Today's Best Bets2-10. Winners in the 1st [$2.50] and 6th [$19.20]. Also, an A-B cold exacta in the 1st [$6.80/$2]. B-C-A in the 2nd for the exacta [$68.00] and tri [$148.50]. A B-C-D finish in the 4th for the exacta [$8.40] and tri [$35.60]. We usually don't go to the "D" selection to tout exactas - but with our "D" being 40-1 in the 5th it might have been worth including - and the B-D exacta was generous [$307.00]. And going a little deeper was probably worthwhile in the 6th as well - our A-D exacta paid $106.00.
21,654 attended. Picture perfect weather with plenty of sun and comfortable temps.
FIRST RACE
Cocalero...Debut win seemed to validate the $675K purchase price. Flopped in the follow-up but should benefit from that one and might also appreciate the cutback to 7F.
Maximus Ruler...Ran a good second in an early season 3YO stake - and has been on the sidelines since. Capable if able to fire off of the bench.
Aspire...Placed in a couple of G1s last year and now makes third start of 2010. Toss last in the slop.
Ya Gotta Have Soul.
SECOND RACE
Malibu Cougar...We had this one on top on opening day. Precociously-bred and win-early connections. And worked in 10.2 before 2YO sale. Comes back in what is likely to prove to be a very tough Saratoga maiden event but we won't jump off in the second start - which is a string-suit for Asmussen.
Missyoulikecrazy...Bred to win early.
Five Mach Speed...Another that has the breeding to be good in the first try.
Blazing Along.
THIRD RACE
Wild Pegasus...With the breeding and the connections it's hard to believe we'll get that 20-1 ML price - but we'll take it!
Volcker...Could be interesting trying the turf and stretching off of three good dirt sprints.
Gold Trader...Has some breeding to go well here - but trainer is not known to fire first-out.
Beachcombing.
FOURTH RACE
Siete Machos...AE list. Ships in from SoCal to take on NY-breds.
John Wyatt...AE list...Has a little bit of a closing kick.
Quiet on the Tee...Back in against state-breds after two out-of-state wins.
Monastir...Been awhile since a win but looks like a good fit here.
The Noz.
Dos Hombres.
Talk Therapy.
FIFTH RACE
Research Report...Trainer/owner team have taken these 2YO auction buys and won first-out here in seasons past. Worked in 10.3 before the sale.
King Congie...Came out of the same sale as the top pick and also worked in 10.3.
Free Entry...Good win-early breeding and a trainer who can have them ready.
Uncle Mo.
SIXTH RACE
Chingachgook...Six tries without a win - but always in the mix and ran well in a similar event here last time. Finished behind The Noz last time - that one goes in the 4th today and might provide some more info on this one.
City Train...AE list. Solid in turf debut.
Whateverittakes... AE list. Nine times a loser so far - but barn has been hot the past few days.
Jacob's Dream... Should be heard from in the lane.
Fourseventeen.
Neversaywhen.
SEVENTH RACE
Aikenite...We chased this guy through a few of the Derby preps this year - and he disappointed. But sometimes these types - moving from facing the top of the division on dirt - can have a little bit of a class edge on the turfers. However, this is a tough field. We'll see...
Staying On...Has yet to do much on this side of the Atlantic but might fit well here.
Midnight Mischief...Could be ready to go well in the second start of the season.
Rescue Squad.
EIGHTH RACE - Ballston Spa Hcp G2 $200K
Phola...Could be primed with a race over the course.
Miss Keller...Solid 4YO season so far and got a good prep win for this earlier in the meet.
Cherokee Queen...Was in good form before the mishap last time. Trainer is always dangerous when motivated to leave his Florida home-base.
Mekong Melody.
NINTH RACE - Victory Ride G3 $100K
Rapport...The fade job in Florida is a concern - but speed is always dangerous and she's likely to say 'catch me if you can'.
Katy Now...An OK try in the G1 Mother Goose and should appreciate the cutback.
Beyondallboundarys...Will stalk and try to pick up the pieces late.
Sister Dawn.
TENTH RACE - Ballerina G1 $250K
Jessica Is Back...Landed here after much deliberation. It simply looks like there's all kinds of speed and this one won last tie with a closing move. However - previous tries were on the front-end - so she could just as easily get caught up in the early pace. We'll hope Elvis is patient - but you just never know...
Informed Decision...Hard to knock this gal but she ran third here last year and her record says she's probably a little bit better on synthetics.
Rightly So...Speed from the rail.
warbling.
ELEVENTH RACE - King's Bishop G1 $250K
Hurricane Ike...The question is going to be readiness off of the break - but has been working well. Was showing promise earlier this year after shipping east.
Discreetly Mine...If you believe in the 'bounce theory' this one has a right to regress - if not, watch out!
D'Funnybone...Undefeated at the trip.
Bulldogger.
TWELFTH RACE - TRAVERS G1 $1mil
Super Saver...Had a little trouble at the start of the G1 Haskell and was perhaps a little rank off the bench. Could be coming into this in a somewhat similar fashion as he came in the G1 Ky Derby - a race which makes him one of only a few in here to try 10F and the only one to win at the trip.
A Little Warm...Had this one on top in the G2 Jim Dandy and he came through. The one to beat off of the last two.
Trappe Shot...The second in the G1 Haskell was solid for a first try in G1 company and given that the winner is the pro tem leader of the division. Just a little bit concerned that the connections were debating between this and the G1 King's Bishop - and didn't decide until the last minute.
Ice Box.
THIRTEENTH RACE
Ben's Boots...Might have a class-edge on this bunch.
Glory Chaser...All turf tries have been solid.
Pretty Cozzy...Should appreciate the move into an open conditional claimer from state-bred alw company.
Moonwalk Beauty.
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