Jeff Siegel: What You Need to Know - Saratoga | Thursday, August 22, 2024

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Saratoga 2nd Race – Post:  1:10 ET.  Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 8-With the Angels.
Other Contenders: none.  

Forecast: We didn’t get to see With the Angels in that quick :47 flat gate drill over the Oklahoma training track last Friday but based strictly on time it had to be impressive, the clocking being the second fastest of 33 for the distance in a move that points her out in this maiden dash for fillies.  Actually, we saw all that we needed to see when viewing her :09 4/5 breeze at the OBS April Preview session that was nothing short of sensational.  The daughter of Omaha Beach did it almost entirely on her own while displaying a long, fluid stride that appeared to barely touch the ground.  Afterwards, she brought $350,000 through the ring despite being light in the first dam, though the family traces well.  In a race in which the known element looks suspect, the Linda Rice-trained juvenile appears primed for win at first asking, though her morning line of 6-1 certainly is inflated.


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Saratoga 10th race – Post:  6:19 ET.  Degree of confidence: B
Top Selection: 1-Unbridled Gem (Ire).
Other Contenders: none.  

Forecast: Unbridled Gem (Ire) was supposed to be a good thing in her debut at Belmont Park a year ago June but missed at even money in an abbreviated grass sprint for juvenile fillies and then disappeared.  The Three Chimneys homebred returns for trainer W. Ward (strong stats with comebackers) in this grass dash for older maiden fillies and mares and should be a live item after a series of easy drills in which she displayed excellent speed despite being hard held.  She’ll add Lasix, remove blinkers, and pick up Frankie, so it appears all systems are go for the daughter of More Than Ready.  We doubt well get close to her morning line of 8-1 on the tote but will be happy if we can.  


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