Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Thursday, August 20, 2009 Meet Total ... 51-190

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Yesterday

2-10. Winners in the 2nd [$6.90] and 3rd [$6.50]. Frankly there wasn't a whole lot more to crow as this was the second day in a row that started with some promise only to peter out disappointingly.

A very solid crowd of 18,557 attended. The weather moderated slightly -- while still sunny and warm the humidity was slightly less oppressive than it had been over the weekend.

Today

FIRST RACE
Aero...Looks like he figured out the jumps game in the last two and picks up a top jock.
You the Man...Convincing winner earlier in the meet. Likely to be a factor again.
Nationbuilder...It's Sheppard -- over the jumps.
Left Unsaid.

SECOND RACE
Lucy N Thunder...Just missed in a similar event earlier in the meet.
Grand Decision...MSW to mdn clm for The Chief.
Economic Tsunami...Beaten fave in debut -- actually finishing a smidge ahead of our top pick. Dangerous, but faded slightly that day and now goes an extra half furlong.
Ciminella/Red Zinn.

THIRD RACE
Trainee...Tepid nod in a tough heat. There should be some pace for this one to shoot at.
Esperanza D'oro...Should appreciate the return to dirt.
Multipass...Ran a nice second last time in for a tag -- and that was on grass. Might be better on dirt.
Quisom.

FOURTH RACE - Solomon Northup $70K
Perfect Officer...Decent try behind Awakino Cat and that one came back to repeat this week.
Wall Street Wonder...Baffert invader could prove tough to handle.
Affrimatif...Has yet to really live up to promise disapyed in career debut but should fit well with these.
Speight the Halo.
On dirt: Hamazing Destiny, Ask Joe, Affirmatif, Perfect Officer.

FIFTH RACE
Myrtle's Gray...Just going with a trainer angle here as these baby maiden races are Ward's specialty. Nice work on 8/11.
Roaring Belle...At first glance the sire might not appear to produce precocious runner but his 30-1-6-4 record with firsters over the past twelve months indicates that while they might be light on the win-side they often run well in their debut.
Smoke After Six...Drops in for a tag and could be interesting with Chavez onboard.
Dream Train.
Bobbi O.

SIXTH RACE
Dukinfield...Longtime 'non-winner' could wake-up on the drop.
Magnificient Max...Also going MSW to mdn clm'r and with only two starts he could be the one with the most upside.
Fair Catch...Has shown some life since moving in for a tag. Picks up Garcia.
Whirling Thunder.
On dirt: Silver Jazz, Magnificient Max, Shareholder Blues, Adventurous Plan.

SEVENTH RACE
Supreme Serene...With More Than Ready on top we'll hope he appreciates the move to the weeds.
Smooth Transition...Beaten fave in debut is bred to go well and should rebound off of that troubled trip.
Golly Day...Has some win-early breeding.
Camptown Blues/Fortunate Run.
On dirt: Golly Day on top, use the same as above under.

EIGHTH RACE
Cap The Thunder...Just missed on opening day.
Grace's Valentine...Also was a close-up second earlier in the meet.
Justify...Been in the hunt the last few.
Patronus Charm.
On dirt: Laylaben, Synchronicity, Justify, Cap The Thunder, Sadiethepretty lady.

NINTH RACE - Saratoga Special G2 $150K
Zip Quik...Graded stakes-placed. Moves from the synthetics to dirt. Working well in SoCal.
Flatter Than Me...Second in a CD G3 behind a winner that came back to win the G2 Sanford here earlier in the meet.
Tiny Woods,,,First winner for the syndicate run by Baffert/Lukas/Zito.
D' Funnybone.

TENTH RACE
Beso Del Sur...Typically we think of these turf sprints as specialties and look for horses that have been proven at the trip -- but we'll make an exception here as this Florida invader has been moved into the barn of turf sprint queen Linda Rice.
Our Montana Dream...Meanwhile, this one does have turf sprint experience including a just-miss here at 46-1.
Dear Contender...Was in something of a similar event two back and ran OK.
Proud Diva.
Small Potatoes.
On dirt: Beso Del Sur, Proud diva, Stephen's Even, Approved By Mom.

If we are interested in both halves of an entry -- in event of a scratch -- it is noted that way [in other words, both halves 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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