Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for July 16-19
Thursday, July 16
Best bet: VINTAGE VINO (7)
Best value: TWO CLICKS (9)
FIRST: Morning March was a 14-length winner last out; more to come. Doctor Love is speedy and could prove very tough to collar. Famous Figure won by more than six lengths in lone start; big-time player.
SECOND: Bakuto adds blinkers and could play out as the main speed on the rail. Irish Goodbye has finished second as the favorite in all three starts; more of the same? Term Premium was a clear-cut second in debut; right in the thick of this.
THIRD: Princip tallied fast late-pace and final figures when winning last; takes another. Screaming Uncle is speedy and looms a serious wire-to-wire threat. Tizmarkus holds razor-sharp current form; big-time player.
FOURTH: Chester Boy logged fast final fractions in all three starts; breakthrough predicted. He's a Piper worked three times since speed and fade in debut; worth long look. Franklin Delano also is fleet-footed and adds blinkers; dangerous.
FIFTH: J'ray's Jewel moves to grass after willing second in debut; dam has produced three turf winners. Beach Life could play out as the main speed in first grass start; dangerous. Tappin Magic owns turf breeding on both sides of pedigree; very interesting.
SIXTH: Pippa Adds owns sprinter's speed and could secure soft lead with heads-up handling. Ati Girl is fresh and logs swift late-pace figures; very playable. Raghba owns six seconds and a third from 10 starts; exotics inclusion.
SEVENTH: Vintage Vino should pack enhanced wallop with cutback to shorter route. English Law is speedy, rested and owns fast numbers; dangerous. Bold Love makes first start since claimed by "live" barn; don't ignore.
EIGHTH: Exhibition Only is firing bullets for first start since gelded; dominant speed with proper ride. Into the Light was a determined maiden winner in last; worth long look. Life Is Gravy could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
NINTH: Two Clicks was pace-compromised when an improved third at 87-1 last time; more to give. Valiant Diva drilled twice since even fourth in last; very interesting. Island Charm owns three seconds and two thirds from eight outings; must be factored into the mix. Zelena gets the meds and is working steadily for first start since last summer; don't ignore.
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Friday, July 17
Best bet: FUNNY FACTOR (5)
Best value: BELOUNI (8)
FIRST: Beijing has finished second in both starts; breakthrough predicted. Red Square was just a neck behind top selection when third in debut; dangerous. Onepac's speed must be respected.
SECOND: Discotheque should pack intensified kick with cutback to 7 furlongs. Sir Duke is firing bullets for first start since March; very interesting. Regeneration has finished third in both starts; more show dough.
THIRD: Castle Chaos hails from the streaking Ilkay Kantarmaci stable; tractable running style seals the deal. Twenty Four Mamba is training with a purpose for first start since March; worth long look. Unlimitedpotential was a front-running winner in last; dangerous.
FOURTH: Denos Grace fired half-mile bullet since even fifth in debut; forward move predicted. Juneau was a sharp second in first start; be no surprise. Atlas a Eye is working swiftly for debut; could be the goods.
FIFTH: Funny Factor drops and gets favorable turnback to sprint. Vacation Dance also gets class relief and packs potent kick on best. Twisted Filigree is speedy and could prove tough to collar on a soft lead.
SIXTH: Gilded Cracken projects as the controlling speed with proper ride. The Hidden Chamber could run past them all if pace meltdown ensues. Harrow, a winner this distance and price last time; must be considered if able to escape AE list.
SEVENTH: Whitby drops after speed and fade in last; improvement expected. Geostoblame should move forward with return to dirt; dangerous. Mirage must overcome tough post but logs fast figures on "A" efforts; mixed message.
EIGHTH: Belouni returns to more manageable class and distance; owns win on Spa sod. Ice Chocolat exits sprints and could play out as the main speed. Beef Winslow should move forward in second start since three-month layoff; don't ignore.
NINTH: Proctor Street owns two wins and a third from three starts on Saratoga turf; more to come. Long Ago is fleet-footed and has Kendrick Carmouche in the saddle; very interesting. Hang the Moon could be in the garden spot if fractions get fast and furious.
10TH: St. Brigid's Cross projects as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Olivia's Grace could be the prime beneficiary if pace collapse comes to pass. Donna Romano drops and gets first-time Lasix; must consider. Undergrad needed last; don't overlook.
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Saturday, July 18
Best bet: SMOOTH BREEZE (11)
Best value: MO THE MERRIER (9)
FIRST: Greenwell tallied fast final fraction when besting a next-out winner in debut; his turn to score today. Jack's Golden Goal was a clear-cut second in first start; dangerous. Powerline debuts for Brad Cox; could be the goods.
SECOND: Brazenly bounced last time after fast-figure third in prior; 5-furlong bullet last week seals the deal. Bernin Hot is fleet-footed and could play out as the main speed on the rail. Spoiler should move forward with return to dirt.
THIRD: The Toy Cannon switches to Kendrick Carmouche and looms the controlling speed. Corvus makes first start since claimed by streaking Ilkay Kantarmaci stable; worth long look. Apollo Code has finished no worse than third in last nine starts; must consider.
FOURTH: Dhabab needed last, drops and owns fast back numbers. Fore Harp is quick from gate and gets class relief; very interesting. Shape Note and War Stride had just a half-length separating them when second and third, respectively, on June 20; both must be considered.
FIFTH: Kathynmarissa, one of four Chad Brown-trained runners in the field, was done in by soft fractions last out. Dynamic Pricing, Brown No. 2, has the benefit of the rail. Segesta, Brown No.3, owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Portfolio Duration, the fourth Brown entrant, bested top selection when winning last; take your pick.
SIXTH: Five Wishes was a "geared down" winner in last; more to come. Caldo Candy logged two of three wins on Spa loam and fired 5-furlong bullet last week; very playable. Agoo could be the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues.
SEVENTH: Energy Flows was a game second in first start; experience edge in nine-horse field with seven newcomers. Elevated concluded work tab with half-mile bullet; follow the money. Key Colony Beach is from a dam that has thrown two winners from three foals to race; charting a must.
EIGHTH: Cy Fair bested a next-out winner when scoring in last; takes another. Sapphire Beach topped Cy Fair by a half-length when second on April 10; big-time player. Quiet Street should pack amplified wallop with cutback to sprint.
NINTH: Mo the Merrier gets favorable turnback to 7 furlongs; two 5-furlong works in the interim seal the deal. Criteria owns two seconds and a third from four starts; another minor award? Dark Assault makes third start of form cycle; don't ignore.
10TH: King's Leap projects as the dominant front-runner with heads-up handling. Annexperience also is speedy and was a 14-length winner in lone dirt start; very dangerous. Whittington Park could be in the garden spot if top selections hook on the lead.
11TH: Smooth Breeze is training sharply for first start in seven weeks; owns field's fastest late-pace figure on "A" efforts. Iron Max was a tough-trip second in last; must be factored into the mix. Mo Trump's speed must be respected.
12TH: Aperitif was compromised by seven-wide move in last; rates close call in wide-open nightcap. Galway Gurl was victimized in rough start in debut; price will be tempting. Daylight Dreamer was a fast-figured second two starts back; worth long look. My Lil Army Girl owns a second and a third from last two outings; right in the thick of this.
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Sunday, July 19
Best bet: SILVOLOGY (7)
Best value: FREDDIE B (8)
FIRST: Curvino is fresh, training with a purpose and drops two class levels. Sturdy packs potent late kick on best efforts; dangerous. McDiesel owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
SECOND: Raynham Hall was a tough-trip fifth in last; rates close call. Emergency Nine was a useful sixth in debut; very playable. Forever to Go could play out as the main speed with Kendrick Carmouche aboard; worth long look.
THIRD: Sfumato makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; weakness of field helps, too. Trail Blaze, an even fourth in last, should move forward in second start since five-month layoff. Inherent Promise also needed last and should be favorably positioned near the front.
FOURTH: Spitfire worked three times since game placing last out; more to come. Sparkling Mama is fleet-footed and could play out as the dominant speed. Quality of Essence would be aided by pace meltdown; don't ignore.
FIFTH: Factory Setting tallied solid late-pace figure when third in first turf start; rail draw seals the deal. Amazing Gracer was just a length behind top pick last out and now makes third start of form cycle; very interesting. Axis Point is from a dam that has produced three turf winners; worth long look.
SIXTH: Braums Run was gelded since third in debut; forward move predicted. Ed Charles noticeably picked up the tempo in final workout; glides to victory? George St. debuts for Brad Cox; could be the goods.
SEVENTH: Silvology needed last and owns a win at the distance; starting from the rail clinches it. National Archive logs fast late-pace figures on best efforts; dangerous. Sol d'Oro was a tough-trip third in last; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Freddie B tallied swift final fraction when winning debut and has trained swiftly for return. Iron Dome logs fast figures on "A" efforts; big-time threat. Thrilla is quick from gate and could get early jump in field that's light on speed.
NINTH: Cy Fair logged four wins, one second and third from six starts; more to come. Throckmorton owns speed and competitive numbers; price will be tempting. Johnny's Red Storm, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, has yet to taste defeat in two starts; must be factored into the mix.
10TH: Roagna displayed out-of-the-blue speed when a clear-cut second in last start; more to give. Artistic Success was a clear-cut third in last; dangerous. Roseberns Dream logged front-end maiden score in most recent; don't ignore. Twirly should move forward with return to grass; very interesting.
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