Travers Day is here, and the day starts early, with a first post of 11:35 ET for the marathon 13-race card at Saratoga.
The NYRA has put together the best betting card of the meeting, complete with an all graded stakes Pick 4 with a $1 million guarantee, with the $1 million Shadwell Travers (G1) the anchor leg of the four race sequence.
After a steady stream of short fields in stakes the past few days at the Spa, each of the five stakes on today’s card are solid betting races.
The stakes action starts with the eighth race, the $200,000 Ballston Spa Handicap (G2) on the inner turf course.
An evenly matched field of ten fillies and mares will go to the post, with Miss Keller, Phola, and Maram likely to vie for favoritism.
The $1 million guaranteed Pick 4 starts with the ninth race, the $100,000 Victory Ride (G3), which drew a field of nine three-year-old fillies.
Hall of fame trainer Bob Baffert sends out the speedy Rapport, who will be very tough to catch if she shakes loose in the early going.
The $250,000 Ballerina (G1) features last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) champion Informed Decision.
Trained by Jonathan Sheppard, the mare is unbeatable on synthetic surfaces, but will she take to the Spa dirt, and what will her price be?
She is nine for ten in her career on the fake stuff, and at a short price I will try to beat her using Rightly So and Warbling on my Pick 4 ticket.
The $250,000 King’s Bishop (G1) looks like a showdown between Discreetly Mine and D’Funnybone, but as you can see below in today’s featured race of the day section, I am going to look for a price.
The Travers may be the toughest race of the Pick 4. Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver is the co-third choice at 6/1 on the morning line.
The two likely favorites will be Jim Dandy (G2) winner A Little Warm and Haskell Invitational (G1) runner up Trappe Shot.
To purchase my full card report for Saratoga that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is the opening race from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:
SAR Race 1 Alw $62,000N1X (11:35 ET)
#10 Cocalero 4/1
#3 Aspire 3/1
#9 Maximus Ruler 7/2
#6 Litigation Risk 10/1
Analysis: #10 Cocalero overcame a bad start and was caught behind a wall of horses turning for home and still got up to break his maiden. He was caught out wide and did not threaten in his first start at today's level, but I am willing to give him another look here as he cuts back to seven furlongs. The $675K purchase has a solid pedigree, by A.P. Indy out of the stakes winner Got Koko ($960K), her first foal to race.
#3 Aspire mixed it up in Grade 1 company last fall with a runner up finish in the Hopeful and a third in the Champagne. After a decent third two back off the bench he did not care much for the sloppy track last out. He should catch footing he likes more here as he makes his third start off the bench for the Kenneally barn that has been sending out live runners at the meet.
Wagering
WIN: #10 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 3,10 / 3,6,9,10
TRI: 3,10 / 3,6,9,10 / 1,3,6,9,10
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 10 The Ballerina G1 (4:38 ET)
#1 Rightly So 6/1
#2 Warbling 4/1
#3 Jessica Is Back 7/2
#4 Informed Decision 5/2
Analysis: #1 Rightly So took the field gate to wire to win the Bed O' Roses (G3) last out, holding on to win by a nose over #5 Qualia. Three runners have exited the race to win next out including Lady Alexander, who won the Regret at Monmouth Park on Aug. 1. The Tony D. trainee fires every time out, landing in the exacta in 9 of her 10 career starts. She owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and with the rail draw and the bullet work on Aug. 24 there is no doubt where she will be early. She likes the seven-furlong distance and her 6/1 ML looks more than fair.
#2 Warbling was off poorly as she acted up in the gate and spotted the field several lengths. She came with a four wide rally to finish third over a racing strip that was playing to inside speed. She was a good second two back to #3 Jessica Is Back in the Princess Rooney (G1). She makes her third start of her current form cycle and her 4/1 ML may drift up a few notches.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,3,4
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4,5
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Saratoga
R1: #6 Litigation Risk 10/1
R2: #2 Kerfuffle 12/1
R3: #6 Film Maker 10/1
R3: #1 Beachcombing 12/1
R3: #8 Gold Trader 10/1
R4: #4 New Pais 10/1
R4: #11 Dos Hombres 8/1
R5: #8 Sinorice 12/1
R6: #5 Fourseventeen 12/1
R6: #4 Brolio 12/1
R6: #2 Neversaywhen 12/1
R7: #10 Midnight Mischief 8/1
R7: #5 Staying On 8/1
R8: #7 Dynaslew 8/1
R12: #8 Fly Down 8/1
R12: #1 Miner’s Reserve 12/1
Good luck today!
