Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for July 23-26
Thursday, July 23
Best bet: BEAUTY REIGNS (8)
Best value: STELLA FORTUNA (9)
FIRST: Bounding Along was a clear-cut second in debut; rates close call. Key Actress owns speed but lacks staying power; vulnerable favorite? Run On States makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; don't ignore.
SECOND: Madagascar drops and logged three tight works for streaking stable. Blast Furnace tallies fast figures on "A" efforts. Gun Barrel City is rested and training with a purpose; worth long look.
THIRD: Quiet Wisdom bested a pricier field in last start; more to come. Normandy Coast moves to dirt and drops two levels; dangerous if all is well. Riyadh Moon was second to a repeat winner in last; very interesting.
FOURTH: Britain's Kitten logs fast late-pace figures on best efforts; rail draw clinches it. Sand Pipes fired 5-furlong bullet since displaying improved speed in last; dangerous. Sea Singer was an even fourth in first start since 16-month absence; don't dismiss.
FIFTH: By Grace owns speed and could get the early jump in bulky juvenile turf field. Side Quest, a tough-trip fourth in debut; adds blinkers for potent second-out stable. Cody's Approval is firing bullets for first start; could be the goods.
SIXTH: Executive Order is speedy and owns fast back numbers; 1-for-3 on Spa loam. Ancient World is working swiftly for first start since September; must respect. Otto Nipoti was a fast-figured winner in last at Finger Lakes; very playable.
SEVENTH: Neshika was rested after subpar fourth in last; bounces back today. Celtic Dawn has won all three starts; guaranteed underlay. All of It has yet to taste defeat in two outings; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Beauty Reigns was pace- and trip-compromised last out; two swift works in the interim seal the deal. Munnings Express is fleet-footed and owns fast figures; be no surprise. Senza Parole could be the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues.
NINTH: Stella Fortuna was a useful fourth at 27-1 last time; forward move predicted. Dancing Miracle gets confident price boost after game placing in last; very interesting. Blue Authenticity owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Garden of Grace should be aided by return to grass; don't overlook.
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Friday, July 24
Best bet: ORGONITE (10)
Best value: CAN'T FOOL ME (7)
FIRST: Oath projects as the main speed with heads-up handling from outside slot. Two by Two by Two could be in the garden spot if top selection wilts. Hanna's Hideaway is another that would be aided by pace meltdown.
SECOND: Miss Ma'am was a useful fourth in debut; added ground and switch to sod are the keys. Just Peachy owns sprinter's speed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Mandy Steph debuts for potent first-out barn; follow the money.
THIRD: Bow Draw wheels back in a hurry after nine-length win on July 9; more to come. Bernieandtherose is fleet-footed and could prove tough on an unchallenged lead. My Gun's Loaded tallied fast final fraction when breaking maiden in last; worth long look.
FOURTH: Get a Job logged two of three wins on Spa loam; runs up the score. Rungius compiled tight work tab for first start in nearly a year; dangerous. Glen Airy drops and owns fast numbers on "A" efforts; must consider.
FIFTH: Swaging returns to dirt and gets class relief; improvement predicted. Salming looms the prime beneficiary if pace collapse comes to pass. Diamond Child's speed gives him a puncher's chance.
SIXTH: Shinobu showed speed in debut and rates the call if able to escape AE list. Red Coats Coming, from a dam that has thrown two turf winners, is training swiftly on Spa sod; big-time player. Mitoleon Dynamite was a wide-trip fifth in debut; don't dismiss.
SEVENTH: Can't Fool Me should pack amplified wallop with cutback to shorter route. Nonna Lynne was a sharp second in last; dangerous. Starship Pegasus was a clear-cut winner in last; must be factored into the mix.
EIGHTH: Scottish Lassie owns two fast-figured wins at Saratoga; more to come. Snowyte is speedy and firing bullets for first start since March; very interesting. Valtellina runs late and could land in the number at beefy price.
NINTH: Manor Park made sustained run to break maiden on Spa turf on July 11; keeps on giving. Spirit of New York exits sprints and should be forwardly placed from the rail; dangerous. Chummers drilled three times since clear-cut win in last; right in the thick of this.
10TH: Orgonite outworked 120 rivals in half-mile bullet last week; primed for winning effort. War and Majesty was second to a repeat winner in last; very dangerous. Gold Sovereign regressed in last after two game placings; be no surprise. Lahainaluna has the benefit of the rail at marathon trip; don't overlook.
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Saturday, July 25
Best bet: FAIRY GODMOTHER (11)
Best value: LES GRIS (6)
FIRST: Intraosseous made sustained rally when third in debut; more to come. Texas Dandelion bested top pick by a length when second on June 28; obvious threat. Elevated concluded work tab with half-mile bullet; follow the money.
SECOND: Timia projects as the speed of the speed with proper handling. Power of Women was a 10-length winner in last; very dangerous. Lady Wisdom has won two of last three starts; must consider.
THIRD: Blackjack was third in key-race debut; crisp half-mile drill on July 11 seals the deal. Grand Yaupon exits useful fourth in first start; solid second-out stable. Backlash was purchased for $900,000 as a yearling; could be the goods.
FOURTH: Naguile is speedy and rested; dominant front-runner. Sir Oscar tallied solid final fraction when a clear-cut maiden winner in last; must respect. Inspeightofcharlie could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
FIFTH: King's Remark compiled tight work tab for first start since Memorial Day; ready. Silent Impact broke maiden in lone start on Spa sod; worth long look. Instability fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; likely underlay.
SIXTH: Le Gris could get the early jump in competitive field. Wynstock could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Waitlist is another that would be aided by pace meltdown.
SEVENTH: Oat Coutour is riding a forward line on late-pace and final figures. Super Dave exits wire-to-wire maiden score; big-time player. Twirling Lad is another that was front-running maiden winner in last; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Bourbon Betty projects as the main speed on the hedge with heads-up handling. Vekoma View is fresh and training consistently; very interesting. Crossover Capital visually and numerically impressed when winning debut; very playable.
NINTH: Crazy Mason should pack amplified wallop with cutback to sprint. Just Beat the Odds, an uncoupled barn mate of top pick, could prove very tough on an unchallenged lead. Hymn is riding a three-race winning streak; right in the thick of this.
10TH: Counting Stars has the benefit of the rail at 1 1/8 miles. Always a Runner suffered first defeat in four starts when second to top pick last out; be no surprise. Zany owns speed and adds blinkers; don't overlook.
11TH: Fairy Godmother regressed in last after fast-figured win in prior; rebounds. Turriga could play out as the swiftest of the swift with aggressive handling. Tuthilltown made strong rally to win last; must be factored into the mix.
12TH: Big Frosty owns fast late-pace figures; needs to escape AE list. Gilbane was gelded and gets Lasix for first start since last fall; gets the nod if top one scratches. Drayden hails from potent second-out stable; worth long look. Leave Me was compromised by wide trip in last; don't overlook. Dinghy Bar needed last and drops; price will be tempting.
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Sunday, July 26
Best bet: ACOUSTIC AVE (9)
Best value: FORT NELSON (4)
FIRST: Blue Law is from a dam that has produced three turf winners; best guess. Geneva Lake debuts for potent first-out stable; charting a must. Harbaugh is the only member of this field above the AE line that has started; must consider.
SECOND: Fluid Situation is fresh and could get the early jump with aggressive handling. Vacation Dance could be the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues. Son of a Birch is another that would be aided by fast fractions; don't ignore.
THIRD: Kyle's Mom needed last and owns favorable stalker's style; rates close call. Don't Be Salty was a clear-cut second in last; big-time player. Beira bounced last time after fast-figured win in prior; rebound threat.
FOURTH: Fort Nelson projects as the main speed with Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Counterspy makes third start of form cycle and owns fast back figures. Alternate Reality is more than good enough on "A" efforts.
FIFTH: Charlotttesuniverse exits sprints and could get the early jump with heads-up handling. Tongue Twister owns a win on Spa sod; worth long look. Livin the Breeze would be aided by fast fractions; don't ignore.
SIXTH: Outro drilled three times since clear-cut placing in last; more to come. Samartina also worked sharply since second in last; dangerous. Devilish Grin regressed in last after strong placing in prior; rebound threat.
SEVENTH: Art Fair is riding a two-race winning streak; more to come. Hot Property should pack intensified wallop with cutback to 7 furlongs. Master Freud was a tough-trip third in last; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Grand Job consistently logs field's fastest final figures. Maida outworked 74 rivals in half-mile bullet since 10-length win in last; dangerous. Going Steady could land in exotics if pace meltdown comes to pass.
NINTH: Acoustic Ave endured tough trip when fourth in last; three-time winner on Spa loam. Senior Officer owns three wins and two seconds from five starts; worth long look. Tarantino should be aided by cutback to sprint.
10TH: Onehotmess could find today's marathon distance right in her wheelhouse. Phantom Blue moves to turf with fast dirt figures; vulnerable favorite. Mary Lois exits even fourth in last; very interesting. Abundant Love owns competitive numbers on best efforts.
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