Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
There is plenty of great horse racing action to look forward to across America on Saturday, including at Saratoga race track. Here are four runners whom we think look to be a class above the opposition in their respective races. Let’s dive in and take a look at some potentially lucrative plays.
1:41 pm Saratoga (Race 2) – Fast Gordon +300
Placed on two of his five starts to date Linda Rice’s charge demonstrated good form in maiden special weight company when finishing three-and-a-half-lengths third in a Belmont Park event over six-furlongs-and-one-half-furlongs back in May. A solid fifth over the same track and trip followed and with this step up in distance looking likely to suit he is taken to get off the mark back down in grade with Jose Lezcano taking the ride on the son of budget sire Alpha.
4:29 pm Saratoga (Race 7) – Love And Thunder +200
Demonstrated plenty of ability as a three-year-old in the UK last year winning over a mile at Newbury in June prior to a couple of down the field finishes in Group company. Appears suited to US racing having placed second on both starts since joining the Chad Brown barn including when a nose second over a mile-and-one-hundred-and-sixty-yards in an allowance in May. Looks capable of going one better with Jose Ortiz in the saddle once more.
5:03 pm Saratoga (Race 8) – Mischievious Alex +200
The four-year-old Into Mischief colt has been in great form since joining the Saffie A Joseph Jr barn including when switched to the New York circuit to register a first Grade 1 triumph when taking the Carter Handicap upped to seven-furlongs-and-fifty-yards at Aqueduct in April. The switch back to sprinting here is a positive having finished third in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap over a mile-and-fifty yards at Belmont Pak subsequently and he can take this under Irad Ortiz.
5:39 pm Saratoga (Race 9) – Essential Quality -200
Brad Cox boasts a 50% strike-rate (6/12) at this meeting and his star three-year-old Essential Quality can improve on that by registering a seventh win in eight career starts in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes. The selection’s sole defeat to date came when fourth in the Kentucky Derby over a mile-and-one-quarter at Churchill Downs at the start of May. The Tapit colt registered a top level victory in the Belmont Stakes subsequently and can take this dropping in trip.
6:13 pm Saratoga (Race 10) – Channel Maker +250
Manny Franco’s mount ended his 2020 campaign with a length third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland back in November. That marked the geldings most recent US start with a second at Saudi Arabia and a below par effort when finishing eight in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March the seven-year-old’s most recent starts. Looks well placed here and can take this race for a second time having dead-heated when contesting the 2018 renewal.
Exotic
Late Pick 4
Race 8 – 2, 6
Race 9 – 5, 3
Race 10 – 1, 5
Race 11 – 7, 8
Stake: $1.00
Total Stake: $16.00
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