Today's Best Bets

It's DRF's Litfin by a nose over the Times-Union's Graves, with The Saratogian's Taylor within spittin' distance. Watch out if Graves puts in the kind of stretch run he did last year when he zoomed from mid-pack at this point last year to wind up tied as the leader by meet's end with Taylor.

But, in fact, Graves' big late run last year just proves that things are still fluid. The mid-packers in the 50-60 win range need only put together one or two big days to jump into the mix.

It should be interesting.

You can view the entire 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004 mid-season scorecards for a more complete comparison of previous years.

And to see what kind of numbers everyone is chasing, final meet totals for the past few seasons can be found here: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003.

Note: Discrepancies in total number of races played is due to some handicappers losing races due to scratches.

	Dave Litfin Daily Racing Form		68-194

	Matt Graves Albany Times Union		67-193 $411.90

	Bill Taylor Saratogian		65-193

	Dave Little NY Daily News		61-192 $364.20

	Daniel Feiss Saratogian		61-193

	Jerry Bossert NY Daily News		61-194 $345.90

	Bill Heller Daily [Schenectady] Gazette		59-194

	Vic C NY Post		58-193 $427.40

	Mark Cusano Daily [Schenectady] Gazette		58-194

	Tim Wilkin Albany Times Union		58-194 $421.10

	Mark Hoffman The [Amsterdam] Recorder		57-194 $431.80

	Kyle Brownell Post-Star [Glens Fall, NY]		56-194 $348.70

	Tom Law Saratogian		54-193

	Tom Cavanagh NY Daily News		54-194 $300.60

	Seth Merrow Best Bets - equidaily.com		53-194

	Ed Fountaine NY Post		52-193 $379.70

	Nick Tammaro Capitalotb.com		52-194 $430.20

	Nick Kling Troy Record/Saratogian		51-194 $312.00

	Laim Durbin Saratogian		50-170

	Mike Jarboe Albany Times Union		50-191 $329.20

	John DaSilva NY Post		48-193 $377.80

	Dan Lauletta NY Daily News		47-193 $307.60

	Mike Lipack NY Daily News		45-194 $357.00

	Trackman NY Daily News		45-194 $370.20

	Debbie L NY Post		42-194 $222.70

	Daniel Feiss Saratogian		44-180

	Affrunti NY Post		40-193 $314.90

4-11. Winners in the 1st [$7.90], 3rd [$4.30], 5th [$8.00], and 6th [$9.90]. After having the winner on top in four of the first six and having two nice, cold exactas in that mix we thought we might be on the way to a breakout afternoon - then we went a little cold. Still, a nice day. It was cold exactas in the 5th [$54.00/$2] and 6th [$61.00]. In the 6th our fourth pick completed the tri [$681.00].

30,210 attended -- and, yes, it was yet again a fine day weather-wise, sunny and warm. The post-race watering holes were rocking well after dark and the party continued downtown until closing time at 4am.

FIRST RACE
Kissa Melissa...Has won three of last five and looks like a fit at this level.
Verse Choir...'The Chief' sends out this gal and she's another that is in where she'll run well.
Malibu Artiste...SoCal shipper could better this rating in first try on dirt.
Lady Durlyn.

SECOND RACE
Beth's Kitten...Should have gotten some education in the first start. Adds blinkers. Moves into state-bred company. Some things to like.
Writethatdown... AE list. A couple of decent tries so far.
Solutionfinders...Third start back and Beyers showed some improvement start #1 to start #2 this year.
Brunelli.
NP Cat.
On dirt: Fortitude, Raffinator, Up For Love, Brunelli.

THIRD RACE
Payout...Ok debut late last year. Off since but comes back for the red-hot Chad Brown.
Swinging At Siro's...Well-beaten as part of a short priced entry in a tough race at this meet last year. Expect improvement.
Gotta Go Round...Could be interesting move turf-to-dirt.
Marsh Haven.
Runaway Jim.

FOURTH RACE
Phantom Rising...Showed good speed in first race in over a year. Could be primed to go well today.
Happy Week...Toss the two stakes tries and this gal is always in the hunt.
Vaughndidit...Could be the one to catch.
Obey the Rules.

FIFTH RACE
Deanaallen'skitten...Makes the potent move from MSW to mdn clm'r for onwers that like to win.
Seaside Run...Also dropping in for a tag.
To the Point...High early speed.
Fancy Fiona.
On dirt: Keith's Kitten, Conspicuous, Royalstrightflush, Giuseppina, Disarming, Deanaallen'skitten, Seaside Run.

SIXTH RACE
Cookram Rock...Tend to like these runners moving into open claimers from NY-bred alw company.
Motion Play...Third start back and first two were solid. Dangerous.
Golly Day...As mentioned with the top pick - this one has gone well in last two at this level since moving from NY-bred alw company.
El Corriente.
On dirt: Winning Token, On Vacation, One Turn Eddie, El Corriente, Cookram Rock.

SEVENTH RACE
Afaaf...[Note: Whoops - we're updating at noon - we put the wrong horse name in - so this is corrected, hopefully those who checkedi n earlier will note that the breeding description goes with Afaaf. Apologies for the mistake.] Attracted $300K as a yearling. Sire Distorted Humor produces precocious runners. Dam produced the nice stakes winner Rule, and is herself a half-sis to Funny Cide. Expect improvement with one under her belt.
Barn Diva...Home-bred is a well-bred firster from the Curlin/Rachel connections.
Networking...Could wind up being the one to beat off of the good debut effort.
Dance Quietly.
Dixie Dear.
Cold Hearted Babe.

EIGHTH RACE
Codetta...Wow - that's some breeding. Mott doesn't typically have them cranked first time so this gal should be set for improvement.
Smart Farming...Started career for a tag and then moved into MSW company - which is a tough angle, but she handled it and should fit here today.
Prize Catch...Solid fourth in debut - behind the top two.
Home Rule.
Sterling Silver.
On dirt: Same, add Lignum Vitae, Sortilege and Ivybridge underneath.

NINTH RACE - Adirondack G2 $150K
Position Limit...Big win in debut - have to wonder if it was aided by the slop. We'll find out more today - or it might rain.
Alienation...Got up in a good-looking debut in Socal - on the grass. Hmmm. Have to respect that Baffert reaches out to west coast jock to ride.
Because I Like It...2YO Florida racing is typically pretty salty.
Tristanme.

TENTH RACE
Smooth Transition...Moves in for an open tag from NY-bred alw company.
Shimmering Forest...Finding some serious class relief.
Medaglia's Express.
Cops Fever.
Nehru.
On dirt: Same, add Kid Tornado and Cruzin With Cash underneath.

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