The summer must be upon us because it is time to head back up north to historic Saratoga Race Course. The summer in upstate New York gets an earlier start this year with the Fourth of July festivities kicking things off at the country’s most popular meeting. The Opening Day card commences on Friday afternoon at 1:10 PM eastern and is headlined by a trio of stakes events. Here are the horses I like most to get things rolling for a meet I will be locked in on this summer at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET.
Race 1:
The opener is a first-level allowance event that will start run in front of the crowd given the 1 1/8-distance over the main track. Will Walden conditioned #4 Fact was made the understandable 5-2-ML favorite by oddsmaker David Aragona after his neck gate-to-wire victory at Horseshoe Indianapolis last month. He attracts Flavien Prat and is the one to beat, but I prefer #6 Founders. The son of Constitution was moved from turf-to-dirt by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. this winter at Gulfstream Park and put forth a strong runner-up finish to co-favorite Steeze. The 4YO colt backed that up with another strong second against similar competition at Aqueduct in April when he was caught four-wide into the first turn despite a compact field of six. Joseph has given Founders time and brings him back in a spot where his stamina and newly realized dirt route form can be utilized best. I like his chances to run this group down in the final furlong under jockey Manny Franco.
Play: #6 Founders (3-1 ML)
Picks: 6-4-3
Race 8: Wild Applause
The first of a trio of non-graded stakes races begins with this $150k event for 3YO fillies, which have never won a stake where I like the chances of #6 Smexy. The Irish-import makes her third start in the States for trainer Brendan Walsh after being caught wide throughout in each of her first two tries. Two-back in her North American debut, the daughter of Mehmas was beaten out of the gate before being caught five-wide into the first turn and three-wide on the backstretch before being caught four-wide early in the Penn Oaks in late May. She draws a more favorable post on Friday, which should allow Tyler Gaffalione to avoid a wide voyage like the two riders before him. If Gaff is able to do so, I like Smexy’s chances of finding the Saratoga winner’s circle for the first time.
Play: #6 Smexy (7-2 ML)
Picks: 6-7-1
Race 10: Saranac
I will try a price in the male counterpart to the Wild Applause. This 1 1/16-mile event over the lawn for the boys sees Chad Brown conditioned #11 Arizona Territory listed as the 5-2-ML favorite off of back-to-back wins this spring. He merits major respect, but draws outside at a short price. I will take a swing with the bargain basement $12k purchase #3 Go Grey. The son of Knicks Go has rattled off consecutive wins against lesser since moving to the sod in April. He was able to run down a lone speed horse last out without a major setup taking on first-level allowance foes at Delaware Park. The competition gets a lot tougher in this spot, but he draws favorably and gets Paco Lopez in the saddle this time around. Paco is sure to give us a run for our money and at a pretty good price. Hopefully, it is good enough to spring the Opening Day upset.
Play: #3 Go Grey (12-1 ML)
Picks: 3-9-11
.svg){kind=logo}
