Today's Best Bets

Saratoga Race Course Friday, August 21, 2009 Meet Total ... 54-200

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Yesterday

3-10. Winners in the 4th [$3.90], 8th [$5.70] and 10th [$5.80]. In the 4th it was the top pick home first followed by the third selection [exacta, $14.00/$2], second selection [tri, $35.20] and fourth pick [super, $135.40]. Similar in the 8th but the picks came in A-C-D-B order [with "A" being the top pick, "B" our second selection, and so on -- exacta, $48.40; tri, $209.50; no super offered]. And there were some other tickets that could have been cashed with some modestly creative use of the selections.

17,950 attended. The hot and humid weather continued -- with the humidity kicking up a notch after a brief, but torrential, downpour hit the track right around the 6th race.

Sightings, trainer Patrick Biancone moseying into Siro's about an hour after post-time of the last race.

Today

FIRST RACE - Biogio's Rose $70K
Karakorum Fugitive...Kind of violating one of our own rules -- and it could come back to bite us. This one finished behind Doremifasollatido last time and we think 'wise guys' look to turn things around next time -- but more often than not things stay the same. We'll see -- but we think this one is just a little bit better and perhaps the blinkers will make the difference.
Doremifasollatido...Chased in second-position all the way around here on 8/3 and held the top pick safe by a length.
Sapphire Sky...Might appreciate the move back in against state-breds. Moves way up on a wet track.
What a Pear.

SECOND RACE
The Mayor...Pletcher drop-down owned by celeb chef Bobby Flay. Showed some speed vs MSWs last time.
Jazz Hands...Florida-invader is also dropping and should be tough with a clean trip.
Orrsville...Purchased for $200K and debuts for $20K. Hmmm. But won't have to be much to take these.
Option.

THIRD RACE
China... Pletcher 2YO impressed in debut and was scratched from yesterday's stake for this softer spot.
Red Rally...Stakes-placed. Hasn't been on dirt since debut -- but ran a good third behind subsequent stakes-winner Backtalk that day.
Soundman...Has early speed and should find this assignment easier than last two.
Dp the Facilitator/Honor in Peace.

FOURTH RACE
Cappella Rose...Every year there's at least one of these NY-breds events that ranks as 'uninspiring' -- to put it nicely. This top pick has shown some modest signs of life in a couple starts -- and that's more than most in here.
Ask Ommadon...Trouble in all three starts. The trainer reaches out to son-in-law top-jock and drops MSW to mdn clm'r. Last two works seem to indicate some life [although he ran a dud in between those two] and the blinkers might help.
Malibu Gardens...Return to dirt might help.
Dontstealmyland.

FIFTH RACE
Jamaludin...Drops and gets back to turf for owner that likes to spot to win.
Hold Your Ground...Just missed the last time he was in for a tag.
Doc N Roll...Another that should appreciate the return to grass.
Bordeaux Bandit.
On dirt: Jamaludin, Bordeaux Bandit, Munition, Commissioner Chris, Angliana.

SIXTH RACE
Awesome Maria...Solid debut but must overcome outside post today.
Genuine Charm/Manaahil... Manaahil preferred as a first-time starter with some precocious breeding.
Couture Cat...Also bred to be a runner early.
Sing My Song.

SEVENTH RACE
Turaath...Perhaps he'll benefit from the two-turn education last time.
Blackberry Road...Been stuck at this condition for a long time -- but has shown enough ability to fit here. Finished just behind top pick last time.
Blue Whistler...Looks to be better on dirt.
Luv Gov.

EIGHTH RACE - Lake Placid G2 $150K
Mary's Follies...If the Beyer in the G3 Boiling Springs win is to be believed then she could prove tough with the return to turf.
Keertana...Hard to fault her grass record -- which includes a three-race win-streak coming into this.
Shared Account...Has improved since the switch to the weeds.
Consequence.
Miss Keller.
On dirt: Casanova Move, Mary's Follies, Kiddari, Shared Account.

NINTH RACE
Peterdidit...Has the look of a lightly-raced horse that might be set for a break-through performance.
Marscaponi...Improved since switching barns.
Pernice...Showed some signs of life last time.
Pure Cognac.
On dirt: Titletown Tiger, King's Fez, Mr Vantastic, Mr Enrico, Marscaponi.

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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