Fast and Furious Racing Action at Saratoga

We are four days into the 40-day Saratoga meeting, and the action was fast and furious through the opening weekend.

We saw an outstanding performance by three-year-old filly Devil May Care, who took the $250,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on Saturday.

Is the filly good enough to take on her elders later this year and be competitive?

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Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra may want to over her shoulder, the talented filly will be around later this year.

Today’s feature at the Spa is the $150,000 Lake George (G2), which drew a full field of 12 with three also-eligibles.

The Christophe Clement trainee Strike It Rich is coming off a win in the Boiling Springs (G3), her third win in a row, and likely is going to go off as the favorite.

There are plenty of runners in the field that look as if they can step up and be competitive, including the German bred Neon Light, who is making her U.S. debut.

The Lake George is the middle leg of our Late Pick 3 play, which appears to offer plenty of value in each leg of the three-race sequence.

Today’s Play of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 5 Clm $10,000N2L (3:14 ET)

#1 La Belle Gabrielle   4/1
#6 Sudden Silver   9/2
#7 Greens N Beans   5/1
#8 Won Token   3/1

Analysis: #1 La Belle Gabrielle made a mild late rally to finish third last out facing state bred non-winners of two in her first go against winners. I usually do not like backing state breds switching over to open company, but this is a weak group and seven of these are state breds anyway. Ramon sticks for a sharp barn.

#6 Sudden Silver returns off a 2 1/2 month break with a class drop. The filly broke her maiden two back for a $20K tag, then last out was not a threat versus $50K starter allowance types. That was a productive race, two coming back to win next out, a couple of others ran second in their next starts. The low profile jock seems to be at his best when riding for Guillo.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,6,7,8
TRI: 1,6 / 1,6,7,8 / 1,5,6,7,8

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Saratoga:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 1,9 / 4,5,8 / 3,6,7,10 = $24

SAR Race 7 Clm $25,000B (4:22 ET)

#1 King Rock, #9 Dunvegan

#1 King Rock faded to finish fifth last out against Alw-1 optional claimers at Del Park on the main track. The winner of the race was Trickmeister, who came back to win the Barbaro in his next outing on July 10. He is winless in two turns on turf, but both of those outings were going long last year while still in the maiden ranks. The Tony D. barn is 33% winners (with a +ROI) overall in turf sprints and this guy looks well spotted here as he drops in for a $25K tag and faces non winners of three.

#9 Dunvegan was a game second in his first try on turf, beaten just 3/4 of a length for the top spot by Chaysen Alex, who came back to beat $60K starter allowance types on July 5. The 4/1 ML looks fair enough, but with the Rice barn winning 18 turf races at the meet last year, the price on this guy figures to be lighter.

SAR Race 8 The Lake George G2 (4:56 ET)

#5 Perfect Shirl, #4 Neon Light, #8 Strike It Rich

#5 Perfect Shirl took four tries to break her maiden, but showed she still has plenty of upside with a good looking Alw-1 win last out in her first go against winners. That win came on poly and she back on turf here, which is going to be her best surface. She has a ton of pedigree appeal, out of the stakes winner Lady Shirl ($951K) a 14-time winner on turf. The mare has dropped seven winners including five other turf winners and three stakes winners. Among her foals are Grade 1 winner Shakespeare ($1.29 million). She is in good hands with the Attfield barn that is having a solid year and the 15/1 ML looks generous.

#4 Neon Light makes her U.S. debut here and she may have some talent. The German bred won a Group 3 in her second career start, then ran into some traffic troubles in her most recent outing. It will be interesting to see how serious this gal is taken on the tote.

#8 Strike It Rich has won three in a row including the Boiling Springs (G3) in her most recent start. She is a logical threat to win here with her best, but a couple of others in here likely are going to offer better value for the top spot.

SAR Race 9 Alw $52,000N1X (5:30 ET)

#3 Colour the Wind, #7 Broken Dreams, #6 Atrea, #10 Royal Fortune

#3 Colour the Wind tracked the early pace from the inside and weakened to finish fifth last outgoing seven furlongs, beaten 2 3/4 lengths for the top spot. The winner was Meriwether Jessica, who came back to beat state bred optional claimers in her next outing. The cut back in distance may suit and this gal has quite the pedigree. She is by Storm Cat out of the stakes winner Golden Reef ($180K), who has dropped six other winners including a pair of stakes winners.

#7 Broken Dreams was beaten just a head last out at Churchill Downs in her second career start and first on turf. She popped a near bullet work on July 23 and looks like a good fit here for the Proctor barn that picked up a turf win here on Monday.

Price Plays From Belmont Park:

These are price plays to watch today. A small win-place wager is in order or if your pockets are deep enough, use these runners in your trifecta and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers. One or two of these could be the difference between a regular day at the track and hitting the IRS window with a signer.

R1: #5 Heavenly Blaze   15/1
R4: #9 Giopi   20/1
R6: #11 Miss Nepal   15/1
R8: #5 Perfect Shirl   15/1
R8: #1 House of Grace   8/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!