The Whitney Stakes 2024
Whitney Day at Saratoga is just about a guarantee of a great day of racing with plenty of opportunities. This year lives up to the billing and The Whitney drew […]
Key Races & Bets for Saturday August 3rd, 2024
Saratoga Derby Invitational – Race 7 at Saratoga – Post Time 3:21 PM Eastern
Win Contenders: Legend of Time, Carson’s Run, Cugino, Diego Velazquez
Legend of Time couldn’t out finish White Palomino (and Trikari) in the similar Belmont Derby last month, but that was because White Palomino ran like a snail on the lead with an opening half-mile in 50 seconds. One before that Legend of Time won the Pennine Ridge Stakes with a big late kick and I suspect the reason William Buick is in to ride from Europe is to ensure this classy colt gets the job done today as he did in three straight stakes between January and March. Appleby and Buick have won nearly 50% of their 32 combined races (15 to be exact) in North America over the last five years and this colt should add to those numbers.
Key Races & Bets for Saturday July 27, 2024
Ontario Colleen Stakes – Race 8 at Woodbine – Post Time 4:47 PM Eastern
Top win Contender: Sabatini
Other contenders: Crevalle d’Oro, Ready for Shirl, Simply in Front
Longshot to consider: Miss Roberts
Sabatini stretched out to two turns for the first time four weeks ago to win the Grade 3 Selene Stakes, with a visually impressive move on the far turn to go from fourth to first, and easily held a two length advantage for the final eighth of a mile. That effort earned a field high 100 Equibase Speed Figure and being as this will be her second route she should run even better. She’s bred to run as well on grass as she did on all-weather and is the one to beat.
Key Races & Bets for Saturday July 20, 2024
Monmouth Cup Stakes – Race 10 at Monmouth – Post Time 4:38 PM Eastern
Top win Contender: Counterspy
Other win contender: Highland Falls
Counterspy is a “lone front runner” with an aggressive rider in Paco Lopez, who was up for a very strong win on June 10 where the horse won more easily than it appears, earning a 108 Equibase Speed Figure which is the best/fastest winning figure earned by any horse in the field this year. In his only start since, he did not get the lead in a seven furlong race where the opening half-mile was :44 and change but he was four lengths off that hot pace which projects to an easy lead in this two-turn race. Counterspy has won his last four two-turn races, all powerfully, with the one on March 24 even faster than on June 10, as he earned a 112 figure, and so it is highly likely he can win for the seventh time in his career. Even if low odds he may offer value in doubles to the next race, the United Nations, and similarly to the pick 3 ending in the Haskell (Race 12).
Saratoga Selections July 13, 2024
Opening weekend at Saratoga. Three stakes on the Saturday card with the Grade 1 Diana coming up tough with 10 fillies and mares set to go. Our first episode of […]