Summer ’17, which ended weather-wise weeks ago, comes to a racing calendar conclusion today and there’s no denying that it’s been terrific. A perfect Labor Day is on tap with the Hopeful and Baruch here and the Futurity and DMR Juvy Filly Turf at Oceanside. In addition to the usual intrigue, Saratoga finale is being enhanced by a fascinating duel for the Training Title between Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown. Pletcher leads by one going in to the day and I’ve made it easy to keep track of the battle by featuring their runners throughout the day.

As always, has been a pleasure bringing as much of the Saratoga action and atmosphere to you here and on ATR and hope everyone did well overall, or at least in spots. Was great to see so many old friends over the past 2 months as well as meet new ones. Thanks for the interest and support.. On to fall and the drive to Breeder’s Cup!

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

7TH & 8TH ON TURF; ALL OTHERS OFF

1st: MSW, 2yo, 6f (P5, P3, DD)

Pletcher unveils $1MM Marzo (Md’O out of SW Spring party) here for Coolmore & Stonestreet, but has been working downstate so we can’t enjoy clocker insights. Though dam a half to Emcee, has bit of a turfy feel and there are several interesting others involved including the other Medaglia d’Oro, Godolphin’s Enticed, who is out of It’s Tricky (’11 CCA Oaks). Fold in Chloe Bradley’s Indiana-bred, Midlantic mystery invader Mind Bottling (Overanalyze a 24% debut sire), Zayats’ homebred Egyptian Prince (Pioneerof the Nile), Englehart’s sharp-working Dirty (Maclean’s Music) and McPeek turf/dirt turnback Pete Marwick and you have a difficult, quirky start to the final program of the summer. Watch board for betting clues..

Most Likely: #8 Marzo 2-1 8th
Next Best: #7 Dirty 7-2 2nd
Best Value: #5 Mind Bottling 15-1 5th
Exotics Use: #2 Egyptian Prince 5-1 4th

PLETCHER: #8 Marso (2-1)
BROWN: N/A

2nd: CLM/N2L, 3+, 9f-OFF THE TURF (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #3 Itsabigboy 4-1 3rd
Next Best: #15 Escape Velocity 7-2 4th
Best Value: #14 Bunyaan 15-1 5th
Exotics Use: #11 Baseline 12-1 2nd
Super Add: #6 Unexplained 8-1 WON ($13.20)

PLETCHER: #3 Itsabigboy (4-1)
BROWN: #10 Carbon Data SCR, #15 (MTO) Escape Velocity (7-2)

3rd: CLM, 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #5 Driving Me Crazy 8-5 3rd-Up on DQ
Next Best: #2 No Hiding Place 3-1 4th-Down from win onDQ
Exotics Use: #6 Sir Bond 2-1 2nd-Up on DQ

4th: OC/N2X, F&M-3+, 6.5f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #7 Your Love 7-5 2nd
Next Best: #4 Cursor Late SCR
Best Value: #2 Ring Knocker 4-1 WON ($9.70)
Super Add: #6 Kelsocait 8-1 4th

PLETCHER: N/A
BROWN: #7 Your Love (7-5)

5th: MSW, 2yo-F, 7f-OFF THE TURF (Must Pay P6, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #3 Critique 4-1 WON ($4.50)
Next Best: 14 Lady by Choice 3-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #15 My Bronx Tail 5-2 3rd

PLETCHER: #3 Critique (4-1)
BROWN: #8 Rushing Fall SCR, #14 (MTO) Lady by Choice (3-1)

P5 Grid:

1: 7-8 (A), 5 (B), 1-2-6 (C)
2: 3-15 (A), 6-11-14 (B), – (C)
3: 5 (A), – (B), 2-6 (C)
4: 2-4-7 (A), – (B), 6 (C)
5: 3-14-15 (A), – (B), 10-13 (C)

Simple (A+B): 3x5x1x3x3 = 135 x .50 = $67.50
All A’s: 2x2x1x3x3 = 36 x .50 = $18

P4 Grid:

2: 3-15 (A), 6-11-14 (B), – (C)
3: 5 (A), 2 (B), 3-6 (C)
4: 2-4-7 (A), – (B), 1-6 (C)
5: 3-14-15 (A), (B), 10-13 (C)

Simple (A+B): 5x2x3x3 = 90 x .50 = $45
All A’s: 2x1x3x3 = $18 ($9 for .50)

6th: MSW, 2yo, 6f (P5, G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #9 Engage 8-5 WON ($9.70)
Next Best: #2 Impact Player 7-2 2nd
Best Value: #8 Home Run Hitter 8-1 4th
Exotics Use: #5 He’s Bankable 4-1 5th

PLETCHER: #2 Impact Player (7-2)
BROWN: #9 Engage (8-5)

7th: Bernard Baruch (G2), 3+, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

Heart to Heart obviously a wire threat, but Johnny V. can stay within striking distance with Delta Prince and maybe reel him in that extra 110 yards..

Best Value: #3 Delta Prince 6-1 3rd
Next Best: #1 Heart to Heart 5-2 WON ($6.60)
Exotics Use: #9 Projected 7-2 5th
Super Add: #2 Takeover Target 5-1 6th

PLETCHER: #5 American Patriot SCR
BROWN: #2 Takeover Target (5-1); #9 Projected (7-2)

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

Best Value: #11 B Rockett 12-1 4th
Next Best: #8 Lady Joan 8-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #6 Style Drift 5-1 3rd
Super Add: #2 Driven by Speed 7-2 9th

PLETCHER: #2 Driven by Speed (7-2); #3 Iron Mizz (8-1)
BROWN: #6 Style Drift (5-1)

9th: Hopeful (G1), 2yo, 7f (DD)

Superb group for this traditional season-ender for juvy colts..

Most Likely: #1 Mojovation 2-1 7th
Next Best: #8 Free Drop Billy 4-1 2nd
Best Value: #6 Sporting Chance 8-1 WON ($13.40)
Exotics Use: #5 National Flag 9-2 5th

PLETCHER: ##1 Mojovation (2-1); #5 National Flag (9-2)
BROWN: N/A

10th: NY-MSW, F&M-3+, 5.5f-OFF THE TURF

Have looked forward all season towards career debut of Dee Tee’s Justenuff Hope, but disappointed to have the race come off the turf. Big filly has done well upstate but will at least get racing experience today and ideally benefit upon return at 7f on the Belmont lawn in September..

Most Likely: #6 Something Joyful Gate SCR
Best Value: #10 Nothingbutasmile GATE SCR
Next Best: #4 It Ain’t Easy 8-1 8th
Exotics Use: #5 Justenuff Hope 20-1 7th

PLETCHER: #3 Connie A (5-1)
BROWN: N/A

P5 Grid:

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

Simple (A+B): 2x4x4x6x1 = 192 x .50 = $96
All A’s: 2x2x4x2x1 = 32 x .50 = $16

P4 Grid:

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

Simple (A+B): 4x6x6x1 = 144 x .50 = $72
All A’s: 2x4x4x1 = $32 ($16 for .50)

$0.50 PICK FOUR (1,5,8/7/6/6,7,8,9,10,12,13,14) Paid $361.25