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Saratoga Special - Sunday
August 2, 2009
By Anthony Stabile
VegasInsider.com
STABILE’S SARATOGA SPECIAL
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!!!
T he two graded stakes on the Sunday card at Saratoga couldn’t be more different if they tried. The $300,000 G1 Go For Wand for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the main track appears to be a three horse race between Seventh Street and Cocoa Beach from the Godolphin Stable and Miss Isella. With just four other entrants that are apparently terribly overmatched, the race doesn’t leave much to the imagination.
Now, the $150,000 G2 Fourstardave going 1 1/16 miles on the turf is a far different tale. A field of nine is set to go postward, led by multiple G1 winner Kip Deville.
The 2007 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner had to settle for second in last years’ running to the remarkable filly Goldikova but came back with a vengeance to take the G1 Gulfstream Park Handicap in his seasonal bow going 1 1/8 miles, helping him shake the moniker of being no more than a miler.
Things haven’t gone so well in his two starts since however. Kip Deville finished a well beaten tenth in the G1 Dubai Duty Free on the World Cup undercard before failing miserably as the 3-4 favorite in the G3 Poker at Belmont in mid-June. The six-year-old will be making his Spa debut for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. with Cornelio Velasquez in the irons from post 8.
The seven-year-old Cosmonaut will be making the 36th start of his career in the Fourstardave and is no stranger to the old Spa, having raced here each of the past four years. In his first start of the year, Cosmonaut won the G3 Fort Marcy at Aqueduct and comes into this off a third place finish in the G3 Arlington Handicap for trainer Phil Serpe. Julien Leparoux rides from post 4.
A newcomer to Saratoga, as well as to graded stakes competition is Justenuffhumor for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. After beating just two others in his career debut over the Keeneland Polytrack, Justenuffhumor has gone undefeated in four turf starts over three different courses. Alan Garcia has the call from post 2.
Todd Pletcher will send out Cowboy Cal, who’ll be getting some class relief in here after trying G1 rivals in his last three starts. Second to the versatile Einstein in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard, Cowboy Cal flashed brief speed in the 1 ¼ mile Manhattan on Belmont Day before fading to 9th. A turnback in distance, rail draw and rider change to Ramon Dominguez should greatly help his chances.
Papa Bear will break from post 3 under Norberto Arroyo Jr off a gate-to-wire score in a second level allowance/optional claimer at Belmont for trainer Mike Hushion. Veiled Prophet ships in from Kentucky for trainer Rusty Arnold, who’ll give Jesus Castanon a leg up from post 5. Like Papa Bear, Veiled Prophet won a second level allowance contest last out.
Wesley closed nicely to be third in the G3 Dixie on the Preakness undercard before a pair of sub-par performances in the Manhattan and G1 United Nations at Monmouth. He’ll break from post 6 under Javier Castellano for trainer Mark Hennig. Mambo Meister was second behind Wesley in the G3 Miami Mile before winning a pair of minor stakes in his last two starts, all at Calder. Jose Lezcano rides for trainer Phil Gleaves from post 7. Interpatation hasn’t won in nearly two years for trainer Bob Barbara and hasn’t hit the board in any of his three starts this year. Mike Luzzi rides from post 9.
THE PLAY Justenuffhumor is on a serious roll and I’m a huge believer in riding a streak. Bet $40 to win on Justenuffhumor and make a $1 trifecta part wheel using Justenuffhumor with Papa Bear, Wesley and Kip Deville with All for $21. Total bets cost $61. Good luck!!!
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