Loading ...Aug 25 2018
Saratoga August 25, The Big One 6 G1’s. Travers, Sword Dancer, Personal Ensign, Ballerina, Forego, Jerkens, Ballston Spa Grid PPs.
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Saturday, August 25, 2018
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Saratoga has its biggest day of its important meet today, hosting a 13 race card including 6 G1’s: The Travers, Sword Dancer, Ballerina, Personal Ensign, Forego, and Jerkens. The Ballston Spa G2 is the last stakes race, run after the Travers.
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Saratoga Race Course
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The 13 race card starting at 11:35am annually marks the highest attendance day at Saratoga with people waiting at the gates well before 10am for a good spot to watch and wager for the unofficial 4th leg of the Triple Crown.
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The Travers field is led by favorite Good Magic, our #1 ranked 3yo this spring, who had a valiant Triple Crown run, finishing 2nd in the Kentucky Derby and 4th in the Preakness, not particularly loving the muddy track on either.
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Good Magic returns to top form in Haskell romp, stamping ticket to 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic
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After a short break he returned to top form in winning the Haskell in July, easily besting Bravazo who had edged him in the Preakness, in which Jim Dandy winner Tenfold also edged him out for 3rd.
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The morning line 2nd choice is Gronkowski, who erased any dirt-worthy doubts by running an excellent 2nd in the Belmont Stakes, one of 3 still chasing winner Justify in late stretch.
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The other of those 3 in this field is Wood Memorial winner Vino Rosso, coming off a solid 3rd in the Dandy, where the pace was slow and he ran way too slow early for his great closing kick to get the win.
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Inexplicably ranked 3rd in the morning line is filly Wonder Gadot, coming off 2 solid wins in Canada, which apparently makes her connections think she can beat the top 3yo males. In fact, she didn’t win the Kentucky Oaks, or any of the 4 preps she ran leading up to it this year. Oh well.
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Mendelssohn continues his bid to prove he can hang with the top Americans after a disastrous last place Kentucky Derby finish and a disappointing 3rd in the Dwyer at Belmont in July.
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The predicted superfecta running order here will be:
Good Magic, Gronkowski, Vino Rosso, and Tenfold or Bravazo.
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The other stakes races have some great horses and interesting possibilities as well, but it would take all day to break down each one and write it down for others.
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Get the Saratoga Travers Day Grid here free.
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Free Grid Day!
