Loading ...Sep 06 2021
Saratoga Hopeful G1 tops big Labor Day card at the Spa, 4 2yo races.
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Monday, September 6, 2021. It’s Labor Day in America and Saratoga is hosting a 12 race card with over 100 horses competing. The featured Grade 1 Hopeful has 11 of the top juveniles on the east coast. 3 other MSW’s for 2yo’s are on the undercard along with the Bernard Baruch G2.
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We’ll break down the Hopeful and point out some other good long shot specials. Racing was underway at 12:35 and the first 2yo races is at 1:10. You’ll want to get today’s free grid to follow along.
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Race 2 is the first MSW for 2yo fillies going 5.5f on dirt for an $85k purse. Of the 3 that have actually raced, the one with the top PF is at 12-1 ML, who lost by 4 lengths first out. The oddsmaker apparently believes the winner will be a first time starter from Horacio Depaz, Linda Rice, or Jorge Abreu. Very possible, and the 1-1A entry will be tough to beat.
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A late scratch in Race 3 the Bernard Baruch G2 of the morning line favorite makes it impossible to bet that race. The current long shot is 7-2 but it will be run on the yielding turf.
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The 2nd MSW in Race 7 has 9 juveniles going 6f on dirt at 6f. The only one raced yet is the favored Don’t Wait Up, who lost by a nose in his 6f debut here last month, for Tony Dutrow. In that one, he registered a PF higher than the average last out of the Hopeful field. In fact, the horse that beat him is in the Hopeful today. However, first timers from Pletcher, Chad Brown, Brad Cox, and Asmussen will make it interesting.
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Race 8 will have 2yo fillies running 8.5f on turf. The 2 favorites each ran a strong 2nd place in their debuts last month here at the same distance for Brown and Clement. You might get value on the 1st timers by Brown and Pletcher. For a long shot, the speedy Bill Mott trainee switches to turf route.
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Alas, Race 10 is the Hopeful Stakes with the aforementioned 11 of the top east cost juveniles, 5 of which broke maiden in NY state.
The favorite is and will be Wit, who won at first ask for Pletcher and romped in the Sanford G3 here by 8 lengths in July.
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The favorite is and will be Wit, who won at first ask for Pletcher and romped in the Sanford G3 here by 8 lengths in July.
High Oak will be the 2nd betting choice after and impressive Saratoga Special G2 win here over Gunite last month at 6.5f, giving him the best PF in the field so far, and the #1 ranking in this week’s current American Free Handicap.
Defend 6-1 has the 2nd best PF in the field for his debut win by 8 lengths at a 5.5f MSW in Delaware.
The aforementioned Power Agenda at 10-1 nosed out his rival in the debut for Pletcher at a 6f MSW here last month.
Others not mentioned will need a big step up in class in order to hit the board here.
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For all the other races, consult the Grid and get some good value. Remember, you can get the Grid for all your favorite tracks and races all autumn long right here.
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