TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato will give their best bet of the day for every Friday, Saturday and Sunday card of the Saratoga meet, and bet $50 Win/Place on their selection. In the case of a scratch, an alternate pick will be posted on twitter. The handicapper who has accrued the biggest bankroll through Sept. 3 wins.
SS: Friday's Result – Knew I was in trouble immediately after seeing the scratches that Fourstar Crook drew in and several of the speed types opted out. The Tea Cups still ran well in defeat to close for a solid third at 4-1 from far back with a wide trip, just missing second by a neck… Starting to feel like I'm running out of time. Total: $890.
Saturday, Race 11, GI Travers S. – After Gift Box crossed the line a solid second as the even-money favorite in the Curlin S., I was pretty set on making him my Travers horse. While his comebacker at Belmont in his sophomore debut in late May stamped him as a potential major player in the division for the second half of the season, last year's GII Remsen S. third-place finisher didn't exactly get a chance to show his true potential in his July 29 Saratoga prep, a race he was most likely not fully cranked for, either. Racing on a dead rail throughout and sitting closer to the pace than he probably wants to be, Gift Box still ran well in defeat, finishing a length behind his stablemate Connect, who had things his own way up front. With plenty of pace signed on in the Travers, Gift Box should be able to sit back while remaining in striking distance and make one big run when ready. Everything continues to go right for Chad Brown this summer at the Spa–I just hope I'm on his right horse… Was very tempted to go with Ballagh Rocks (Race2) as my selection today as well, but I'll still be singling that one in my early Pick 4/5 to say the least. Selection: #9 Gift Box (12-1).
BD: Friday's Result – Code Red was let go at a ridiculous 8-1, but had to settle for second after maybe having her momentum slowed a bit when splitting horses in the lane. More firsts, less seconds on Travers Day, please. Total: $1532.50.
Saturday, Race 8, GI King's Bishop S. – I'm giving my old friend/nemesis Star Hill one more shot now that he won't have to start a race out in the parking lot for the first time in a while–his last four posts have been 13, 13, 12, 12. I liked him cutting back in the Pat Day Mile on Derby day, and he just found himself way too far back and settled for third after. I loved him in the Woody Stephens, and I thought he was gone when he ranged up widest turning for home, but he settled for third behind King's Bishop entrants Tom's Ready and Fish Trappe Road. Having gone back and watched that replay later, I have no idea how Star Hill's rider didn't lodge an objection against the runner-up, as he was herded out a number of paths in the stretch and likely would've finished no worse than second with a fairer trip. They tried to stretch Star Hill out again for the Indiana Derby last time, and he didn't embarrass himself by any means, checking in third behind Cupid after being wide on both turns. Shortening back up will definitely help, plus blinkers and a rider change to Florent Geroux can't hurt either. Some bonus horses: Forever Unbridled in the Personal Ensign; Sheer Drama in the Ballerina; and Onus in the Ballston Spa. Selection: #7 Star Hill (20-1).
Tune in Saturday from 2:00 p.m – 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – to 6:30 p.m. (FS2 only) for Saratoga Live, available on Fox Sports 2 (channel finder), MSG+ (channel finder) and Altitude (channel finder) and presented by Claiborne Farm. Travers coverage on NBC Sports from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
For the complete broadcast schedule, visit NYRA.com
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