Saratoga puts July in the rear-view mirror today, but not before a 10-race card that features the $150,000 John Morrissey Stakes for New York-breds. A couple of early races caught my eye, so let's try to strike in the first half.
Saratoga | Race 1 | 1:10 pm ET
#2 Force (10-1 morning line odds) debuts in a race with a slew of other first-time starters. It's interesting that sharp 2YO outfit Arindel Farm has a New York-bred despite its Florida roots, and this one lures Jose Ortiz off a bullet workout at Monmouth. Wire Waiting is an unraced son of American Pharoah, who has been a better turf sire than dirt in many cases, and Waiting's a grandson of turf champion mare Wait A While. Win-place bet #2.
Saratoga | Race 5 | 3:27 pm ET
#5 Miss Magical (9-2 morning line odds) exits open company after a modest try in the Schuylerville Stakes and gets a complete makeover on turf, around 2 turns and adding blinkers against New York-bred maidens. Trainer George Weaver doing a lot right at the meet had got 2 turf works out of her for the new test. Win bet #5.
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