Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Aug. 26-29
Wednesday, Aug. 26
Best Bet: EXTRAVAGANZOO (7)
Best Value: UNLOAD (6)
FIRST: Cody's Approval was a clear-cut second in last; breaks through today. Atlas a Eye also exits placing in last; be no surprise. Lady Starstruck concluded work tab with three crisp half-mile drills; could be the goods.
SECOND: Brigadier General is rested and could play out as the main speed with proper ride. Late Call could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Unit Economics fits Chad Brown's classic patter; be no surprise.
THIRD: Furry Fox projects as the speed of the speed with Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Calling an Audible makes third start of form cycle; price will be tempting. Timia is a front-running threat on "A" efforts.
FOURTH: Vajra could get the early jump with aggressive handling from inside slot. Empress New Groove gets favorable cutback in distance; worth long look. Chestnut owns two second from three starts; logical contender.
FIFTH: Calling Mr. Mo switches to turf for Miguel Clement; breeding suggests forward move. Al Mowashaah was a strong second in last; could easily take this. Our Warrior and Jordan the Caddy are uncoupled newcomers from the Linda Rice barn; charting a must.
SIXTH: Unload is fresh, training with a purpose and packs solid late kick on best efforts. Secured Landing is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on an unchallenged lead. Glen Airy, an uncoupled stable mate of second pick, logged decisive score the first time he touched Spa loam; big-time player.
SEVENTH: Extravaganzoo worked three times since clear-cut maiden victory in first start on Saratoga turf; more to come. Go for Launch ships in from Canada after determined win in debut at Woodbine; dangerous. Shining Moment is quick from gate and must be factored into the mix.
EIGHTH: All Bright made wide rally when third in last; call in weak nightcap. Forever to Go owns speed but lacks heart; mixed message. That's Amore could impact if pace meltdown ensues. Hanna's Hideaway is another that would be aided by front-end collapse; right in the thick of this.
Thursday, Aug. 27
Best Bet: URGENCY (6)
Best Value: BLAME IT ON K J (9)
FIRST: Beltandsuspenders made sustained rally from quarter pole to the wire when third in debut; added sixteenth plays to strength. Fun Toph Fun was a tough-trip third in first start at Monmouth; must respect. Cream Puff tossed head and lost position when making first outing in same race as top selection; don't ignore.
SECOND: Royal Merit arrives from Monmouth after even fourth in last; breakthrough predicted. Wingfoot was a fast-figured second in last at Ellis Park; could easily take this. Ice House makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; big-time player.
THIRD: General Partner is training with a purpose for first start in nearly a year for Chad Brown; classic pattern. Yinzer is speedy and 1-for-1 on Spa sod; very dangerous. Bonus Move also is fleet-footed and has the benefit of the hedge; very playable.
FOURTH: Alternate Reality makes first outing since claimed by white-hot barn; rail draw seals the deal. Bedard has finished second in last three starts; another placing? Brazenly could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat; don't overlook.
FIFTH: Follow Your Heart noticeably picked up the tempo in works as debut drew near; ready. Rockabye was second in both outings; must consider if able to escape AE list. Quartz Mountain, another outside the body of the race, popped and stopped when favored in debut; must respect. Brickyard Belle is from a dam that has produced two turf winners; charting a must.
SIXTH: Urgency tallied rapid late-pace figure when breaking maiden in race taken off turf last time; pairs up on any footing. Madagascar exits tough-trip fifth in last; price will be tempting. In the Dark owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
SEVENTH: Blackjack adds blinkers and projects as the dominant speed with heads-up handling. Tutto a Posto could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Covered Option bested second selection by more than two lengths when third in debut; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Titan Ready looms the swiftest of the swift with aggressive handling. River of Deceit looms the prime beneficiary if top pick wilts in the lane. Wood Island lived up to heavy tote support when a front-running winner in debut; must be factored into the mix.
NINTH: Blame It On K J was pace and positioned compromised last out; rail draw is the clincher. Final Denile made sustained rally when third in last; big-time danger. Ortus was speed sharpened in last start; very interesting. Coach Case owns three seconds and a third from eight starts; another minor award?
Friday, Aug. 28
Best Bet: MASSARAT (8)
Best Value: GEORGE BRIGGS (7)
FIRST: Bolt Island fired crisp half-mile drill to conclude work tab; ready to roll. Rockabye has finished second in both starts; another placing? Pay Monthly debuts for Brad Cox; must consider.
SECOND: Curlin's Magic drops and should pack intensified kick with cutback to shorter sprint. Short Shift was dueled into defeat last time; big-time, front-end threat on best. Bellacose also owns speed and gets class relief; dangerous.
THIRD: Shipsational made sustained run when second in last; confident price hike seals the deal. Amadeus Music exits fast-figured placing at Monmouth; dangerous. Spoiler drops after voided claim when second in last; fire sale?
FOURTH: Normandy Coast was a determined winner in last and could be ideally positioned in closely matched field. Shoot the Nickel fires strong efforts with machine-like consistency; be no surprise. Norwich drops in price after hard-fought win in last; mixed message.
FIFTH: Amelia in Air moves to grass with suitable breeding; improvement predicted. Royal County Down, a late-running second in debut, should be aided by today's added ground. Mandy Steph was a solid third in first start; must be factored into the mix.
SIXTH: McMoon was a front-running second in debut; all the way today. Five Grand, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, could be in the garden spot if that one wilts in the lane. Freedom Charge was third in both starts; more show dough?
SEVENTH: George Briggs has trained with a purpose since pace compromised in last. Mi Bago got the better of top selection when allowed soft lead on June 3; serious, front-end threat. Russian Realm runs late and could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
EIGHTH: Massarat logged two swift works since non-stressful fourth in last start; forward move predicted. Storm Miami is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Unmerited Favor packs potent late kick on best efforts; worth long look.
NINTH: City Blocks, 3-for-4 on Spa loam, makes first start since claimed by Linda Rice. Bam's Bliss Kiss is fleet-footed and will be aided by cutback to 6 furlongs. Confirmed Star owns solid late wallop on "A" efforts.
TENTH: Illmatic was a tough-trip third in last; crisp half-mile work in the interim seals the deal. Stormy Birthday should pack amplified wallop with cutback to sprint. East Coast Girl is quick from gate and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Joker on Fire consistently fires strong efforts; must consider.
Saturday, Aug. 29
Best Bet: THAT'S HOW WE LOVE (14)
Best Value: VIRABHADRASANA (6)
FIRST: Mission Integrity is from a dam that has produced two juvenile winners; charting a must. Subjugation regressed in last after clear-cut placing in debut; dangerous. Roughkin, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, concluded work tab with sharp 5-furlong breeze from the gate.
SECOND: Sculcos Folly projects as the speed of the speed with proper ride. Caldo Candy will be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Anyway is another that would be aided by pace meltdown.
THIRD: Lightning Strike is rested and training swiftly; ready. Liberty's Secret made sustained rally when a clear-cut second in last; dangerous. K Gun owns three wins from four starts; be no surprise.
FOURTH: Noble Dynasty should pack amplified kick with cutback to shorter route. Iron Palace made every pole a winning one in debut; speedy and playable. King's Remark is a late-running threat if pace meltdown ensues.
FIFTH: Sir Oscar was compromised by seven-wide run when third in last; three works in the interim seal the deal. Caroline Street Beat was second to a repeat winner in last; big-time player. Twirling Lad regressed in last after front-end score in prior; bounce-back threat.
SIXTH: Virabhadrasana was a tough-trip fourth in debut; potent second-out stable. Cruising Again fired half-mile bullet since speed and fade in debut; worth long look. Psalm Beauty concluded work tab with 5-furlong bullet; follow the money.
SEVENTH: Bella Knows tallied fast final fraction when making very wide run last out; better trip predicted. Counterintuitive gets Lasix in first start since last October for Chad Brown; worth long look. Shelzawa, also from the Brown barn, delivered strong efforts in both U.S. starts; must consider.
EIGHTH: Englishman logged fast-figured win in lone start on Spa soil; more to come. Solitude Dude could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat. Deep Flame owns two wins and two seconds from four starts; must be factored into the mix.
NINTH: Fully Subscribed notched swift late-pace figure when a determined winner in last; more to come. Scottish Lassie finished a half-length behind top pick after blowing a three-length lead in the stretch last time; mixed message. Speed Shopper moves to dirt and could impact if fractions get hot and hectic.
TENTH: Nonconsecutiveterms bested a next-out winner when a clear-cut maiden winner last time; takes another. Deep Learning made six-wide rally when second in last; worth long look. Oscar Bound is speedy and could prove tough on an unchallenged lead.
ELEVENTH: Book'em Dano needs no introduction; "A" game takes this. Crazy Mason packs powerful late kick on best efforts; very interesting. Hymn owns three wins and a second from last four outings; don't overlook.
TWELFTH: Ways and Means owns five wins and a second from six starts on Spa loam; keeps on giving. Maida, 5-for-7 in career, is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Eclatant, another that loves to win, could be ideally positioned in stalker's seat; right in the thick of this.
THIRTEENTH: Renegade got his game back when winning the Jim Dandy; more to come. Napoleon Solo logged three swift works since arriving at the Spa; very dangerous. Golden Tempo obviously could take contentious Travers on "A" effort.
FOURTEENTH: That's How We Love visually and numerically impressed when winning debut on Monmouth grass; ready for prime time. Mermaid is fleet-footed and could prove tough on a soft lead. New Rose also should be advantageously positioned near the front; don't ignore. Three to G packs solid late kick on best efforts.
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