Summer racing at Saratoga is enjoyable for many reasons. Not the least of which is welcoming in the new crop of two year old race horses. They are a mystery to most not on the backstretch. But a mystery that tugs at our imagination. Saturday has three MSW races. Reasonable to think one or more performance will be impressive maybe eye popping.
Race 1
I\'m probably not the only handicapper who immediately got stuck on the first horse in the first race Saturday. Frankel\'s 1st colt to race Cunco won @ first asking in May @ Newbury. But today Brooklyn Bobby\'s Dam Balance, as precocious as she was, has yet to drop a winning foal in three chances. Trainer Lynch batting 11% first out turf winners and a paltry 26% in the money. When you have a horse as valuable as this one might become patience is prudence. Yet the workout tab shows promise and the sire\'s celebrity is sure to attract attention. Will be surprised if price is not less than 5/2 at post time which I suppose makes the race playable. That is unless Ticonderoga draws in?
Race 2
Trainer Lynch has a runner in this heat also as if he may be considering the daily double. But I doubt if this heat is easier than his first try which was good for quite awhile and then not.
A couple of former lime lighters Zito & Lucas are awarded generous morning lines which imo are unlikely to drop much. Yet I do have confidence in the Sires if questions about first time starter from both barns. Air On Fire for the fans of Unbridled Song (this is his last crop isn\'t it)
Then we have PP\'s 5,6,7,8 with contenders with top win early trainers and winning jockey\'s. So I expect none in this group will be persevered with. Maybe limit Amoss trainee to second and third slots and give Ward the nod?
Then we have the outsiders, If my math is correct Albertrani has won 6 out of 144 first out MSW. How can he be 10/1? Rosario (post 9) one good workout, his last, carries that much influence? I suppose certainly stops me from otherwise completely disregarding this one. Then Rudy, who has surprised on more than one occasion. But its an Ortiz and Zayat and Jump Start was a good sprinter if memory serves. I think he\'ll need one here.
No million dollar babies yet but apparently a nice crapshoot.
Race 6
Here we go Godolphin, Tabor, Brooklyn Boyz. Street Cry, Bernardini, Curlin, Union Rags. Half this group destined for routing as their best distance and another group I see as more sprint oriented. Tha might make for and interesting heat with some early speed and more than a couple making up ground late.
Hmm... Classic Cotton, small trainer sample but you have to like his stats, good sprint sire, good works, good m/l apt to be overlooked at the windows. Team NY (Klaravich, Brown Irad) expected to be the choice vs experienced Out-of towners (Frenchie, Casse, Casses Story) how good is Bitumen (very I suspect). Another crapshoot for me imagining money to be made with the right guess.
