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!!!
Amazingly, half of the 2009 Saratoga meet is in the books and we still have Travers Day to look forward to as well as the possible appearance of superfilly Rachel Alexandra. As far as the first three weeks, attendance is up over 8% and on track handle is up over 12% from last season, an obvious reflection in the great weather upstate New York has experienced lately.
In the jockey standings, last years champ Alan Garcia leads Ramon Dominguez 22-18 while Linda Rice will try to become the first woman to lead the Spa standings if she can hold onto her 10-9 advantage over both Todd Pletcher and Billy Mott.
Like Opening Day, today’s feature is for two-year-old fillies, the $150,000 G2 Adirondack going 6 ½ furlongs on the main track. A field of ten was scheduled to go postward but trainer Ken McPeek announced that Schuylerville runner-up Beautician would be forced to scratch due to a case of colic, leaving us with a field of nine. Trainer Steve Asmussen is hoping Dashing Debby can do for him in the Adirondack what Hot Dixie Chick did in the Schuylerville - win.
In her debut for her former connections in the J J’s Dream at Calder, Dashing Debby went straight to the top and improved her position at every call, coasting home by over 10 lengths. The win was impressive enough to prompt owner Jess Jackson to buy the filly and turn her over to Asmussen, like he did earlier this year with Rachel Alexandra. Robby Albarado rides from post 1.
Asmussen will also saddle Camille’s Appeal with Shaun Bridgmohan aboard. A debut maiden win for a $30K claiming tag at Delaware was followed up but a Texas-bred stakes win at Lone Star Park in her first start for Asmussen. She’ll break from post 6.
Decelerator is looking to bounce back from a dismal effort in the Schuylerville last out when she stumbled at the break for trainer D Wayne Lukas and jockey Julien Leparoux. After breaking her maiden at first asking, Decelerator won the G3 Debutante at Churchill two back. She’ll break from post 4.
Babai Baby leads a trio of first out maiden winners that are stepping up in a big way in the Adirondack. Unable to get a race against fillies to fill, trainer John Kimmel sent her six furlongs against the boys first out and she rewarded his faith in her with an impressive and gutsy gate-to wire score over next out winner Successful Score. Rajiv Maragh rides from post 5.
Worship the Moon ships in for trainer Mark Shuman having broke her maiden at the end of July down at Monmouth Park under Kendrick Carmouche, who’s back aboard in here from post 2. Worstcasescenario sat just off the pace before galloping away to win her debut in an off-the-turf race at Belmont for trainer Rick Violette. Alan Garcia returns from post 3.
Sassy Image finished third behind Beautician first out before breaking her maiden next out. She scratched out of the Schuylerville to await this spot for trainer Dale Romans. She’ll break from post 9 under Edgar Prado. Magic Appeal gets the services of Cornelio Velazquez after being ridden by Prado in her first two starts. Trained by Stan Hough, Magic Appeal will break from post 10. Finally, Marabelle finished second as the 8-5 chalk in her debut for trainer Mike Trombetta and gets a positive rider change to Ramon Dominguez from post 8.
THE PLAY I think Babai Baby can reproduce her debut maiden winning effort from a month ago. Bet $30 to win on Babai Baby and make a $1 trifecta part-wheel using Babai Baby with Dashing Debby, Decelerator and Sassy Image with All, which costs $21. Total wagers cost $51. Good luck!!!!
BANKROLL: minus $26
