finish, and watching the replay confirms those notes. Wings Like Eagles found herself caught in traffic for the most part, and in midstretch Jose Ortiz was merely guiding her to avoid other horses.

Wings Like Eagles finished fifth by 2 3/4 lengths with that troubled trip.

Now, Wings Like Eagles reappears in a one-mile maiden turf race with Luis Saez on board for trainer William Mott. There are nine fillies in this race, as opposed to the 12 fillies Wings Like Eagles ran with June 24.

Expect Wings Like Eagles to improve. As long as her odds do not fall below 2-1, those are fair odds to take on a filly who owns some talent.

If Wings Like Eagles falls below 2-1, then consider Veronica Greene instead. After two failed dirt attempts, she makes her turf debut for Chad Brown.

Win: 3 (at 2-1 or higher)

Double: 3 / 1,2

Saratoga Race 5: Coaching Club American Oaks (G1)

No one denies that Nest and Secret Oath are the two best fillies. But sometimes four- or five-horse fields end up with strange results because jockeys are forced to adjust strategy because of the pace scenario.

Look at the results of last year’s Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) when Maracuja upset both Malathaat and Clairiere in a four-horse field at 14-1. Clairiere went to press Malathaat and paid the price by fading.

If Society can gun for a big lead early around four to five lengths and force Nest and Secret Oath into either running faster or get left behind, she might end up stealing the race. This is a promising filly from the Steve Asmussen barn who only needs to improve on speed figures.

Butterbean won the Iowa Oaks (G3) in her last start by three lengths using closing tactics that resemble Mine That Bird a little bit. She could improve too.

Society and Butterbean are the choices for this double.

Monmouth Race 11: United Nations Stakes (G1)

Last year, Tribhuvan won this race in gate-to-wire fashion by establishing a large uncontested lead and holding on in the stretch by two lengths.

After some fading efforts in his next few starts, Tribhuvan came back to form at Belmont with another pacesetting win in the Manhattan Stakes (G1) by 3 1/2 lengths over Adhamo in second and Gufo in third. Both Adhamo and Gufo return to face Tribhuvan in this spot and need pace.

Tribhuvan is the only true pacesetter on paper though. For him to get tested up front, another horse would need to commit pace suicide to keep up with him.

Without any real pace threat lined up, Tribhuvan is the single. The time to play against him will come later on.

Win: 4 (at 8/5 or higher)

Double: 4 / 1,6

Monmouth Race 12: Haskell Stakes (G1)

The expected favorite Jack Christopher lacks any experience at nine furlongs and makes his two-turn debut. While he is a brilliant winner of the Pat Day Mile (G2) and Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) this year, it seems unfair to take short odds on a favorite in a nine-furlong route if the horse does not show any proof he can handle this type of distance.

As for Taiba, he won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) before his inexperience caught up with him as he ended up 12th in the Kentucky Derby. This year, the California 3-year-olds are not a trustworthy group when they ship east.

Cyberknife faded to 18th in the Kentucky Derby. Before that race though, he won the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn in April. More recently, Cyberknife also took the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs after a stretch battle with the improved (or horse for course) Howling Time.

White Abarrio won the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) on the Derby trail before finishing 16th in the Kentucky Derby. After his Derby flop, White Abarrio bounced back in the Ohio Derby (G3) by finishing second to Tawny Port. His effort became flattered when the third-place Classic Causeway captured the Belmont Derby (G1).

If Jack Christopher cannot handle the distance and Taiba needs more experience or finds eastern competition too tough, then the race becomes wide open. Cyberknife and White Abarrio are the better options for this Haskell double, as Jack Christopher and Taiba do not look reliable at short odds.