Welcome to Stabile’s Saratoga Special. Throughout the 36 day meet at America’s most revered racetrack, VegasInsider.com writer and handicapper Anthony Stabile, dubbed “King of the Spa” after his record setting ROI for a public handicapper at the 1999 Saratoga meet, will take a look at the stakes action for the day as well as give you a free play in one of the stakes that day. For all of Stabile’s daily Saratoga selections and plays, CLICK HERE!!!
It’s going to take one hell of a performance to top Hot Dixie Chick’s performance in yesterday’s Schuylerville but nine juvenile colts will try to do just that in today’s $150,000 G2 Sanford going six furlongs on the main track, led by the only two time winner in the field, the undefeated Backtalk.
After closing nicely to break his maiden in his debut over a Churchill Downs course that was labeled “good,” Backtalk managed to recover from a terrible start to win the G3 Bashford Manor under the Twin Spires for trainer Tom Amoss in just the second start of his career and over a dry course. Miguel Mena returns in the saddle from post 4.
Bulls and Bears broke his maiden in impressive fashion in his latest, splitting rivals to gut out a neck victory that made him look more like an old pro than a first out juvenile. Trainer Rick Violette has worked the son of Holy Bull a couple of times since his debut score and appears to have him ready for the jump up to stakes competition. Alan Garcia, a two time winner on the opening day card, has the return mount from post 7.
Speaking of winning, trainer Steve Asmussen will look to sweep the first two graded stakes of the meet when he sends out flashy first out winner Enumerate in the Sanford. Enumerate was sent immediately to lead from his inside post last out and made every pole a winning one, eventually posting a five length score. Another rail draw is in the cards today as is a new rider in Edgar Prado who’s replacing the injured Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons.
Asmussen will take a second shot in here with Louisvilleluminary. After tiring to finish fourth in his debut over a sloppy track at 4-5, Louisvilleluminary rated just off the pace to break his maiden at second asking. Julien Leparoux rides from post 2.
Like Asmussen, Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas will send out a pair in the Sanford, Soundman and Activity Report. Easily the most experienced colt in the race having already run four times, Soundman broke his maiden three back, was second in the mud then tired to finish fifth in the Bashford Manor. Cornelio Velasquez rides from post 3.
Activity Report will be making his first start for Lukas since being turned over from the Cody Autrey stable. Activity Report missed by a neck in his debut before breaking his maiden last out with both starts coming against $50K maiden claimers. Jamie Theriot rides from the outside post 9.
Trainer Frank Alexander will try to keep his hand hot when it comes to his two year olds when he saddles Bricklayer. After breaking his debut at Aqueduct, Bricklayer added Lasix and shipped up to Woodbine for a start in an ungraded event over the Polytrack surface which didn’t go so well. A brief rest and return to dirt could do the trick. Javier Castellano rides from post 6.
Rounding out the Sanford field are a couple of debut Monmouth maiden winners, Nacho Friend and Interactif. Nacho Friend rallied from off the pace to win by a widening six lengths in the slop under Joe Bravo, who returns here for trainer Kelly Breen. They’ll break from post 5. Interactif wired six others for trainer Todd Pletcher, who replaces Chris DeCarlo in the saddle with his main man John Velazquez from post 8.
THE PLAY
It looks to me like there is enough early pace in here for either Backtalk or Bulls and Bears to get the money. Bet $20 to win on Bulls and Bears, then make a $20 exacta Bulls and Bears over Backtalk. Total plays cost $40. Good luck!!!
BANKROLL: minus $36
