At the Gate - Thursday
By Mike Dempsey
Entries for Saturday’s $500,000 Whitney (G1) came out on Wednesday, and we have quite a race to look forward to. The race drew a field of 10 and seven are Grade 1 winners.
Honor Code was installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite off his impressive win in the Met Mile (G1) on June 6 at Belmont Park. He beat 2014 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tonalist by 3 ¾ lengths. The Shug McGaughey trainee will break from the rail with jockey Javier Castellano in the irons.
Breaking just to his outside is Tonalist (4-1), who came out of the Met Mile to run again in the Suburban Handicap (G2) where he was beaten by a head by Effinex as the betting favorite.
Lea (9-2) is the third choice on the morning line and will be sent out by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The six-year-old was the beaten favorite last out in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) by a neck to the up and coming Noble Bird, who returns in the Whitney and is 5-1 on the morning line.
Moreno (12-1) is the defending champ of the Whitney, taking the field gate to wire last year at 10-1. V.E. Day (8-1) won last year’s Travers over the Spa main track at 19-1, beating his stablemate Wicked Strong (20-1) by a nose.
The Whitney is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race and will be televised live on NBC at 5:00 ET.
In addition to the Whitney, Saturday’s 11-race card at the Spa features the $500,000 Longines Test (G1) for three-year-old fillies with 10 entered. The one to beat appears to be Take Charge Brandi, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
Here is today’s second race (the opener is a jump race) from Saratoga to get the day off to a good start:
SAR Race 2 Clm $25,000 (1:33 ET)
5 Bounty Pink 7-2
1 Lotsa Noodles 5-2
3 Star of the Forest 3-1
2 Ginny's Grey 4-1
Analysis: Bounty Pink tracked the early pace and weakened inside the final furlong in a fourth place finish last out for a $20,000 tag. The mare was claimed out of the race by the Gargan barn that is 21% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. Two back this gal beat $25,000 foes going a mile on the main track at Belmont Park and looking for him to bounce back with a much better effort in this spot.
Lotsa Noodles made a good late rally and drew off late to beat $20,000 claimers last out in the mud, beating our top pick who misfired. She was claimed out of the race by the RRod barn that is 28% winners first off the claim. She beat $25,000 foes over an off track here last summer at nine furlongs and has won two of three at the distance with a second.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,3,5
TRI: no play
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
SAR Race 9 The Quik Call (5:26 ET)
5 Ready for Rye 5-2
10 Element 10-1
8 Gallery 15-1
7 Cyclogenisis 4-1
Analysis: Ready for Rye looked good in his turf debut last out, taking the field gate to wire at seven furlongs at Belmont Park against Alw-2 optional claimers. He has proven his class on the main track, winning the Swale (G3) back in March with a 105 Beyer. He has good speed but with the cut back to 5 1/2 here he likely will take a tracking role here. He looks to be sitting on a good one here for the Albertrani barn.
Element returns off a 2 1/2 month break after a good looking win against Alw-1 foes in his first go against winners. The third place finisher Manhattan Mischief came back to beat Alw-2L foe sin his next start at Philly. The $175,000 purchase is out of the stakes placed Floresta. The 10-1 seems generous considering the connections. Pletcher is hitting at a 34% clip through Monday's card.
Gallery went gate to wire and held on gamely to win the one-mile Manila. Two back he ran a decent third against Alw-1 foes, running into repeat winner Syntax, who came back to win the Kent (G3) in his next outing at Delaware Park on July 18. Just a matter of if he can handle the cut back to 5 1/2, but worth tossing in the mix if he goes off near his 15-1 morning line.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 5,10 / 5,7,8,10
TRI: 5,10 / 5,7,8,10 / 3,5,7,8,10
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
R1: #3 Parker’s Project 8-1
R3: #4 Sandy Strikes 12-1
R3: #5 Cats Landing 10-1
R4: #2 Ave’s Halo 10-1
R5: #9 Fast Runner 15-1
R6: #1 St. Albans Boy 8-1
R7: #10 Stormy Alexis 8-1
R7: #9 Written in Stars 12-1
R9: #10 Element 10-1
R9: #8 Gallery 15-1
R10: #9 Big House 15-1
R10: #10 Talk Time 12-1
Good luck today!
