(For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing).
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SARATOGA SPOTLIGHT RACES:
First Race – Post: 12:35 ET
Top Pick: 8-Vacation Dance (9/2)
Although we have seen this colt breeze locally, we remember him from the Timonium sale last May when he brought $90,000 through the ring after breezing a furlong around the bullring in 10 1/5 seconds while displaying good action and excellent speed. Although the John Kimmel barn has never had a great percentage with first time starters, this colt may prove to be the exception to the rule. The son of The Lieutenant has been given a solid foundation of drills to be fit and ready in this New York-bred grass sprint, so in a field in which the other newcomers have not been impressive, let’s take a flier with this colt as a win play and rolling exotic single at or near his morning line of 9/2.
Seventh Race: Post: 3:53 ET
Top Pick: 4-Free Look (3-1)
Displayed plenty of ability in her debut when overcoming a poor start, traffic trouble on the turn and then a wide trip into the lane to finish best of all when third behind subsequent stakes winner Be Your Best over this course and distance in late July and should step forward in a big way today with that bit of experience behind her. The daughter of Tapit returns Flavian Prate, gets much better post today, and with clear sailing should be along in plenty of time for trainer Chad Brown (27% with second time starters). She is listed at 3-1 on the morning line and is worth a good gamble at that number.
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SARATOGA RECOMMENDED ROLLING EXOTIC STRATEGIES:
(Races 1-5)
1st race: 8-Vacation Dance
2nd race: 3-Happy Farm
3rd race: 7-Charge Account3-Blue Atlas; 5-Adelaide Miss
4th race: 5-Cousteau; 10-Ampersand
5th race: 6-Sheriff Bianco; 8-Athenry
6th race: 4-Pure Pauline; 8-My Betsy; 5-Stunningly; 7-Vahva
(Races 7-12)
7th race: 4-Free Look
8th race: 4-Boston Post Road; 1-Piece of My Heart; 7-Dealing Justice
9th race: 1a-Catch That Party 5-Frank’s Art; 10-Citizen K
10th race: 3-La Victoria; 4-Cape Cod Causeway; 2-Succulent
11th race: 9-Wonder Wheel; 1-Kaling
12th race: 1-Tough Street/1a-Jet Set Juliet
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SARATOGA WORKOUT ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY:
FIFTH RACE:
Athenry (August 17, Saratoga, 5f, 1:01b). Grade: B
Nice breeze while mostly on his own, final quarter mile in :25.1. Better on grass, so this was a good move. Maintains his edge.
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SIXTH RACE:
Pure Pauline (August 21, Saratoga, 4f, :47.1bg). Grade: B+
Ridden most of the way from the gate to prove clearly best over Sister Maha (4f, :47.3b), picking up steam midway and finishing with something left. Curlin filly may not be super quick, so we suspect she will be most comfortable as the distances increase. Good mover, nice prospect.
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Vahva (August 21, Saratoga, 5f, 1:00b). Grade: B+
Cruise control outside Cagliostro (same time) for DeVaux, plenty left late with a final quarter in :25.2. Have to think she can improve with a race under her belt. May prefer patient handling.
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ELEVENTH RACE:
Kaling (August 28, Saratoga, 4f, :48.1b). Grade: B+
Breezing inside recent fast maiden winner Chocolate Gelato (same time) for T. Pletcher, plenty left in visually pleasing half mile drill. Loads up upside, for sure. Was impressive in the a.m. before her maiden win and looks even better since. Gorgeous mover.
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Wonder Wheel (August 19, Saratoga, 5f, :59.2b). Grade: A
Inside Bring theband Home (5f, 1:00.1b) and was tons best while drawing clear in the final furlong and then galloping out with plenty left, strictly on her own, never asked at any stage. Undefeated filly from Kentucky arrives fit and ready and will be hard to beat in the Spinaway Stakes-G1,
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