The 40-day Saratoga meeting comes to a close this afternoon with a pair of graded stakes.
The $250,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful (G1) drew seven runners with five going to the gate. Nacho Saint and Chipshot were entered but ran on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
The Hopeful can give us a good look at a potential star in the making. Among the two-year-olds that have won the race include Secretariat and Affirmed.
The likely favorite is Boys At Tosconova, who ran huge in his maiden score, taking the field gate to wire and earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.
The colt is owned by Jay Em Ess Stable and Hot Racing Stable and trained by Rick Dutrow.
The following race on the card is the $100,000 Glen Falls (G3), a 1 3/8 mile turf race for fillies and mares.
Forever Together is looking to get back to the winners circle for the first time since winning the Diana (G1) at Saratoga last summer.
The six-year-old mare has lost six races in a row, all at 2/1 or less.
After today’s final racing day at Saratoga, we have a four day break before Belmont Park’s fall meeting gets underway next Saturday.
The opening day feature at Belmont Park is the $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap (G2).
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 Clm $25,000 (1:00 ET)
#5 Healthy Debate 3/1
#2 Sextant 8/1
#8 Fiona Freud 8/1
#10 Catty Madeline 12/1
Analysis: #5 Healthy Debate has won five races in a row and now steps up in class and tries turf for the first time here as she makes her first start off the claim by the Rice barn that does not visit the claim box often (1 for 14). She was a sharp winner last out against $10K non winners of three on the main track in her local debut. The filly is by Freud (17% first turf) out of a Tricky Creek mare that has dropped four other winners including one turf winner. Rice wheels this gal right back quickly which looks like a good sign.
#2 Sextant raced evenly last out after hitting the gate at the break, checking in third against state bred Alw-1 foes. Two back the mare beat $25K non winners of three off a year layoff. She is back in for a tag here and figures to bounce back with a better effort in her third start off the bench. She also comes back quickly here for Rice, having run last out on Aug. 30.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 2,5,8,10
TRI: 2,5 / 2,5,8,10 / 2,3,4,5,8,10
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 9 The Hopeful G1 (5:22 ET)
#5 Boys At Tosconova 8/5
#7 Wine Police 5/2
#6 Stay Thirsty 4/1
#3 Settle for Medal 12/1
Analysis: #5 Boys At Tosconova ran huge breaking his maiden in his first trip over the Spa main track, taking the field gate to wire to win by a dozen lengths. The third place finisher in the race was #3 Settle for Medal, who came back to graduate in his next start on July 31. The colt came from off the pace in his debut to run second in the Kentucky Juvenile (G3) at Churchill Downs. He looks quick enough to wire this field, which will likely be scratched down to five as #1 Nacho Saint and #2 Chipshot both ran on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
#7 Wine Police went gate to wire to break his maiden in his debut, drawing clear to win by 7 3/4 lengths. The runner up Soldat came back to win the With Anticipation (G3) on grass on Sept. 3. He looks like he can move forward off his debut, but likely will be in the tracking role here as our top pick looks quicker early. The colt is out of the stakes winner Deputy Cures Blues ($406K).
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 1/1 or better.
EX: 5,7 / 5,6,7
TRI: no play
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: #8 Fiona Freud 8/1
R1: #2 Sextant 8/1
R1: #10 Catty Madeline 12/1
R2: #2 Quick Charm 8/1
R3: #5 Jilli’s Joy 10/1
R3: #6 Glance My Way 15/1
R6: #10 Pervis 8/1
R7: #4 Julene 8/1
R8: #2 Glory in Motion 12/1
R9: #3 Settle for Medal 12/1
R10: #6 Beauty O’Gwaun 15/1
R10: #5 Sweet and Flawless 12/1
R11: #1 Fly On the Wall 8/1
Good luck today!
