Padding Your Bankroll from Saratoga Racetrack

While Driven By Success looks imposing as the even money favorite in today’s $70,000 John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga, the remainder of the card looks enticing, and there are several live longshots that could certainly pad our bankroll in the Racebook.

The play of the day comes in the fourth race and we have Awesome Mich as our top pick, sitting at a generous 12/1 on the morning line.

The Pick 3 play starts earlier on the card, as we will start with the fifth race to avoid having the Morrissey in the three race sequence.

We have four runners that are likely to go off at 6/1 or higher in the three race sequence, with the trickiest race the sixth, which is a $50,000 turf race where we will go four deep in what is the most wide open race on the day’s ten race card.

Today’s Play of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 4 Clm $35,000 (2:41 ET)

#1 Awesome Mich 12/1

#2 African Diamond 9/2

#7 Pluto 3/1

#6 Vindicat 6/1

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Analysis: #1 Awesome Mich was beaten double digit lengths last out against $50K starter allowance foes going a mile but we’ll toss him a mulligan. The gelding dueled for the early lead while down along a dead rail and was coming off a career top earned two back. In that outing the gelding pressed the early pace and drew off late to beat $40K claimers that were non-winners of two. The gelding draws the rail and owns good early and mid pace numbers and while he faded last out going a mile he certainly has a ton of pedigree to handle nine furlongs. He is by Awesome Again out of the A.P. Indy stakes winner Mymich ($288K). He popped a bullet work on July 31 and he looks like a very live longshot in here for the Hennig barn.

#2 African Diamond caught a yielding turf last out, a fifth place finish versus Alw-1 optional claimers at Arlington. Two back he was beaten just a nose and a head on poly for a $32.5K tag. He now tries conventional dirt for the first time in his career here for the Harty barn. The gelding has a decent breeze over the surface here on July 26 and I am guessing he is going to handle dirt just fine.

Wagering

WIN: #1 to win at 6/1 or better.

EX: 1,2 / 1,2,6,7

TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,6,7 / 1,2,5,6,7

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Saratoga:

Starting in Race 5: $1: 2,5 / 4,5,8,10 / 1,3,8 = $24

SAR Race 5 Md Sp Wt (3:15 ET)

#2 Mine Over Matter, #5 Jung Man Scott

#2 Mine Over Matter has some decent looking works on the morning tab and figures to go off at a decent price. The colt is by Mineshaft (8% first turf) out of the stakes placed Hansel’s Girl ($238K), who was 0 for 1 on turf. She has dropped two runners, both winners including one turf winner, stakes winner Chestertown Slew ($172K). The barn has been frigid in ’09, hitting at just a 3% clip but has popped with at least two winners at each of the last five Spa meets, nine of 11 of those at 8/1 or higher.

#5 Jung Man Scott pressed a sharp early pace in his debut before wakening to finish third. Dutrow put a work into him over the turf on July 29 and he figures to be the one they have to catch in this spot. The colt has one sib to race, 2 for 13 Fast Footnote ($20K), both of her wins in dirt sprints. Dutrow is 31% winners (with a +ROI) with second time starters but 0 for his last 25 with horse trying turf for the first time.

SAR Race 6 Clm $50,000 (3:49 et)

#8 Big Stack, #10 Skagerrak, #4 Classic Campaign, #5 Gaelic Storm

#8 Big Stack gets the nod in a wide open race where any of about a half dozen have a good shot of winning this, and there are a couple of runners on the AE list that fit pretty well here too if they happen to draw into the field. Our top pick exits a seventh place finish in the Elkwood at Monmouth and is in for a tag. here. Two back this guy won on poly at Keeneland versus second level allowance company and the gelding passed his first allowance condition over the turf here last summer. The gelding makes his first start off a 2 1/2 month break for a barn that does good work with horses coming back off breaks and this gelding is 4 for 10 on turf in his career.

#10 Skagerrak came with a four wide run and finished up well for the runner up spot last out over good ground for a $35K tag, his first go off a seven-month break. Clement is seeking his first win at the meet, 0 for 7 with five running in the money. The barn is 31% winners with horses making their second start off a +180 day layoff. He is in versus tougher in this spot but figures to move forward second off the bench and Ramon sticks.

SAR Race 7 Md Sp Wt (4:23 et)

#8 Petecarol, #1 Straight Talk, #3 Zapster

#8 Petecarol was beaten just a neck in his debut on poly at Arlington Park. The colt came with a four wide bid, raced a bit greenly in the stretch and bumped the winner late. The colt has a decent turf pedigree, by Not For Love out of a Saint Ballado mare that has dropped one other foal to race, a dirt winner. The McPeek barn started off the meeting last week going 0 for 12. The barn is 22% winners with second timers and I like the switch to turf.

#1 Straight Talk also goes poly to turf. The colt took some play in his two starts, both going 4 1/2 furlongs, a third and a fifth. Motion adds blinkers and this guy might be a decent price here. He is out of the stakes winner No Foul Play ($545K) who won once on turf in 12 tries. She has dropped four winners but no turf winners, top earner stakes winner Temporary Saint ($405K).

Price Plays From Saratoga:

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.

R2: #9 Raffie’s Rose 8/1

R3: #5 Mister Triester 8/1

R4: #1 Awesome Mich 12/1

R6: #5 Gaelic Storm 10/1

R7: #1 Straight Talk 10/1

R9: #7 Lyke a Hurricane 8/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!