Whitney Week at Saratoga gets started on Wednesday afternoon with a ten-race card that kicks off with a Grade 1 steeplechase event followed by nine flats races, including the $200k Johnstone for NY-bred fillies and mares at seven-furlongs over the main track. I will let you seek analysis on the jumps race elsewhere, but here are a few horses I like most on the day.
Race 3:
My first play of the week comes in this MSW event at one-mile over the main track that was originally carded last Wednesday, but postponed due to torrential rains. #4 Wedelia was made the significant 6-5-ML favorite shipping in from Kentucky for trainer Brad Cox. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is a tough read since both of her races came over an off track, but I am concerned with her lack of early speed coming out of the Wilson chute. I will try to beat her with #2 Noble Glow. The Juddmonte homebred debuted at seven-furlongs at Churchill Downs in a full-field 2YO MSW in late November where she was sent from the gate and was caught up in an early tussle on the front end while caught wide throughout. The daughter of Gun Runner has been on the sidelines since, but comes in off a strong series of local drills. The fact she retains Prat and has the early speed the favorite does not adds to the appeal.
Play: #2 Noble Glow (9-2 ML)
Picks: 2-4-3
Race 5:
The pace should be honest at the very least in this optional claimer for 3YOs at six-furlongs over the main track, which should set things up for a runner that can settle and finish. Price option #1 Tripp’s Promise fits the profile. The Baron Thoroughbreds colt returned off the freshening in late May at Churchill Downs and put in a solid run to finish second to horse that got a big jump on him when he encountered traffic issues on the turn and into the lane. The son of Promises Fulfulled finished well once he found clear sailing and propelled that strong late run into an off-the-pace victory on June 12 despite racing over the outside part of the track on a day where the inside had a slight edge. I am not overly concerned that Tripp’s Promise failed to hit the board at Ellis Park last month since the speed ran 1-2 around the oval and the race shape should be much more to his liking on Wednesday. The quick return may not be ideal for the colt, but otherwise the son of Promises Fulfilled fits the profile I am looking for. Hopefully, he runs them down late to kick off the Pick 6.
Play: #1 Tripp’s Promise (8-1 ML)
Picks: 1-4-6
Race 9: Johnstone S.
There is little doubt that #6 Usha is the deserving 6-5-ML favorite and filly to beat in this seven-furlong dash over the main track. The Tiz the Law filly beat Grade 3 foes at Churchill in late May and is the clear class of the field. That said, she is going to be bet down significantly and has never run over this racetrack. Therefore, I will take a swing with a filly that I thought ran sneaky well last out.
#3 Munnings Express is one of two entered for trainer Linda Rice. The 4YO filly made her second start of the form cycle on July 23 after a race over the grass in late June. Her best races have always been when she is able to find favorable forward position early and that was simply not the case a couple of weeks ago when she did not get out of the gates great from her rail draw costing her any real chance. Now, she moves back into the NY-bred ranks and gets hot riding Manny Franco in the saddle. The Rice barn starting heating up with three winners over the weekend. I would not be surprised if it continues this week.
Play: #3 Munnings Express (8-1 ML)
Picks: 3-6-5
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