At the Gate – Sunday

It looked for a bit like Century Dream was going to take the Arlington Million (G1) field gate to wire at 8-1 as our top pick but he ran out of gas inside the final furlong, drifting over to finish third and getting disqualified for interference in the stretch and placed fourth.

My second choice Robert Bruce rallied for the win, capping off a banner day for trainer Chad Brown who ran one-two-three in the Beverly D. (G1) and one-two in the Million.

My top pick in the Beverly D. was Sistercharlie and was very impressive scoring and returning $5.20 as the favorite. Fourstar Crook came with a good late run as my third choice to complete a $$17.80 exacta.

The Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga did not go our way as Voodoo Song was able to take the field gate to wire, pulling off the mild upset returning $15.40 while my top pick Heart to Heart did not show much, weakening to finish sixth and last after chasing the early pace.




The feature at the Spa on Sunday is the $200,000 Saratoga Special (G2) for juveniles that drew a field of six. Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out Bashford Manor (G3) winner Sir Truebadour, who is 4-1 on the morning line and the 5-2 morning line favorite Tight Ten who was a good-looking maiden winner in his debut at Churchill Downs.

The co-feature is the $200,000 Waya (G3) which was postponed from last Saturday due to bad weather. A field of eight go to the post. Santa Monica is the 8-5 morning line favorite off a win in the Dance Smartly (G2) at Woodbine.

Sunday’s Best Plays Report includes my seven strongest plays from Del Mar and Saratoga.

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To purchase my Saratoga Report and Best Plays Reports for Sunday click here .

Here is the opening race from Saratoga to get the day off to a good start:

SAR Race 1 Clm $40,000N2L (1:00 ET)
#4 Take Notice 5-2
#5 Slot 8-5
#2 Class Won / 2b You're Killin Me 2-1
#1 Make the Rules / 1a Zap Daddy 4-1

Analysis: Take Notice drops in for a tag after tracking the early pace and weakening to finish fifth last out against Alw-1 foes over a wet track here in a race taken off the turf. He graduated three back in a game effort at Churchill Downs going seven furlongs then was fourth in his first go against winners behind a repeat winner. Lukas drops him into an easier spot here tagged for $40,000 and facing non-winners of two and he should be a forward factor against this group while getting a jock upgrade to Rosario.

Slot graduated at a one turn mile two back and then weakened to finish eighth last out in his first trip on turf off a 2 1/2-month break. he drops in for a tag for Pletcher who is 24% winners moving runners from turf to dirt. His back numbers look good enough to beat this group although his price may end up on the light side.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 4 / 2,5
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 9 The Waya (5:40 ET)
#5 Mom's On Strike 3-1
#3 Santa Monica 8-5
#4 Homeland Security 5-1
#8 Summersault 8-1

Analysis: Mom's on Strike was outrun early and came with a good late run to finish fourth beaten two lengths in the New York (G2) at 1 1/4 miles. Three runners have exited that race to win stakes next out including the runner up Sistercharlie, who won the Diana (G1) here on July 21. Our top pick won the Bewitch (G3) two back in her lone try at 1 1/2 miles. She won her last three starts over ground rated less than firm. She could use some pace and there is not much in here so hopefully Beschizza recognizes that and keeps her a bit closer this afternoon. The barn has been live, Sharp winning with 6 of his first 15 starters at the meeting.

Santa Monica made a good late rally to win the Dance Smartly (G2) last out at Woodbine going 1 1/4 miles in her third start since landing in the U.S. with Brown. She won a Group 3 at 1 1/2 miles at Cork in Ireland last June. She has moved forward in each of her starts here state side and will appreciate the extra ground and the prospect of less than firm conditions as we may get more rain this afternoon.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5-2 or better
EX: 3,5 / 3,4,5,8
TRI: 3,5 / 3,4,5,8 / 1,3,4,5,8

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Del Mar:

DMR Race 7 Md Sp Wt (5:03 PT)
#3 Aardvark 8-1
#5 Street Image 8-1
#4 Music to My Ears 5-2
#10 Spin Lightning 3-1

Analysis: Aardvark debuts for the Hollendorfer barn that is 12% winners with first timers. The colt has been working quickly at Los Al and then had one local morning drill over the main track here on Aug. 4. He is by Raison d'Etat out of a Tiznow mare that ash dropped one other foal to race, no winners to date. The barn has had some success using the bug and the price should be fair on this guy.

Street Image is a $200,000 purchase making his debut for the Machowsky barn that is 15% winners with firsters. A near bullet drill out of the gate on Aug. 3. He is by Street Sense out of a stakes placed Big Brown mare, her first foal to race. Another that looks as if he will offer some value in this spot.

Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 3,4,5,10
TRI: 3,5 / 3,4,5,20 / 3,4,5,6,10

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
R2: #7 Sir Frost 15-1
R3: #4 Lex Vegas 10-1
R4: #7 Rumble Doll 10-1
R5: #7 Varenka 8-1
R5: #10 Aunt Hattie 8-1
R7: #6 Maximus Beauty 8-1
R9: #8 Summersault 8-1
R10: #4 Princess Carolina 10-1

Good luck today!