Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for July 29-Aug. 2
Wednesday, July 29
Best bet: CLASSIC COMMANDER (8)
Best value: FORCE OF MISCHIEF (5)
FIRST: Empress New Groove is training swiftly for first dirt start. Wedelia was a clear-cut second in last; dangerous. Noble Glow fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; must consider.
SECOND: Camino runs late and could get ideal setup in likely pace dynamics. Implacable and Abrigado both own speed and add blinkers; must avoid front-end duel.
THIRD: Ramajay is firing bullets for first start since fast-figured win in May; more to come. Imagine John also is working swiftly for first start since freshener; price will be tempting. Sharons Beach consistently logs fast numbers but owns four wins and a third from seven starts; another minor award?
FOURTH: Daisy Doo was a useful third in first start since six-week layoff; forward move predicted. True Legend is speedy and makes first start since gelded. Hot Off the Beach could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues.
FIFTH: Force of Mischief drops into maiden claimer in third start of form cycle; improvement expected. Bernina Express owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Addagirl Addie could land in the exotics if pace meltdown develops.
SIXTH: Chief Wallabee logs field's fastest figures on "A" efforts. Sea Strike is fresh and hails from Chad Brown barn; must consider. Blackout Time was a six-length winner in last; very interesting.
SEVENTH: Tirupati tallied fast-late pace figure when a clear-cut second in last; gets there today. Ontario should move forward with return to turf; worth long look. Power of Destiny was a determined winner in last; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Classic Commander logged swift final fraction in last; breakthrough predicted. Bourboncentric adds blinkers after improved fourth in last; dangerous. Rossbeigh owns a second and two thirds from three starts; another lesser award? Nonno Joe regressed in last after tough-trip fourth in previous; rebound threat.
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Thursday, July 30
Best bet: RUN CLASSIC (6)
Best value: LATE CALL (5)
FIRST: Into the Unknown was a game second in last; more to come. Gotta Gun Runner, just a half-length behind top selection on June 28, owns speed and adds blinkers; very dangerous. Unlock the Value debuts for Chad Brown; could be the goods.
SECOND: Top Thriller is training swiftly for debut; charting a must. Fire Marshal is the only runner above the AE line that has been to the post; experience counts. Honest Won concluded work tab with half-mile bullet; very interesting.
THIRD: Barb should move forward with return to dirt. Bedard owns speed and fast figures; worth long look. Perfect Force needed last; right in the thick of this on "A" effort.
FOURTH: Collado Hueco made sustained rally to finish fourth after bad start in debut; added furlong plays to strength. Presidential Power adds blinkers after front-end second in last; very dangerous. Sir Duke makes first start since claimed by streaking stable; worth long look.
FIFTH: Late Call tallied solid late-pace figure when a willing third in last. Classic Creation drops and makes quick return after useful fourth on July 17; very interesting. Life and Light is fleet-footed and gets Kendrick Carmouche; don't ignore.
SIXTH: Run Classic logged three tight works for first start since Memorial Day. Factually Correct could prove very tough on a soft lead. Pair of Socks is fresh and logs fast numbers on best efforts.
SEVENTH: Adrian should pack enhanced wallop with cutback to sprint. Majestic Return looms the main speed with unchallenged lead. Princess Ny consistently delivers strong efforts; must consider.
EIGHTH: Favorite Memory was compromised by soft splits in stateside debut; owns win at the marathon trip. Venencia is fresh and owns positional speed; big-time player. Massarat exits determined win in last; right in the thick of this.
NINTH: Diliello drops and makes third start of form cycle; big effort on tap. Absolutely Hot fired crisp half-mile drill for first start in seven weeks; worth long look. Slay Sadie Slay displayed newfound speed in last; very interesting. Hong Kong Phooey was caught wide when an even fourth in last; must be factored into the mix.
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Friday, July 31
Best bet: I'M WORTHY (4)
Best value: VISIBLE (5)
FIRST: River of Deceit logged four tight works since game placing in debut; more to come. Wood Island (training sharply) and Without Hesitation (from a dam that has produced two turf winners) are the newcomers that demand respect if the money shows.
SECOND: Miss Money Pants drops and returns to dirt; improvement predicted. Solo Belle is from a dam that has thrown four winners from six foals to race. Risky Mission owns win-early breeding on dam's side; stay tuned to the tote.
THIRD: Sheer Will tallied fast late-pace figure when winning last; pairs up. Proud Foot makes first start since claimed by streaking stable; dangerous. Mursal bested second pick by a head when winning last out; must consider.
FOURTH: I'm Worthy is fresh and packs potent kick on "A" efforts. Noble Heritage exits determined maiden score in last; worth long look. Kaz Oil Changer owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
FIFTH: Visible compiled four tight works for first start in seven weeks; rail draw seals the deal. Urgency was a clear-cut second in last; very dangerous. Melody Man owns early foot and could prove tough on a soft lead.
SIXTH: Freedom Charge drilled four times since third in debut and is only member of 13-horse field that has started. Calling Mr. Mo, from a dam that has thrown six winners from six foals to race, debuts for potent first-out stable. Fullcup concluded work tab with crisp half-mile drill; charting a must.
SEVENTH: Calibrate, 1-for-1 on Spa loam, is first starter at the meet for Robertino Diodoro. Coach Cronin, the first starter from Bob Hess barn, owns speed and fast figures; big-time threat. Hey Toby makes quick return in first start since claimed; price will be tempting.
EIGHTH: K Gun has yet to taste defeat in three starts; runs up the score. Lightning Strike is fleet-footed and should be aided by cutback to shorter sprint. Queens Cat also is speedy and could prove tough if able to shake clear from second selection.
NINTH: Solitude Dude projects as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Obliteration will be sitting in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Gilded Bandit packs strong kick on best efforts and is firing bullets for first start in eight weeks; very interesting.
10TH: Five Dozen Roses made sustained rally to win last; more to come. From Scratch is quick from gate and owns fast figures; very playable. Heads in Beds was dueled into defeat last time; dangerous with softer flow. Kaaterskill could impact if pace gets hot and hectic.
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Saturday, Aug. 1
Best bet: STATESMAN (7)
Best value: DREAMLIKE (3)
FIRST: Voyager exits clear-cut placings in both starts; breakthrough predicted. So Angelina was an improved fifth in last; very interesting. Bolt Island is from a dam that has thrown two turf winners; follow the money.
SECOND: Blessednotbothered was a willing third in debut; more to come. Annotate has failed as the favorite in both starts; strike three? Velora (Linda Rice), Lot of Loom (Brad Cox) and Doitforjack (Brendan Walsh) are newcomers that have fired bullets; charting a must.
THIRD: Dreamlike gets confident price boost after wide third in last; owns win at the Spa. Tuscan Sky makes third start of form cycle after showing improved speed in last; dangerous. Reasoned Analysis could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
FOURTH: Subjugation was a sharp second in debut at Ellis Park; main speed on the rail with proper ride. Chief of Staff owns win-early breeding on both sides of pedigree; very interesting. Cybersteel concluded work tab with crisp half-mile drill from the gate; could be the goods.
FIFTH: First Site was a clear-cut second in last; call in 10-horse field with eight firsters. Judy's Rockette was the priciest of 10 foals at OBS 2-year-old sales in March; worth long look. Fair Practice debuts with swift work tab for Chad Brown; need more?
SIXTH: Flight Command was a 10-length winner in well-bet debut; takes off again. Booked won the Sanford Stakes by six lengths last time; very dangerous. Rasasi was eliminated by poor start in Sanford; don't ignore.
SEVENTH: Statesman tallied fast late-pace figure when second in last; gets there today. Iron Dome owns three wins and three seconds from last seven starts; logical contender. Universe is firing bullets for first start since gelded; very interesting.
EIGHTH: Silsbee was done in by scorching splits in last; softer flow predicted. Duboff is rested and can win from on or just off the pace. Only for Now was a last-to-first winner in debut; don't dismiss.
NINTH: Time to Dream should pack amplified kick with cutback to shorter route. Lion Lake was a tough-trip second in lone start on Spa sod; must consider. Candy Moonshine is speedy and can prove very tough on a soft lead.
10TH: Chip Honcho could play out as the speed on the rail in small Jim Dandy field that's light on front-runners. Commandment was rested after game placing in Belmont Stakes; big-time threat. Renegade was third in Belmont and is right in the thick of this on "A" efforts.
11TH: Dakota Country was given time to recuperate after winning two in a row at Santa Anita this past spring; picks up where he left off. King Puck is fleet-footed and could prove tough on an unchallenged lead. Illmatic also is speedy, gets class relief, too; don't overlook.
12TH: Timeless Melody has trained sharply since useful fourth in debut; forward move predicted. Music Box has finished second in all three starts; runner-up again? Nonconsecutivetrms, four seconds and a third from six starts, is another that appears to prefer minor spoils. Lose the Blues is from a dam that has thrown two turf winners from two foals to race; must be factored into the mix.
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Sunday, Aug. 2
Best bet: CAROLINE'S GIRL (10)
Best value: KEEWAYDIN (7)
FIRST: Adroit was a better-than-it-looks fifth at 66-1 last out; call based on price. Force of Mischief adds blinkers after showing improved speed in last; dangerous. Silly Season failed to fire when favored in last; handle with care at short odds.
SECOND: Kay Cup compiled eye-catching work tab for first start since New Year's Eve '25; ready. Bellacose makes first start for Brad Cox after front-end score in last; worth long look. Hot Currency owns speed and fast figures.
THIRD: Willie Bird is 7-for-13 and hails from Larry Rivelli barn. Shoot the Nickel could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues. Jackson Heights is another that would be aided by fast fractions.
FOURTH: Bryant and Cooper fits Chad Brown's signature pattern. Pretty Lavish was compromised by wide trip in last; very interesting. Lady Orient packs potent late kick on best efforts.
FIFTH: Blue Pill returns to NY-bred ranks and turns back to more manageable distance. Mo Kreesa makes third start of form cycle; price will be tempting. Six Fortyfive was a game second in last at Monmouth; don't ignore.
SIXTH: Bossofeverything logged five tight works for first start in eight weeks; H. James Bond barn is starting to heat up. Music in Motion displayed newfound speed in last; dangerous. Just Tipsy is firing bullets for return from five-month layoff; very interesting.
SEVENTH: Keewaydin was unfazed by swift splits when winning last; more to come. Jean Valjean also owns speed and could prove tough if able to shake clear. Creditworthy is 2-for-2 on Spa sod; likely underlay.
EIGHTH: Favorite Memory has trained consistently since logging fast late-pace figure in U.S. debut on Memorial Day. Venencia also is fresh, training with a purpose and packs solid late wallop; dangerous. Massarat was a last-to-first winner in most recent; right in the thick of this.
NINTH: Sea Strike was rested after taking backward step in last start; gets game back today. Chief Wallabee obviously must be respected but will attract too much cash for this corner. Fulmine should improve with return to dirt.
10TH: Caroline's Girl visually impressed when winning debut by more than eight lengths at Lone Star Park; ready for prime time. Stress Relief was a good-looking winner in first start at Churchill Downs; must respect. Pierette has yet to taste defeat in two starts; must be factored into the mix.
11TH: Quell adds blinkers after improved sixth in last; more to come. Jayme's Turn drops and moves to dirt; forward move expected. Bouquetry also gets class relief and returns to main track; don't overlook. My Devine One hails from streaking stable (Ilkay Kantarmaci); price will be tempting.
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