Saratoga Wedneday Analsysis Plus Travers Stakes Preview

Alabama weekend kicks off Wednesday at historic Saratoga Race Course. The lid lifting card was set to feature a grade 1 event over “the jumps”. The race was moved due to the cancellation of another steeplechase race.

Travers Preview

Without question the entire Saratoga meet ramps up to the Travers Stakes. “The Midsummer Derby” is a 10 furlong race for three old horses. The allure of the race is that the precocious three year old runners from the Triple Crown trail collide with the late developing colts.

The result is a true collision of talent and can often help establish the top player in the 3 year old division.

2023 Three Year Olds

It has been a year of parity in the 3 year old division. Arguably the 5 biggest races in the division have been won by 5 different horses:

1. Kentucky Derby– Mage
2. Preakness Stakes– National Treasure
3. Belmont Stakes– Arcangelo
4. TVG Haskell Invitational– Geaux Rocket Ride
5. Jim Dandy- Forte

Of these winners only Geaux Rocket Ride is not listed as a probable for the Travers. The result looks like a heck of a race for bettors and racing fans alike.

A Tough Call

Jockey Javier Castellano broke through this year winning his first ever Kentucky Derby. Just 5 weeks later he repeated the feat by winning his first ever Belmont Stakes. While it is not atypical for jockey to win 2 legs of the Triple Crown in a year, Castellano did it with a twist.

In the Derby he won on Mage. However, with Mage not running in the Belmont he was able to pick up Arcangelo. Now the two horses are slated to meet in the Travers and the decision fell to Castellano and his agent as to which to ride.

In the end Castellano allowed the connection’s ultimatum to pass on riding Mage which forced them to turn to Luis Saez. Castellano will leg up Arcangelo as he did in Elmont earlier this year.

Wednesday Full Card Analysis

Saratoga Race Course- 1

Post: 1:10 PM ET; $88k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/16 m on turf; Entries: 10

• #6 ONCE AN EAGLE (3-1) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. Her debut speed figure would make her a player in this spot. She was able to hit the board first time out.
• #2 BERNIETAKESCHARGE (6-1) is another going out at second asking. The first start was very productive and should leave her right in the mix here.
• #9 GRAB THE GLORY (5-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Rice and Ortiz. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #5 RUN FOR YOUR HONEY (9-2) isn’t without hope. She seems to fit well enough here and comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 9 – 5

Saratoga Race Course- 2

Post: 1:44 PM ET; $52k Maiden Claiming going 1 m on dirt; Entries: 6

• #1 DARK PRINCESS (2-1) is the top pick. She may have found her friends in this group. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #2 DON’T TELL AMY (3-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #6 THESTRAL (9-5) has numbers that make her an absolute player in this spot. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #3 GRACEFUL (6-1) has the pedigree to be in with a shot here. The speed figures don’t leave much to be desired against these types and the price is much better than any of the top 3 selections.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 6 – 3

Saratoga Race Course- 3

Post: 2:18 PM ET; $42k Claiming going 1 m on dirt; Entries: 7

• #1 SUSPENDED CAMPAIGN (6-5) appears to be a major player in this race. She shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Rice and Ortiz. It is worth noting that Linda Rice has started to cool off a bit.
• #7 ITS COLD IN DEHERE (4-1) has been really solid. Her speed figures make her a tough toss in this spot.
• #3 GREATEST LOVE (12-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #5 VEGAS WEEKEND (10-1) is a great price and has been successful at the mile distance before. There are races in the past performances that wouldn’t make this one a total surprise.

Selections: 1 – 7 – 3 – 5

Saratoga Race Course- 4

Post: 2:52 PM ET; $70k Starter Allowance going 5 1/2 f on turf; Entries: 12

• #5 WORLD TRAVELER (7-2) gets the top selection. She goes out for the Sacco barn and gets Lezcano in the irons. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #3 EXPLOSIVE EXCHANGE (8-1) should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #7 MADDIE’S GRACE (4-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #9 SARATOGA GAZE (6-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She will have her position going forward which should help quite a bit. This one makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 7 – 9

Saratoga Race Course- 5

Post: 3:26 PM ET; $70k Starter Allowance going 1 1/8 m on turf; Entries: 12

• #10 UNLEASH THE POWER (3-1) is the top pick. He shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #7 JARREAU (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #12 CHILENO (99-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #1 SPLENDID SUMMER (10-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He can be a bit one paced, but that could work with the pace of this race. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 10- 7 – 12- 1

Saratoga Race Course- 6

Post: 4:00 PM ET; $149.5k Allowance going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 9

• #7 CUPID’S HEART (9-5) looks best here and is a slight standout on paper against these types.
• #8 PORTAGE (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Rice and Lezcano.
• #3 SA FORADADA (8-1) isn’t without hope. She seems to fit well enough here. This one goes out for the Dutrow barn and gets Ortiz in the irons.
• #4 CUZ UR PRETTY (9-2) runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.

Selections: 7 – 8 – 3 – 4

Saratoga Race Course- 7

Post: 4:36 PM ET; $45k Claiming going 1 1/8 m on dirt; Entries: 9

• #7 SOUTH STREET (1-1) gets the top selection. He looks to be the class of the field. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #2 LUCKY LUCKY LUKE (7-2) is the 2nd likeliest winner, but it feels like a big gap off the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Noda and Ortiz.
• #9 HAPPY BOB (8-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #3 FREEZE POP (4-1) will likely to try to get involved early to have the best shot to hit the board late.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 9 – 3

Saratoga Race Course- 8

Post: 5:10 PM ET; $125k Suzie O’Cain S. going 1 1/16 m on turf; Entries: 11

• #5 SILVER SKILLET (2-1) is the top pick. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #8 COLLABORATION (6-1) also appears to be in with a shot here. She has races good enough to beat this group.
• #3 IM JUST KIDDIN (8-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #7 ORANGE FREEZE (5-1) has races that could put her in the mix here. This one goes out for the Morey barn and gets Prat in the irons.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 3 – 7

Saratoga Race Course- 9

Post: 5:44 PM ET; $50k Maiden Claiming going 5 1/2 f on turf; Entries: 13

• #8 ARMY OF THOUGHTS (12-1) is the upset play of the day. The distance shouldn’t pose a problem for her and she has been competitive under these conditions before.
• #6 MO DAMORNINGGROUCH (8-1) should be competitive in this spot. She seems to fit well enough here. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #4 RED BUTTERFLY (7-2) has races good enough to beat this group. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #9 SONJA KNIPS (10-1) is a price horse and feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Pugh and Davis. The Davis family (Katie, Jackie, and Dylan) have found a midsummer surge with their mounts.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 4 – 9

This Week in Racing

Betting News will provide in depth analysis for the following cards throughout the week:

• Del Mar Oaks (Del Mar, Saturday)
• Alabama (Saratoga, Saturday)
• Philip H. Iselin (Monmouth, Saturday)
• King Edward (Woodbine, Saturday)