Saratoga opener got meet off to a literal hot start with some terrific racing in mid-90’s heat that baked a crowd of 32,000. Most notably for wagering purposes, main track had a distinct late-runner/outside path flow to it that bogged pacesetters by midstretch. Only $750k weanling Bowie was able to hang on after cutting out fractions up front and was fortunate the 5.5f wire arrived when it did. Obviously, watch for how Saturday’s surface plays with 4 sprints before the ALW route 9th featuring the return of My Man Sam from the Derby. Turf was seemingly fair with stalkers fairing better than deep closers. ATR listeners came within a nostril of giant win mutuel off Gary Gullo visit and explanation of why Scarlet Goddess was likely to run well off the claim, stretching out first time on the turf with the tongue tie being removed. A $39 place tote and $204 exacta with 5-2 favorite Annie Rocks was the consolation prize for those that jumped aboard. Hope everyone enjoyed Day 1 and did well. Season is underway and Saturday should be terrific with a compelling Diana as the feature. 9:03pm ET for California Chrome v. Dortmund in the San Diego too..

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: CLM/N2L, 3+, 6.5f (P5, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #7 Afleet Martini 7-2
Best Value: #6 Roman Revival 5-1
Next Best: #1 Zamjara 8-5
Exotics Use: #3 Money Changer 5-2

2nd: MSW, 2yo, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

Potential to be explosive if you want to get adventurous with prices utilizing pedigree angles. Unbridled Eagle for instance from solid turf routing dam Pleasant Song and half to equally adept Rooster Cruiser. Adds Lasix and Saez..

Best Value: #4 Unbridled Eagle 30-1
Next Best: #7 Our Stormin Norman 5-1
Exotics Use: #6 One of a Kind 8-1
Super Add: #1 Master Merion 9-5

3rd: Sanford (G3), 2yo, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #5 Bitumen 8-5
Best Value: #1 Zartera 9-2
Next Best: #2 Random Walk 7-5

4th: MCLM/$40k, 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #8 Come as You Are 4-1
Next Best: #7 Onlytheshadowknows 5-2
Best Value: #6 Whitegate SCR
Exotics Use: #3 Chomsky 3-1

5th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 5.5f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #2 Altar Boy 7-2
Best Value: #5 Big Rock 8-1
Next Best: #3 Canadian Flyer 3-1
Exotics Use: #10 Cort 9-2

P5 Grid:

1: 1-6-7 (A), 2-3-5 (B), – (C)
2: 4-7 (A), 1-6 (B), 2-5-8-11 (C)
3: 1-2-5 (A), – (B), 3-4 (C)
4: 8 (A), – (B), 3-6/SCR-7 (C)
5: 2-5 (A), – (B), 3-6-10-11 (C)

Simple (A+B): 6x4x3x1x2 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A’s: 3x2x3x1x2 = 36 x .50 = $18

P4 Grid:

2: 4-7 (A), 1-6 (B), 2-5-8-11 (C)
3: 1-2-5 (A), – (B), 3-4 (C)
4: 7-8 (A), 3-6/SCR (B), 2-10 (C)
5: 2-3-5 (A), – (B), 6-10-11 (C)

Simple (A+B): 4x3x4x3 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A’s: 2x3x1x3 = $18 ($9 for .50)

6th: MSW, 2yo, 5.5f (P6, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Forge 7-2
Best Value: #7 Royal Copy 12-1
Next Best: #8 One Liner 3-1
Exotics Use: #5 Any Questions 6-1

7th: OC/N2X, 3+, 8.5f (G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #8 Ascend 4-1
Next Best: #2 Inordinate 9-5
Best Value: #10 Ice Cutter 15-1
Exotics Use: #Slim Shadey 8-1

8th:OC/N1X, 3yo, 1m-IT (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1e Woodford entry 5-2
Best Value: #6 Conquest See Ya 10-1
Next Best: #2 Our Way 6-1
Exotics Use: #9 Hockey School 8-1

9th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 9f (P3, DD)

Enough pace here to embrace My Man Sam wholeheartedly?

Best Value: #1 Gray Sky 9-2
Next Best: #4 My Man Sam 8-5
Exotics Use: #6 Testosterone 5-1

10th: Diana (G1), F&M-3+, 9f-T (DD)

Yes, I’ll protect with Dacita, annoying as she is..

Best Value: #5 Mrs McDougal 10-1
Next Best: #4 Wekeela 7-2
Exotics Use: #2 Miss Temple City 3-1
Super Add: #9 Rainha Da Bateria 20-1

11th: CLM, 3+, 8.5f-IT

Most Likely: #3 Aripeka 7-2
Best Value: #10 Dream Man 6-1
Next Best: #2 Winter Springs 5-2
Exotics Use: #4 Procurement 8-1

P4 Grid:

8: 1-2-6 (A), – (B), 5-9 (C)
9: 1-4 (A), – (B), 2-3-5-6 (C)
10: 2-4-5 (A), 6-8-9 (B), 1-3-7-10 (C)
11: 3-10 (A), 2-4 (B), 1-6 (C)

Simple (A+B): 3x2x6x4 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A’s: 3x2x3x2 = 36 x .50 = $18

Good luck!
Steve