Today's Best Bets5-11. Another big day as we sprint to the finish line. Five winners on top (1st, $7.50; 2nd, $38.60; 4th, $5.50; 8th, $3.40; 10th, $8.50). The highlight of the day, of course, was the win by Accurate in the 2nd at 18-1. With trainer Steve Klesaris shooting a solid 31% with second-time starters that price seemed very generous. The cold race 1-2 double paid $155.50/$2 and we were lucky enough to have that a few times as well as some good win-place dough in action over on the Bankroll Challenge page. The weekend has proven quite successful over there and we will end the meet with a profit from our $1000 imaginary bankroll.
Besides the nice early double cold we had a few other good plays using the picks. Our fourth pick won the 3rd and our top pick was best in the 4th -- so if folks fooled around with that nice 18-1 Accurate they might have hit the race 2-3-4 P3 for $1,051.00/$2. In the 7th our third picked bested our top selection for a $33.00/$2 exacta and our fourth pick completed the $147.00/$2 tri in that race. In the 8th our top pick won and our third choice completed the $12.80 exacta with our second selection making the $29.80 tri. And in the featured 10th we had the $36.80/$2 exacta cold.
Announced attendance was 51,253. Of course this number was "spinner"-inflated because of the T-shirt giveaway but it was legitimately a pretty nice crowd. Certainly enough to indicate that the "Chicken Little" naysayers aren't necessarily correct that the Labor Day conclusion to the meet should be changed. Sure attendance was off this week but let's face it, the calendar this year meant that the meet ended just about as far into September as possible. Other years -- when the meet ends a little earlier in the month -- have been fine and again, it seems like Sunday's crowd shows that folks will still turn out and enjoy a nice day at the race... Even on September 5th.
One of the most intriguing stories of the meet continued in exciting fashion Sunday. Leading jock John Velazquez has already topped his record for season-long wins -- but, incredibly, he has another notable accomplishment -- He has ridden at least one winner every day of the meet! Sunday things got a little dicey as he came into the last two without a win but he successfully guided Arvada to a front-running victory in the Glens Falls.
Downtown things seemed a little quiet at the Final Stretch music festival. Still plenty of people walking along Broadway enjoying the music, just not the sidewalk busting crowds seen earlier in the meet for the similar Hat's Off fest. However, it was a beautiful night and the folks who stayed home missed a great time.
Pay attention to the early double: John Velazquez sticks around for two rides as he tries to complete his meet-long streak of riding at least one winner each day. After riding Prime Queen in the 1st for Dale Romans and Argento for Todd Pletcher, Velazquez and Pletcherwill ho a plane and jet down to Philly to run Pollard's Vision in the Pennsylvania Derby.
FIRST RACE
Prime Queen...Claimed out of a winning effort here on 8/14. Moves up the claiming ladder but wow, hard to ignore that 40% first-off the claim stat for Romans.
Suave Queen...Dutrow is also good first-off the claim. Little bit of a concern though that this one is coming back for $15K less.
Marquet Rent...Another coming off a claim. Moves up but has won at this level fairly recently.
Traci Girl.
SECOND RACE
Argento...Expecting this Pletcher trainee to be ready to go in debut effort.
Get Wild...Very nice try first-time out. Winner that day looked good. Can improve off that race.
High Hi...Working well.
Mangiaracina.
THIRD RACE
Frankel entry...Powerful Touch is in excellent form. And it will be interesting to see if Frankel can return Toccet to top form.
McLaughlin entry...The Name's Bond is preferred. Look for an improved effort second-time back from layoff. Cherry Pickings is probably better than latest.
Free of Love...Looks like maybe he didn't care for the slop last time.
Snake Mountain.
FOURTH RACE
Liverpool Lad...Looks well-meant with the drop.
Tex and the City...The top pick looks faster but if this one can sneak away speed was holding well Sunday.
Saratoga Episode...Tagg's having a good meet and this one looks like it fits here.
Watershed Event.
FIFTH RACE
Social Virtue...Sire is high-percentage first-out. Working well.
Fighting Speedy...Debut effort was very good and would probably be top pick except for low-percentage connections.
Hoosick Falls...Could better this rating. Two nice races so far and this one bested Swither last time and that one picked up a stake this weekend.
Whereisthedrummer.
SIXTH RACE
Dixie Boy...Big workout in prep for this three days ago and expecting a big effort off the drop.
Captain Flash...Good try last time and we like the jock switch today.
Seeking Answers...Nice run last time despite trouble. Could be tough if in from AE list.
Matzoh Toga.
Castle Concert.
SEVENTH RACE
Katablastic...Sheppard trainee put in a good try last time at 11-1 after a poor start. Gotta admit we're not thrilled with the one-win jock but we can't pass up the trainer on closing day.
Catsgotninelives...Is usually in the hunt.
Grab Some Grass...Trainer ships in for first start of meet on meet's last day. Five times in the money in six starts. AE list.
Lefors.
Island Charm.
EIGHTH RACE
Western Fling...Another Sheppard trainee and this one goes out for typical 'Special' connections of Augustin Stable. Beyers are a little light, ships in from Delaware -- the set-up is just right.
Serial Bride...Comes out of a decent try in a small stake in NJ.
Host...Was trying stakes company last four. Certainly should fit here but connections a little too cold to put on top.
Reduit.
NINTH RACE
Tango Tales...His best try yet was his first run over the track. Might have been aided by the off-going but he seems quite competent on a fast surface as well.
Primary Suspect...Might have bounced in last. Debut was huge and a repeat of that will make this one tough -- but we want to see a repeat before backing with confidence.
Maytown...On the improve and won here nicely on 8/15 but that was a maiden-breaker and often they'll struggle a little first-time at this next level.
Storm Legacy.
TENTH RACE -- Saranac H'cp G3 $100K
Dynamite Flyer...Yet to be beaten in three tries. Will need to step it up a little but has passed every test so far.
Prince Arch...Clearly the one to beat after having faced the cream of the 3YO turfers and holding his own.
Mustanfar...We've had a high opinion of this one all year and seems well-spotted in these G3 turf stakes.
Good Reward.
ELEVENTH RACE
Rectory Hill...If it wasn't for the post position we would back this Pletcher 3YO with utmost confidence. Looks to fit well with this bunch. Started from outside positions two and three back and finished well.
Sliding Home...In good form and the trainer's stuff has been going well of late. The post position is in his favor.
Mackinac...Could be a little tighter today.
Greylock.
London.
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