With just two days left to go, 1/ST BET and Xpressbet are pulling out all the stops with the goal of making it a great closing weekend at Saratoga Race Course. This means a pair of $2500 Hit & Split opportunities in the late Pick 4 on both Sunday and Monday afternoon. Just simply register for the new promotion, connect on the sequence, and collect your share of $2500 on top of your winnings. Hopefully, y’all can close the meet out with a bang! Of course, I am hoping to, as well. Here is how I saw the final Pick 4 on Sunday afternoon.
Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.
Race 11:
Grade: C
Main Ticket: 7 Rare Society; 5 Let’s Get Weird; 3 Rout
Backups: None
Forecast: I will roll with a trio of second-time starters in this state-bred $30k maiden claimer over the main track. #3 Rout is likely to get over bet on the class drop for trainer Chad Brown, but it is hard to deny that he fits well with this group nonetheless. He finished a modest fourth against protected NY-bred maidens and takes a surprisingly quick drop in for a tag considering he commanded $280k at the Saratoga August 2023 sale, but will not have to be much to find the wire against these. That said, from a wagering perspective I prefer the second-timers that will offer better value. #7 Rare Society did no running on debut against special weight company and drops in for a tag to take on the boys for Linda Rice. She did no running that day after a slow start, but is likely to take a huge step forward with the decrease in competition and start under her belt. #5 Let’s Get Weird does not get any class relief, but did show speed before tiring on debut for a barn that rarely wins first out. A move forward also appears likely for the son of Volatile.
Race 12:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 2 Navajo Warrior
Backups: None
Forecast: #2 Navajo Warrior makes his first start for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The Candy Ride gelding last competed in Southern California this spring where he rattled off 3 consecutive victories at Santa Anita Park. Joseph finds a perfect condition to bring his new runner back in and attracts leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. The 4YO gelding is 4 for 10 coming in and likely to earn his fifth lifetime victory in his first start out of the Wilson chute.
Race 13:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 9 Our Lady Peace; 5 Kyle’s Mom
Backups: 7 Carolina Smokeshow
Forecast: The pace should be honest at the very least in this conditional non-winners of two lifetime over the main track. I will use runners I expect to settle off the pace early and finish with energy. This includes #9 Our Lady Peace. The Good Magic filly moves to an outside draw in her first start at the Spa after showing speed over the muddy going in Florida in a race that played out much differently than I expect this one to. Look for Irad Ortiz to stalk early and get first run on the closers on this Ontario-bred. #5 Kyle’s Mom also should benefit from a lively early tempo. The fact she has been off over 2 months since her maiden breaker at Aqueduct is not ideal, but her price makes her worth including in a race where I hope that go at it a bit in the early stages.
Race 14:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 2 Hello Newman
Backups: None
Forecast: I will hope to close things out with 3-1-ML second choice #2 Hello Heaven. The Lookin At Lucky gelding stretches back out to a route of ground after missing by a neck in a turf sprint at this level on July 17. Trainer Tom Morley added blinkers last time out and leaves them on for this 3YO’s first start going two-turns against maiden claimers. The inside draw should make a big difference in this 8.5-furlong contest over the Inner Turf with 8-5-ML favorite #11 Deemer drawn to the far outside.
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