Champagne: Single early in Thursday's Saratoga Pick 5
We got really close to a nice score Wednesday afternoon. Despite scratches whittling my suggested ticket down to just $36, we were alive to three horses in the finale. Unfortunately, the favorite I tried to beat cruised home to end the day.
Alas, we press on, and Thursday’s sequence provides an interesting challenge. I’m starting off my $90 ticket with a single, and the biggest hurdle here seems like the last race of the day. Here’s how I’ll play it.
Race 6: Claiming (older horses, 1 1/8 M), 4:03 p.m. ET
My single happens to be my best bet of the day. #3 GRAY NILE takes a gigantic drop in class having run for a $50,000 tag last time out. He’s in for $16,000 here, and he returns to the scene of his lone victory to date. Furthermore, this seems like a weaker-than-average field for the level. If Gray Nile is right, I think he’ll be very tough to beat.
Race 7: Optional claiming (older fillies/mares, NY-bred, 1M, turf), 4:39 p.m. ET
The top two finishers from a July 5 event at Belmont loom large here. #3 BROKEN BORDER and #6 LOVELY LA LA will likely be the top two betting choices, and for good reason. I prefer the latter, who runs like she’ll appreciate the two-turn route she’ll get here.
I’m also going to throw in #10 VIP NATION, whose two-turn turf races have been a step above her one-turn races. She gets a big rider switch to Javier Castellano and could absolutely step up to win this at a price.
Race 8: Optional claiming (older fillies/mares, 1 3/16 M, turf), 5:15 p.m. ET
Two betting interests figure to dominate the action here. #5 MY SISTER NAT makes her second start off of a long layoff, and she never had a chance rating well behind a slow pace at Belmont in her American debut. She ran against top-class fillies and mares in Europe and is eligible to improve.
I’ll also use the entry of #1 MIGHTY SCARLETT and #1A EMPRESSOF THE NILE. I prefer the former, who won at this route a season ago and could improve stretching back out to this distance.
Race 9: Birdstone S. (older horses, 1 3/4 M), 5:51 p.m. ET
#1 MARCONI and #8 ROCKETRY have locked up in several marathons already this season. Marconi certainly seems like the main speed in this race, and if he gets away (like he did in the Grade 2 Brooklyn two starts ago), he’s a logical winner. I’ll be using Rocketry as well, though, as he can turn the tables on his best day.
In addition, #4 CURLIN ROAD will be on my ticket. It’s entirely possible he’s past his peak, but the last time he ran beyond a mile and a quarter was in the Grade 3 Cougar II two years ago, and he won that event. At his likely price, I need to use him.
Race 10: Maiden special weight (older horses, NY-bred, 1M, turf), 6:25 p.m. ET
What do you get when there isn’t a ton of proven form signed on and the main contenders are on the “also-eligible” list? You get me using the “ALL” button.
#11 JIMMY JAZZ and #12 WORTH A SHOT would both be imposing if they draw in. However, we don’t know if that will happen. If both get in, you may be able to narrow this down, but I can’t assume such a scenario in this column.
To cover my bases, I’m buying the race. Hopefully, I’ll be able to sit back, relax, and root for the biggest price on the board.
The ticket:
R6: 3
R7: 3,6,10
R8: 1,5
R9: 1,4,8
R10: ALL
180 Bets = $90.