Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Aug. 19-23
Wednesday, Aug. 19
Best bet: NOT TAPPING (8)
Best value: BIG GAIN (6)
FIRST: All Class owns a win and a second in two starts at the Spa and compiled tight work tab for first start since May. Snide, also sidelined since Memorial Day, could play out as the main speed. Save Us Melania owns fast figures on best efforts.
SECOND: Ultimate Authority fired crisp half-mile drill since game placing last out; more to come. Ballerina d'Oro gets Lasix and compiled tight work tab for first start in more than 15 months for Chad Brown; dangerous. Pronghorn could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat.
THIRD: Huck's Agenda adds blinkers and worked three times since subpar sixth in last; improvement predicted. Pinky Brier is speedy, rested and drops; dangerous. Cravings exits game placing in last; must consider.
FOURTH: Protected should pack intensified wallop with cutback to sprint. Mischievous M was done in by fast fractions last week; very playable. Gardiner is fleet-footed and owns swift final numbers; right in the thick of this.
FIFTH: Sultan Hassan could secure unchallenged lead with heads-up handling. Hot Off the Beach will be in the garden spot if top selection wilts. True Legend makes first start since gelded; worth long look.
SIXTH: Big Gain gets favorable cutback to 7 furlongs; amplified kick predicted. Sergeant Capps owns speed and is another that will be aided by return to sprint. South Bend Tom was a non-stressful fourth in last; don't overlook.
SEVENTH: Combat Move wheels back in a hurry after clear-cut maiden score last week; more to come. Lifeisbutadream tallied fast late-pace figure when winning last at Finger Lakes; very interesting. She's Country is 1-for-1 on Saratoga sod; must be factored into the mix.
EIGHTH: Not Tapping was pace- and trip-compromised when sixth in last start; throw deep in weak nightcap. Paula's Choice gets Lasix and adds blinkers after even fifth in debut; dangerous. Stella Fortuna makes third start of form cycle; very interesting. Bounding Along makes first start since claimed by Rick Dutrow; don't overlook.
---
Thursday, Aug. 20
Best bet: PRINCESS BECCA (6)
Best value: RIVER TAY (8)
FIRST: Oath is speedy, rested and drops; ready in first start since claimed by Linda Rice. Spirit Forward gets blinkers and Lasix; wake-up potential. Ms Nikki D could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
SECOND: Night could play out as the main speed on the hedge with heads-up handling. Hong Kong Phooey could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Armet exits hard-charging maiden score in last at Horseshoe Indianapolis; worth long look.
THIRD: Medieval is fleet-footed, gets class relief and makes first start for streaking stable. Max O Nidas concluded work tab with crisp half-mile drill; could be the goods. Maddenbleu is from a dam that has produced two winners from four starters; follow the money.
FOURTH: Dry Drastic outworked 117 rivals in bullet half-mile on Aug. 9; best guess. Cash Burn debuts for Chad Brown; charting a must. Early and Often has experience edge and gets surface switch; don't ignore.
FIFTH: Himothy could get the early jump from the hedge with Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Ink Lies could be the prime beneficiary if top selection wilts in the lane. Deported, an uncoupled barn mate of second selection, gets Lasix for stateside debut; must be factored into the mix.
SIXTH: Princess Becca gets confident price hike for first start in seven weeks; main speed with proper handling. Valtellina was overmatched last time and could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Hello Beauty should move forward with return to dirt; don't ignore.
SEVENTH: Chummers is riding a two-race winning streak; more to come. Nessuna Pagina is speedy and has yet to taste defeat in four starts; big-time player. A Little At First was just two lengths behind top pick after wide trip in last; must consider.
EIGHTH: River Tay should pack amplified wallop with cutback to sprint. River Seine was dueled into defeat last out; very dangerous with softer flow. From Scratch also owns speed and won last on dirt; worth long look. Quick Power Nap owns a win on Spa sod and would be aided by pace meltdown.
----
Friday, Aug. 21
Best bet: CARSON'S RUN (1)
Best value: URBAN PLANNER (7)
FIRST: Carson's Run gets class relief and owns fast back numbers. Right to Vote is riding a two-race winning streak; dangerous. Cugino is fresh and logs swift figures on best efforts.
SECOND: Quick to Accuse can be effective from on or just off the pace; rates close call. Dr. Kraft was done in by poor start last time; front-end threat on best. Whittington Park could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
THIRD: Full of Tact makes third start of form cycle; three works since last outing seal the deal. Epic Selloff adds blinkers and returns to dirt; very playable. Jadorlinija tallied fast figures in last two starts; could easily take this.
FOURTH: Hot Property should pack intensified kick with cutback to 6 furlongs. Island Town is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Metatron is firing bullets for first start in more than eight months; don't ignore.
FIFTH: Tinian was gelded since useful fourth in debut; more to come. Fire Marshall worked seven times since speed and fade in first start this past June; big-time threat. Raise the Roof is from a dam that has produced four turf winners from four foals to race; worth long look.
SIXTH: Energy Flows owns a running style that should be well served with move to turf. Golden Siren could prove very tough to collar on an unchallenged lead. Belisa (potent first-out barn) and Determined Scholes (strong grass breeding) are newcomers that demand paddock and tote appraisal.
SEVENTH: Urban Planner uncorked a last-to-first run to win on Aug. 8 at Ellis Park; ready for prime time. Georgia Magic is speedy and riding a two-race winning streak; could easily take another. Yo Daddy consistently logs fast figures; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Boston's Phinest overcame traffic trouble to win second straight last time; more to give. One Last Knock is training swiftly for first start since July; very interesting. Sod Siren is fleet-footed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
NINTH: Venetta displayed solid late kick when winning third in a row last time; takes another. Unlock the Value visually impressed when winning debut by nearly 10 lengths; very dangerous. Hot Currency is quick from gate and could play out as the speed of the speed.
10TH: Zap That Ghost adds blinkers after tough-trip fourth in last; improvement predicted. Coach of the Year bested top selection by nearly a length when disqualified from top honors on July 4; big-time danger. Felixyn has finished second in last two starts; must consider. Ganderella was a much-improved third in first grass start; must be factored into the mix.
---
Saturday, Aug. 22
Best bet: WILLINTORISKITALL (9)
Best value: U VICKY (5)
FIRST: Modest Maclean set solid fractions when a clear-cut second in debut; more to come. Big Frosty runs late and could be the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues. Term Premium regressed in last after game placing in debut; bounce-back threat.
SECOND: Arkhipov tallied swift late-pace figure when second in last; three works in the interim seal the deal. Rothschild adds blinkers and starts from the hedge; front-running threat. The Hidden Chamber could impact if fractions get hot and hectic.
THIRD: Got Tough was a useful third in debut; more to give. Powerline bested top selection by more than four lengths when second in first start; obvious player. No Time to Lose owns strong breeding on both sides of pedigree; follow the money.
FOURTH: Heads in Beds could get the early jump in bulky field. Five Dozen Roses broke maiden in last start and hails from streaking Linda Rice barn. Paynterpretty, another that was a maiden winner in last, should be forwardly positioned; price will be tempting.
FIFTH: U Vicky tallied swift final fraction when fourth in last; set for breakthrough in third start since layoff. Loveontheleftbank consistently logs fast numbers; likely underlay. Dr Glick returns to grass for Chad Brown; worth long look.
SIXTH: Key Colony Beach was a clear-cut second in debut; experience edge in 11-horse field with eight newcomers. Very Clever debuts for Brad Cox after compiling sharp work tab at Churchill Downs. Classic Nora and Forever Carina are uncoupled firsters from the Chad Brown barn; what a game.
SEVENTH: Gunmetal was a determined winner in last start and now makes first outing for capable connections. Over and Ollie is 2-for-3 on Spa loam; very interesting. Nakatomi hails from Wes Ward and is likely to attract the bulk of the cash; you make the call.
EIGHTH: Fairy Godmother comes from the clouds but could get ideal setup in bulky field. Moonlight Ready owns speed and could prove tough if able to shake clear early. Maria Callas is training with a purpose for Chad Brown; must consider.
NINTH: Willintoriskitall made sustained rally to win first start on Saratoga soil; more to come. Playa Del Mar failed to fire last time but is more than good enough on "A" game. Stimulate worked three times since breaking maiden on July 18; must be factored into the mix.
10TH: Grayosh tallied rapid late-pace figure when winning Monmouth stake last out; ready for prime time. Segesta, an uncoupled stable mate of top pick, owns speed and fast figures. Play With Fire, another that's from same barn as top pair, owns three seconds from three starts on Spa sod; hard to eliminate.
11TH: My Gun's Loaded is 2-for-2 on Saratoga dirt; pulls upset in Alabama. Counting Stars, also 2-for-2 at Spa, owns speed and fast figures; be no surprise. Ati Girl broke maiden in lone start at Saratoga; price will be tempting.
12TH: Osmosis is training consistently for first start since Christmas Eve; first-time Lasix seals the deal. Mary Lois owns two seconds and a third from four starts; another minor award? Home Wrecker and Secretly Delighted both log fast late-pace figures on best efforts; each demand respect.
More horse racing
