Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Thursday, July 26, 2006 Meet Total ... 1-10

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Yesterday

1-10. It was just one of those days. Most races seemed to have four or five ways you could go -- and that makes it tough to pull down too many winners, although the horses that came first under the finish line were not particularly outlandish in any race.

Worth noting that Kentucky shippers won a couple, so we'll have to keep our eyes on that. Speed seemed to be folding on dirt in the early races -- but held a little better towards the end of the day.

A gorgeous afternoon and a solid crowd of 30,052 turned out to enjoy it. It actually might have been the best day of the summer of 2007 as the sun shone all day -- although the humidity was a tad high. But it was a fun first day and the crowd was buzzing.

Today

It's a giveaway day with Angel Cordero bobbleheads available with each paid admission while supplies last. An interesting twist this year: Mixed into the giveaway pile at random are 3000 special Cordero bobbleheads which has a different paint scheme and are numbered -- so it automatically becomes a super-collectible.

FIRST RACE
Divine Fortune...Seems improved as a 4YO. Prepped for this with a nice win on the flat.
Mark the Shark...Expect this guy to open daylight and make them play catch-me-if-you-can.
Gryffindor...Like other Voss runners this one goes back and forth effortlessly from the flats to the jumps. Ran well on this track on the flat last year.
Orchid Princess.

SECOND RACE
Twisted Tale...Finished second behind Subtle Aly's record-breaker at Churchill -- and that one came back to win the stake here on Wed.
Cozy Mesa...Nice debut at Churchill for this filly from Lukas/Whitney. Bullet work since.
Alachua...Attracted big price at OBS February. Worked in 10.2 there. Goes first-out for Pletcher.
Ellie's Buddha.

THIRD RACE - Dancin Renee
Stolen Star...Could be interesting on the cutback from 1M.
Gold Like U...Moves from Dutrow to Contessa off the claim and moves back in against NY-breds.
Lovely Dream...Been facing open company in Florida and Kentucky. Dangerous.
Baby Gray.

FOURTH RACE
Elizaveta...Sheppard/Augustin runner makes third career start. Comes up from Delaware and might be ready to pop.
Stage Dream...Solid debut for Mott and will be tough if able to improve -- or even repeat.
Queens Full...Another that looked good in her first start and is eligible to step up and go even better today.
Star Dixie.

FIFTH RACE
Lookmeintheeye...In a super-tough race we landed here as this guy has been doing OK vs open company at Philly and might appreciate the move to state-bred competition.
Log Jam...Two nice starts at F'Lakes but went well at AQU this winter.
Champchu...On the improve.
Berry Bound.

SIXTH RACE
Harlanquin...His two best races were right here in Saratoga last year. Got a useful prep last time out.
Renown...Been going well since dropping in for a tag.
Copy That...Will take a lot of action because of the connections -- but I'm leery for that very reason. This trainer/owner not known for their $45K claiming stock, particularly when they paid $550K! Red flags waving.
Stradamus.

SEVENTH RACE - Hush Dear
Mohegan Sky...Trainer rice did well up here last season in turf sprints. Will the trend continue?
Lemon Drop Gal...Huge number last time in a similar small stake at Belmont.
Swap Fliparoo...She won the G1 Test here in 2007. Grass is the question mark.
Truly blushed.

EIGHTH RACE - Sanford G2
The Roundhouse...Pletcher 2YO impressed in debut at Monmouth. Fifth-place finisher that day came back to win last Saturday at 20-1.
Ready's Image...Already a stakes winner and experience counts.
Fed Watcher...Looked good winning a nice MSW at Belmont.
Sok Sok.NINTH RACE
Glamour Star...Has been improving with each start.
Storm Dixie...Only dud was when getting dropped into open stake -- but she's tough when facing her own kind.
As Do I...Will contend if in from the AE list.
My Dear Annie.
Follow My Dream.

If we are interested in both halves of an entry -- in event of a scratch -- it is noted that way [in other words, both halve are named]. If only one-half of the entry is named, then we prefer that half and will move to our next pick listed [rather than the other half of the entry] in event of a scratch.

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