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!!
Just one week into the Saratoga meet and we’ve already seen some spectacular efforts up at the Old Spa, along with a few at other racetracks as well. Hot Dixie Chick and Backtalk each proved their wins at Churchill Downs were no fluke by repeating in the Schuylerville and Sanford respectively in the first two days of the meet.
Be Fair won an off-the-turf renewal of the Lake George in gate-to wire fashion before the action really heated up on Saturday when Forever Together defended her title with a spectacular late kick to win the Diana for the second year in a row. On Sunday, Seventh Street broke on top, ducked out on the first turn, lost the lead then got it back for good, holding off the late run of Miss Isella to win the Go For Wand.
But the most exciting action of this past week had to be the three-year-olds. Kensei stamped himself as big player the rest of the way, scoring a win in the Jim Dandy on Saturday. A few minutes later, Soul Warrior took advantage of a huge speed biased course down at Mountaineer Park to win the West Virginia Derby, a race in which Kentucky Derby hero Mine That Bird finished third in his first start since the Triple Crown.
The remarkable superfilly Rachel Alexandra won her eighth straight on Sunday when she beat the boys for the second time in less than four months with a monstrous victory in the Haskell at Monmouth earning her trainer Steve Asmussen a three-year-old stakes hat trick in the process. On Monday, Florida Derby winner Quality Road made his return to the races, and first start for new trainer Todd Pletcher, a winning one with a track record-setting win in the Amsterdam at Saratoga despite stumbling badly at the start.
As far as the gambling part, though the Saratoga Special Play of the Day is on the wrong side of things, there are five weeks left. And if you’ve been buying my pick pack for the Spa things are good as I’ve picked 19 winners from 60 races run while amassing $166.10 based on a $2 win bet on each of my top selections, good for an ROI of $2.76. Hopefully, we can keep it going and hit some of those all important plays.
As far as today goes, Cocoa Beach, scratched out of Sundays’ Go For Wand which her stablemate wound up winning, winds up in the De La Rose, a restricted race for horses that haven’t won a stakes this year. Cocoa Beach failed miserably in her seasonal bow last out at Belmont, finishing fourth at 1-9 in a minor stakes at Belmont. It’s back to the lawn today and if her last start on the grass is any indication, this one might have been over when the entries came out as it was a victory in the G1 Matriarch at Hollywood last fall. Ramon Dominguez rides from post 2. She’s coupled in the wagering with Skylighter, who’s making her first start for new trainer Graham Motion. Right next door to her entrymate in post 3, Julien Leparoux will ride.
Perhaps the two with the best chance of toppling the favorite entry is the other entry in the field. Scolara, breaking from post 1 under Kent Desormeaux, was third to Diana runner-up Carribean Sunset down in a $200K stakes at Philly Park last out while Savior Bien is adding Lasix for her first start in the U.S. for trainer Bobby Frankel. She’ll break from post 9 with Rosie Napravnik in the saddle.
In all, 16 fillies and mares were entered in the De La Rose. A maximum of ten will start, with four on the also eligible list and two others entered Main Track Only.
THE PLAY
I really can’t see how Cocoa Beach can get beat but the price will be terrible. Let’s take a shot at the superfecta. Use Cocoa Beach with Scolara with All with All for a cost of between $30 and $56, depending on scratches. Good luck!!!! BANKROLL: minus $71
