WUNDERDOG
SARATOGA Race #5 at 3:00 PM Eastern
Top pick: #6 (IMAGINING) - Another beautifully-bred runner from the Phipp Stable this one by "Giant's Causeway" out of the "A.P. Indy" mare "Daydreaming". He missed by a neck when debuting at Belmont going 7 furlongs July 10. Trainer "Shug" Mcgaughey has given him 5 weeks since that effort and colt has a huge half-mile breeze five days ago. Stretches-out and is the horse to beat.
2nd pick: #2 (Ordained) - He ran a career best here at this level July 23 when he set the pace, dug in when challenged, and finished third beaten a neck. Colt by "Pulpit" has a maintenance breze August 2 and will be tough on the front end.
3rd pick: #1 (Surprise Strike) - Price play raced closest to Ordained last out and weakened slightly to finish sixth of eight, beaten just over a length. Has the rail and a bullet work at Finger Lakes heading into this.
4th pick: #4 (Corporate Jungle) - Another son of "Giant's Causeway" and he's finished close-up in both his starts and had trouble in each. Freshened up for the past 100 days by the "hot" barn of Chad Brown and 3-year-old is working fast at Belmont for his return.
Del Mar Race #2 at 5:30 PM Eastern
Top pick: #3 (CACTUS JANE) - Filly won on this course racing for $25K July 30 and was claimed that day by Bob Diodoro from Mike Puype. Race was her first ever on the grass, her second off a long layoff, and barn brings her back quickly and with a confident raise in price. The top selection.
2nd pick: #1 (Cayama) - She was scratched yesterday out of a main-track sprint by trainer Mike Machowsky to await this two-turn turf contest. Filly finished an even 3rd here going 3/4s July 20 in her first in nine months and she broke her maiden on this course last August at this mile trip.
3rd pick: #7 (Lemon Drop Ridge) - Drops slightly after an even effort here at this distance racing for $50K July 22. Trainer Kristin Mulhall has worked her twice since and daughter of "Lemon Drop Kid" will contend today.
4th pick: #8 (March Mary) - Claimed in late May at Churchill Downs by Mike Mitchell, he's freshened her up for the past 2 1/2 months and will race her on the grass and around two-turns, both for the first time. Trainer wins at a 38% rate first off the claim.
