Day 2 of the Saratoga summer meet welcomes horseplayers with a $118,028 carryover in the pick 6. Races 5-10 make up the sequence, which is slated to begin at 3:27 pm ET. The wager has a $1 base bet and no jackpot provisions. A wild rain and hailstorm after last night’s races soaked the turf course and left only Race 7 on the lawn.
Saratoga Race 5: claiming
The May 22 Linda Rice claim #1 Always Practical looks very well meant after being protected in a starter allowance non-effort at Churchill Downs last out in order to be eligible to run out of state without the 30-day hold from the end of the CD meet by Kentucky rule. That one’s prior 3 sprint efforts on dirt were all strong. They have to run down likely loose-leading #2 Madeline’s Promise, but unless the track is severely biased (and we’ll know by Race 5), he typically can’t sustain for 7 furlongs. I’ll stand against the pair of likely well-backed Tom Amoss trainees (#4 Low Key, #5 Lady Orient) as he’s won 1 claiming dirt sprint at the Spa since 2017 from 19 tries.
Saratoga Race 6: maiden special weight
Off the turf and moved to 7 furlongs on the main track, none of these 2-year-olds were entered main-track only. Regally bred #4 Epic Desire, half-brother to Grade 1 winner Adare Manor is the only with a prior start on dirt. He’ll add blinkers after walking out of the gate in a Keeneland baby dash before running on modestly. #7 Orbit (Mark Casse) has trained on dirt with some flair in Florida and locally for the unveiling, while #8 Helioo (Bill Mott) is better-bred for dirt than turf and gets an now advantageous outside draw for the debut. These 3 will be the recipe to roll through the second leg.
Saratoga Race 7: Grade 3 $175,000 Coronation Cup
The international breeding and experience on soft turf of #1 Make Haste moves up on the course conditions after last night’s deluge of rain. #6 Abientot was too close to a scorcher last time and paid the price, but she’s freshened and gets reunited with Dylan Davis, who has ridden her with patience in the past, including a course victory over the trip. I’ll ride with this pair on turf.
Saratoga Race 8: maiden claiming
The move to aggressive Luis Saez aboard #4 Dark Devil while cutting back from routes to a 6-1/2 furlong sprint that could trip up the cheap speed could be a winning one. Yes, this 4-year-old is a bridesmaid (12: 0-5-2 lifetime), but his claiming sprints are his best efforts and he’s got some fitness in the tank after routing while meeting mostly 3-year-olds. #7 Gallo de Fuego makes plenty of sense at this class level and distance as the secondary option.
Saratoga Race 9: allowance
Run at 1 mile on dirt out of the Wilson chute, #13 Whittington Park makes a strong presence of the main-track only list, having already cleared this condition May 17 at Aqueduct with a strong finish. His Saratoga form has been decent enough vs. better and fits strongly here if able to workout out a trip from the outside. #2 Shared Success is well-drawn, freshened and ran well enough here on dirt in 2023 to consider. Let’s ride 2-deep. I’ll stand against #11 Get A Job, a big summer maiden winner here in 2024, having failed last out at Lone Star for Steve Asmussen, as well as #14 Mighty Atlas who disappointed as the favorite last out for Brad Cox and changes barns to Wayne Potts.
Saratoga Race 10: allowance
Run at 1 mile on dirt out of the Wilson chute, #9 Souper Times has shown similar ability on multiple surfaces. Main-track only runners #15 Soontobeking enters in sharp form, while #14 Pretty Capable has been facing some pretty salty sophomores and gets a touch of class relief. Let’s go with that trio among what’s left.
JP’s Suggested Ticket
1,2 with 4,7,8 with 1,6 with 4,7 with 13,2 with 9,15,14 = $72 for $1
.svg){kind=logo}
