This weekend marks a Grade 1 Stake named after one of the coolest horses in history. Fourstardave won at least 1 race in 8 consecutive seasons at Saratoga.
Saratoga Trends
Players who have been watching Saratoga Live on Fox may have noticed that speed has been playing well over the Saratoga courses. However, this week the Wednesday and Thursday cards seemed to magnify that with early speed leading to huge upsets on the dirt and both turf courses.
While this would suggest that players may want to look for front runners, the track superintendent may also take note and make some adjustments to get the courses back to fair going. Monitor the track throughout the next couple days and be flexible if conditions look like they could be changing
Saratoga Saturday Analysis
Race 1
Post: 1:05 PM ET; Purse: 85k Maiden Special Weight, 5 1/2 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 8
#2 SUIT OF ARMOR has done little wrong of late and has a real shot here. #5 KING ANGELO has speed figures that make this one competitive and is bred well for this spot. #7 WAR SMOKE enters the race as the favorite and has never been out of the money at the distance. #4 DASHING CIRCLES has recorded the best speed figure of 78 at the distance.
- Selections: 2-5-7-4
Race 2
Post: 1:41 PM ET; Purse: 100k Maiden Special Weight, 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 9
#7 ASKIN FOR A BASKIN enters the race as the favorite and should be forwardly placed today. #4 FLINT RIDGE appears to be among the classiest horses in this group. #1 SOAR has the best early speed in the group and has a good shot to run a top notch race in this spot. #5 SOUND MONEY recorded a field-best speed figure of 82 at the distance.
- Selections: 7-4-1-5
Race 3
Post: 2:15 PM ET; Purse: 103k Allowance, 1 1/16 Miles on Inner Turf; Entries: 11
#9 COLD HARD CASH should be forwardly placed today and should have plenty left in the tank against this group. #5 KLICKITAT has finished in the money 75% at the distance and has recorded a 92 speed figure at the distance, which tops this field. In a rare tripled entry #1X ATONE enters the race as one of three co-favorites. He finished in the money 67% at the distance and has a good shot to run a top notch race in this spot. #1A FIRST LINE is another part of the entry and has been keeping good company and should be competitive against this group.
- Selections: 9-5-1X-1A
Race 4
Post: 2:47 PM ET; Purse: 100k Maiden Special Weight, 1 3/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 9
#3 PALAMOS has never been out of the money at the distance and recorded a 88 speed figure at the distance, which tops this field. #2 INVESTMENT INCOME enters the race as the favorite. She has speed figures among the best in the race and has the best finishing kick in the group. #5 BABY BLYTHE has speed figures among the best in the race. #1 AMERICAN HEIRESS’ jockey is winning at 23%. Expect this one to be way over bet as she is part of Myracehorse.com. Because these horses have hundreds of owners, they are often crushed at the windows.
- Selections: 3-2-5-1
Race 5
Post: 3:23 PM ET; Purse: 42k Claiming, 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 9
#3 WIN WITH PRIDE enters the race as the favorite and has finished in the money 71% at the distance. #7 INSCOM has plenty of late speed to get by foes late. #6 BABY I'M PERFECT has been keeping good company and should be competitive against this group. #5 POPIZAR has done little wrong of late and has a real shot here.
- Selections: 3-7-6-5
Race 6
Post: 3:55 PM ET; Purse: 100k Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 12
#11 BACK TO NORMAL’s trainer is winning at 29% and has the top class rating in today's race. #10 MONTAUK POINT should handle the conditions of the race well based on breeding and should be fastest from the gate. #2 POWER AGENDA should be forwardly placed today and has been keeping good company and should be competitive against this group. #12 MAJOR GENERAL is another that has good breeding against today's rivals and has done little wrong so far.
- Selections: 11-10-2-12
Race 7
Post: 4:29 PM ET; Purse: 52k Claiming, 1 Mile on Inner Turf; Entries: 16
#4 RESTORED ORDER’s trainer is winning at 20% and has speed figures among the best in the race. #11 HOLY EMPEROR has an 88 speed figure at the distance, which tops this field and appears to be among the classiest horses in this group. #3 ASSIDUOUSLY has also recorded a speed figure of 88 has a good shot to run a top notch race in this spot. #6 EXTREME FORCE has been keeping good company and should be competitive against this group.
- Selections: 4-11-3-6
Race 8
Post: 5:03 PM ET; Purse: 103k Allowance, 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 9
#5 DUCALE enters the race as the favorite with a trainer who is winning at 39%. He has recorded the best speed figure in the group with a 103 at the distance. #1 MAHAAMEL has never been out of the money at the distance and has speed figures that make this one competitive. #4 SPEAKER'S CORNER has a good shot to run a top notch race in this spot. #8 MR. TIP has been keeping good company and should be competitive against this group.
- Selections: 5-1-4-8
Race 9
Post: 5:39 PM ET; Purse: 200k Saratoga Special S. Presented by Miller Lite, 6 1/2 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 12
#2 GUNITE has speed figures among the best in the race and solid breeding against today's rivals. #8 DOCTOR JEFF should be fastest from the gate which has been particularly potent the last few days at Saratoga. #10 GLACIAL has speed figures that make him competitive here and has good early speed. #6 STOLEN BASE has the best finishing kick in the race and has done little wrong in the early stages of the career.
- Selections: 2-8-10-6 (Best Bet: #2)
Race 10
Post: 6:13 PM ET; Purse: 500k Fourstardave H., 1 Mile on Inner Turf; Entries: 8
#1 RAGING BULL enters the race as the favorite and has been keeping good company. He should be competitive against this group. The rail post has started to heat up on the inner turf since the rail came down on Wednesday. #6 GOT STORMY has finished in the money 84% of the time at the distance and has a career best 104 speed figure at the distance, which tops this field. #5 SET PIECE’s jockey is winning at 23% and her trainer is winning at an absurd 39%. #8 BLOWOUT should be forwardly placed today. has been keeping good company of late.
- Selections: 1-6-5-8
Race 11
Post: 6:47 PM ET; Purse: 90k Allowance, 5 1/2 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 16
#16 BEAUTIFUL KAREN has speed figures among the best in the race, but will need help to even get to the starting gate as an also eligible. #11 HIGH LIMIT ROOM has recorded a 93 speed figure at the distance, which tops this field. #10 PHANTOM SMOKE has a good shot to run a top notch race in this spot. #9 DR. DUKE’s breeding suggests she should be well suited against this group.
- Selections: 16-11-10-9
Other Racing Action
While many will be tuned into Saratoga this weekend, Arlington Park in Illinois will likely run its final major card. The Churchill Downs-owned track is up for sale and is rumored to be the future home of the new Soldier Field.
Saturday’s card will include 4 graded stakes including the race previously known as the Arlington million. The purse was downgraded this year causing the name to change to the Mister D Stakes.
For tips on the card from Arlington Park, check out our partners at Daily Horse Picks.
