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!!!
Another day without a true feature left me with time to tinker with the formula for days like this. So today you get a little something about each of the eleven runners set to go 1 5/8 miles on the grass in the John’s Call at the Spa. The Todd Pletcher trained duo of Nite Light and Alaazo were entered Main Track Only but the forecast calls for another beautiful day in the foothill of the Adirondacks so I doubt they’ll get in. Let’s begin.
Up to No Good makes his third start off a layoff having finished third in his last two over the Presque Isle Downs synthetic surface. He owns a win and a third place finish in his two grass starts, both at Laurel, last year. Eibar Coa rides from post 1 for trainer Marc Sharp.
Calvin Borel will pilot Guadalcanal from post two for trainer Fred Seitz Jr. Two of his three career wins are going 1 ½ miles and the fact that he’s usually gaining ground at the end of his races leads me to believe the extra furlong should be right up his alley.
Sanna Hendricks sends out Tifone for his third start since last November. Tifone won at a mile two back before finishing third after setting the pace going 1 3/8 miles at Delaware Park. Jeremy Rose rides from post 3.
Old Man Buck won a couple of minor stakes as a two year old but hasn’t really fulfilled the promise once shown for trainer Ken McPeek. He won an off the turf allowance race two back at Churchill Downs and will get Robby Albarado in the irons today from post 4.
The Tommy Voss trained Always First is the lukewarm 3-1 morning line favorite and comes into this off a win in the aforementioned 13/8 miles Delaware Park allowance contest. The class of the field, Always First has won several graded events in his career, including the G3 Stars and Stripes at Arlington as well as Keeneland’s’ G3 Sycamore. Kent Desormeaux rides from post 5.
Solitaire shipped up to Woodbine to win an allowance contest last out after a pair of sub-par efforts down at Gulfstream at the start of the season. Julien Leparoux has the call from post 6 for trainer Jimmy Bond.
Silver Mountain was third as the 3-5 chalk behind Guadalcanal last out and hasn’t won since taking his first two starts on grass back in May of last year. Tom Proctor will give Jose Lezcano a leg up from post 7.
Rodney Jenkins ships Southwest in from Delaware with Rosie Napravnik set to ride from post 8. Second to Always First two back, Southwest has done some of his best work going long and should appreciate the added distance of the John’s Call.
Rogue Victory gets a positive jockey change to Edgar Prado off a second place finish at Monmouth in which he was much the best. Though he’s never raced past 1 1/16 miles, his running style and pedigree scream out for more ground, which he’ll get here. He’ll break from post 9.
Lord Kipling won for the first time in six tries on turf last out, rating just off the pace to win a starter handicap going 12 furlongs at Philly Park under Jorge Chavez who has the return call in here for his third start off a short layoff. They’ll break from post 10 for trainer Gary Contessa.
Contessa will also send out the speedy Mission Approved from post 11 with Ramon Dominguez in the saddle. Winless since wiring the field in the G3 Singspiel at Woodbine back in June 2008, Mission Approved went a wicked three furlongs in :34 4/5 this past Monday over the Spa training track in preparation for this.
THE PLAY
It took a horse for the course in Past the Point to get us into the black, and he didn’t even run in a stakes race.
Today, make a five horse trifecta box using Guadalcanal, Always First, Silver Mountain, Southwest, and Rogue Victory. Total cost $60. Good luck!!!!
BANKROLL: plus $19
