Fun start to the Spa session Friday with a robust crowd at large on a nearly perfect summer afternoon. Typical variety of appropriate and eyebrow-raising winners, with lower profile connections Barbara Minshall (Dream It Is) & Brendan Walsh (Proctor’s Ledge) acing the stakes at square prices. Takaful (105 Beyer in return to SAR and sprinting) was one of the day’s highlights as Kiaran McLaughlin got off to the same nice start he did a year ago with 2 wins (Muqtaser). New main track surface, which saw the addition of clay (3%) in renovation work, clearly is heavy and tiring. No major scores to open the stand, but a number of nice pops with value horses kept the ball in the air. Hope everyone did well and enjoyed Opening Day. Carryover in the P6 ($48k), but it’s the $104k carry in the NYRA Bets P5 that will be highly attractive with a positive expectation likely in the pool. Lady Eli faces a good group in the Diana after the juvy boys dash in the historic Sanford..

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: MSW, 3+, 6f (P5, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #2 Marshall Plan 8-5 3rd
Next Best: #1 Mr. Chow 9-5 WON ($4.80)
Best Value: #4 Mr. Smarty Pants 15-1 4th
Exotics Use: #5 Adulation 5-1 5th

2nd: CLM, 3yo, 8.5f-IT (P4, P3, DD)

Filene’s Basement Sale. They’re givin’ ’em away!

Best Value: #8 Halloween Horror 15-1 3rd
Next Best: #6 Tipsy Kitten 9-2 5th
Exotics Use: #5 Prize Fight 12-1 7th
Super Add: #1 Daddy’s Home 2-1 4th

3rd: MSW, 2yo, 8.5f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #5 Untamed Domain 2-1 WON ($4.50)
Best Value: #3 Honorable Treasure 9-2 5th
Next Best: #2b Linburgh’s Kitten 5-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #6 Pete Marwick 6-1 7th

4th: CLM, 3+, 7f (P3, DD)

Funky group and I’ll reach for price on Mary Eppler invading with Double Whammy. Without much speed signed on, Paco Lopez should come in handy..

Best Value: #5 Double Whammy 8-1 6th
Next Best: #7 Bayerd 7-2 4th
Exotics Use: #4 Shuffle Up 5-2 2nd
Super Add: #3 Voluntario 5-1 7th

5th: MSW, 2yo, 5.5f (P3, DD)

Interesting set of babies including a Zayat-purchased Okie-bred (crafted by friends Scott & Lanae Pierce) and LA-bred by Star Guitar from Dallas Stewart. Regal Oxley homebred Get the Facts (Tapit/Delightful Mary) working like a good horse..

Most Likely: #5 Get the Facts 9-2 5th
Next Best: #8 Machismo 5-2 7th
Best Value: #6 Givemeaminit 15-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #2 Ezmosh 6-1 3rd

P5 Grid:

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

Simple (A+B): 4x4x2x3x2 = 192 x .50 = $96
All A’s: 2x2x2x3x2 = 48 x .50 = $24

P4 Grid:

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

Simple (A+B): 4x2x4x1 = 128 x .50 = $64
All A’s: 4x2x2x1 = 32 x .50 = $16

6th: NY-ALW/N1X, 3+, 7f (P6, P3, DD)

$48,700 P6 C/O starts here..

Most Likely: #4 Fleet Irish 9-2 3rd
Best Value: #9 Born for a Storm 6-1 7th
Next Best: #13 Gucci Factor 5-1 8th
Exotics Use: #10 Watergate 20-1 11th

7th: OC/N2X, 3+, 5.5f-T (NYRA Bets P5, G/S, P3, DD)

$104,260 P5 C/O starts here..

Most Likely: #5 Canadian Flyer 6-1 7th
Next Best: #7 Evacuation 6-1 DNF-Bol
Best Value: #2 Sandy’z Slew 15-1 8th
Exotics Use: #9 Partly Mocha 7-2 WON ($9.10)
Super Add: #4 Grand Candy 4-1 4th

8th: OC/N2X, F&M-3+, 1m-IT (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Gioia Stella 5-1 6th
Best Value: #10 Stella Rose 8-1 7th
Next Best: #1 Volatility Index 5-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #7 Browse 12-1 2nd

9th: Sanford (G3), 2yo, 6f (P3, DD)

Similar cast to Friday Schuylerville with assembly of juvies that made last start at 5 different ovals. Psychoanalyze tough with repeat of debut, but hard to to pass Jason Servis and top client with visually impressive Firenze Fire at bonus tote. Both Asmussens quite OK..

Best Value: #3 Firenze Fire 12-1 WON ($27.00)
Next Best: #1 Psychoanalyze 7-2 3rd
Exotics Use: #6 Baffin 9-2 4th
Super Add: #7 Direct Dial 5-2 7th

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

Get the sense that many lining up to try and beat Lady Eli, but get the sense that she’s sharpening as calendar turns. As discussed with Nick Tammaro yesterday, she may get the lead which could turn out to be a positive here and going forward..

Most Likely: #3 Lady Eli 4-5 WON ($3.90)
Next Best: #2 Antonoe 3-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #6 Dickinson 9-2 5th
Super Add: #4 Quidura 8-1 2nd

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

Best Value: #5 Southside Warrior 15-1 3rd
Next Best: #11 High Noon Rider 7-2 4th
Exotics Use: #7 Ghurair 15-1 –
Super Add: #4 Glorious Empire 12-1 WON ($20.00)

P6 Grid:

6: 4 (A), 9-13 (B), 3-10-12 (C)
7: 5-7 (A), 2-9 (B), 4-12 (C)
8: 1-6-10 (A), – (B), 1-7 (C)
9: 1-3 (A), – (B), 4-5-6-7 (C)
10: 3 (A), – (B), 2-6 (C)
11: 5 (A), 11 (B), 3-4-7-12 (C)

Simple (A+B): 3x4x3x2x1x2 = 144 x $2 = $288
All A’s: 1x2x3x2x1x1 = 12 x $2 = $24

P5 Grid:

7: 5-7 (A), 2-9 (B), 4-12 (C)
8: 1-6-10 (A), – (B), 5-7-8-9 (C)
9: 1-3 (A), 6-7 (B), 2-4-5-8 (C)
10: 2-3-6 (A), – (B), 1-4-5 (C)
11: 5 (A), 11 (B), 3-4-7-12 (C)

Simple (A+B): 4x3x4x3x2 = 288 x .50 = $144
All A’s: 2x3x2x3x1 = 36 x .50 = $18

P4 Grid:

8: 6-10 (A), 1-7 (B), 5-8-9 (C)
9: 1-3 (A), 6-7 (B), 2-4-5-8 (C)
10: 2-3-6 (A), – (B), 1-4-5 (C)
11: 5-11 (A), 4 (B), 3-7-12 (C)

Simple (A+B): 4x4x3x3 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A’s: 2x2x3x2 = $24 ($12 for .50)