How does this sound?
Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta meet up later this year, at Churchill Downs. There is no television, no online wagering, and no online video of the race.
The only way you can see it is to drive to Louisville, Ky.
Don’t bring your cell phone, blackberry, or laptop computer. You won’t be able to use them at the track, as track officials fear you might call your bookie or place a wager online.
That is the scenario Fred Pope suggested in an article for the Paulick Report yesterday. With no television, he thinks 80,000 would show up, wager $20 million, and all of the ills of horse racing would be solved.
Something like that.
Pope, an advertising executive and founder of the National Thoroughbred Association, is one of the industry types that just does not seem to get it.
He supports owners, and wants a bigger slice of the pie for owners, breeders, tracks, just about everyone except for the people that fuel the show: the horseplayer.
If track executives continue to take guys like Pope seriously, many of us will be playing a lot more golf in the very near future.
To purchase my full card report for Saratoga that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is today's second race (the opener is a steeplechase race) from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:
SAR Race 2 Md $150,000 (1:35 et)
#2 Speckledbird 2/1
#3 Water of Life 5/2
#7 Rock Star Royalty 6/1
#1 Whispered 4/1
Analysis: #2 Speckledbird drops in for a tag for her second career start although it is a pretty big tag. The filly showed some early zip in her debut, pressing the early pace from the outside until the top of the stretch, then getting leg weary and finishing fifth. She came back with a pretty quick work on August 31 and is in good hands with the Mott barn, which usually has them move forward second time out. The daughter of Macho Uno is out of a Fast Play mare that has dropped four other foals to race, all winners, top earner Bookmaster ($262K).
#3 Water of Life stalked the early pace from the inside and tired to finish fourth in her debut here on August 7. She was a $170K purchase, by Hennessy out of an Unbridled mare that has dropped four winners, top earner Omaha Beach ($166K). Pletcher maidens tend to get overbet at the Spa, and the trainer is just 4 for his last 35 with second timers here at the Spa. However, the firsters in here don't look all that appealing.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 2,3 / 1,2,3,7
TRI: 2,3 / 1,2,3,7 / 1,2,3,5,7
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 8 Riskaverse S. (4:57 et)
#10 Gemswick Park 8/1
#3 Pretty Prolific 5/1
#8 Bluegrass Princess 3/1
#1 Miss Catalyst 7/2
Analysis: #10 Gemswick Park had to steady in traffic while down along the inside on the far turn, swung to the outside in the stretch and finished up well for third last out, which was her stakes debut. She looks like she can handle the stretch out to a mile as she makes her third start of her current form cycle. She is out of the stakes winner Queen's Park ($105K) who has dropped one turf winner, Sheraton Park ($102K), who sports a 5-2-1-1 mark on turf. The barn has been cold at the meet (1 for 27) but this gal figures to be a decent price in this spot.
#3 Pretty Prolific is making her turf debut here. She was a solid second in the Test (G1) last out behind Flashing. She is by Lion Heart out of a mare that has dropped six turf winners including Invest West ($200K) a seven time winner on turf. She had a quick breeze over the turf on August 20.
Wagering
WIN: #10 to win at 9/2 or better.
EX: 3,10 / 1,3,8,10
TRI: 3,10 / 1,3,8,10 / 1,3,8,9,10
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Saratoga
R3: #8 Beautiful Song 8/1
R3: #6 Maddie’s Odyssey 12/1
R4: #2 Famous Patriot 8/1
R5: #3 Cast Call 8/1
R6: #9 Survived 15/1
R7: #8 Christmas Trip 8/1
R8: #10 Gemswick Park 8/1
R10: #2 Kevazinga 8/1
R10: #6 Fourth Chapter 8/1
Good luck today!
