Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Sept. 2-6
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Best Bet: WHATCHATALKINABOUT (2)
Best Value: STRONG STATE (4)
FIRST: Siennois was a handy winner over the Colonial jumps last out; ready for prime time. Smart Uncle won AP Smithwick last out; dangerous. Mr Percy is 1-for-1 over Spa fences; must consider.
SECOND: Whatchatalkinabout logged three sharp works since determined score on July 10; more to give. Acoustic Ave could play out as the controlling speed. Be You could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues.
THIRD: Protect and Defend owns field's fast turf late-pace figures; strong work tab seals the deal. Evenly Alert runs late and should be aided by move to grass. Pauillac makes first turf start for Chad Brown; worth long look.
FOURTH: Strong State tallied swift final fraction when winning last start; favorable outside draw seals the deal. Beyond Belief is quick from gate and could prove a tough customer on a soft lead. Senza Parole bested a next-out winner when a fast figured second in last; could easily take this.
FIFTH: Here'syourtrouble was a tough-trip fourth in last; pulling six to 10 pounds from the field makes a difference. Successful Agenda bounced in last after dominant maiden score in last; very playable. Dat Dares Right was a hard-fought second in last; must be factored into the mix.
SIXTH: Inclusivity made sustained rally after poor start when second in debut; more to come. Berta's Stitch fired crisp half-mile drill since subpar seventh in last; very interesting. George St. moves to grass for Brad Cox; must be factored into the mix.
SEVENTH: Tappin Magic was a rough-trip fourth in first outing; improvement predicted. Juneau moves to turf after game placing in last; worth long look. Wildest Dreams is from a dam that has produced three grass winners; very interesting.
EIGHTH: Kay Cup is training with a purpose for first start since New Year's Eve; ready. Grace and Grit packs potent kick and owns three wins and three seconds from last six starts. Queens Cat, a front-running victor in last, logged five wins from last seven starts; right in the thick of this.
NINTH: Vintage Vino was caught nine wide when rallying in the run for the wire; better trip expected today. Blue Pill drops and gets favorable cutback in distance; price will be tempting. I Can See That and Printer's Alley had just a nose separating them when two-three, respectively, on Aug. 9; neither would surprise.
Thursday, Sept. 3
Best Bet: LIKA ROLLING STONE (1)
Best Value: CONSIDERATE CITY (7)
FIRST: Lika Rolling Stone is speedy and drops; ready to roll today. Mursal is riding a three-race winning streak; could easily take another. Tough Street owns four seconds and a third from last five starts; must use in gimmicks.
SECOND: Crypto King moves to grass after taking solid tote support in debut; improvement predicted. Blackjack could play out as the main speed in first turf start. Be in Monty's Mind noticeably picked up tempo of morning drills as race day drew near; follow the money.
THIRD: Get a Job tallied fast final fraction when a determined winner in last; more to come. Nuanced is fleet-footed and owns swift figures; very dangerous. Ez Roll consistently delivers strong efforts; be no surprise.
FOURTH: Fire Angel owns sprinter's speed and could prove tough on soft lead. All Show could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Cadillac Mary adds blinkers and starts from the hedge; worth long look.
FIFTH: Oh Come On exits speed and fade in debut and hails from potent second-out stable. Seaside Startup is from a dam that has produced a stakes winner; charting a must. Fair Practice, an uncoupled barn mate of second selection, should move forward with race under belt.
SIXTH: Ratu Jawa made sustained rally when a clear-cut second in last; more to give. Silsbee was a tough-trip fourth when favored in last; big-time player. One More Guitar could be the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues.
SEVENTH: Considerate City was pace and position compromised last time; breaks through today. Boomington should move forward with return to turf; very interesting. Roseberns Dream can land in exotics at fat number if able to secure unchallenged lead.
EIGHTH: Complex Charlie projects as the main speed with Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Bogus Operandi was a pole clear when second in debut at Delaware; very playable. Spherical makes third start of form cycle; must be factored into the mix.
NINTH: Salamis notched solid final fraction when a determined winner in last; takes another. Kupuna logs fast late-pace figures on "A" efforts; tight work tab for first start in more than six months. Risk Tolerance, an uncoupled stable mate of top pick, was a hard-fought winner in last; right in the thick of this.
TENTH: Before the Wind is fresh and tallied solid late-pace figures on best efforts. Beau Cheval took backward step in last after game placing in prior; rebound threat. Mo Curls has finished second in last two outings; must consider. Gilbane owns two placing from three outings; must consider.
Friday, Sept. 4
Best Bet: UP BEFORE THE DAWN (4)
Best Value: BASHFULLY (1)
FIRST: Bashfully adds blinkers after useful fourth in debut; forward move predicted. Charlotte's Beach has trained swiftly for return to turf; very dangerous. Domestic Agenda debuts for Chad Brown; could be the goods.
SECOND: Promise Me Amelody was a clear-cut second when favored in debut; gets there today. Carmen Amalia was a tough-trip third behind top selection in last; worth long look. Galway Gurl owns speed but lacks heart; must take the good with the bad.
THIRD: Commuted should pack amplified wallop with cutback to 6 furlongs; half-mile bullet last week seals the deal. Run Classic tallied swift internal and final numbers when third in last; very playable. Souper Tuscan is 1-for-1 on Spa loam; right in the thick of this.
FOURTH: Up Before the Dawn visually and numerically impressed when winning debut at Ellis Park; more to come. Pros and Cons logged three-length score in lone start on Spa sod; very dangerous. Bailage bailed out the chalk players when winning debut by a nose at 91 cents on the dollar; must respect.
FIFTH: Night Sky was second throughout in solid debut effort; experience is key. Carpet City made sustained rally when also second in first start; dangerous. Judysdancin Tonite (Chad Brown) and Tiger Line (George Weaver) are newcomers that demand tote scrutiny.
SIXTH: Hutchinson logged fast pace and final figures when second in last; could get early jump with Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Paul's Recovery also owns speed and makes first start since gelded; very playable. Corvus drops, returns to dirt and owns fast back figures; price will be tempting.
SEVENTH: Velora lived up to heavy tote support when a clear-cut winner in debut; 5-furlong bullet on Aug. 27 seals the deal. B Yutiful Carly is another that has worked strongly since making sustained run to win first start; dangerous. Saint Dymphna also broke maiden in last start; must be factored into the mix.
EIGHTH: Run Curtis Run packs potent late kick on "A" efforts and makes first start since claimed. Vettriano owns speed and fast figures; logical, short-priced player. Ice Chocolat, an uncoupled barn mate of second pick, should possess enhanced staying power with cutback to sprint.
NINTH: St. Brigid's Cross adds blinkers and could play out as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Heaven's Bolt drops in first start since claimed by Linda Rice; mixed message. Lexi's Melody adds blinkers and gets class relief; competitive on best efforts.
TENTH: Bryant and Cooper was pace and trip compromised in last; three works in the interim are key. Roagana was rested after hard-fought win this surface and distance on July 19; big-time player. Artistic Success is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on a soft lead.
ELEVENTH: Nonna Lynne drilled four times since determined win on July 24; pairs up. Trail of Gold was a non-stressful fifth in last; improvement expected. So Darn Pretty owns sprinter's speed and could prove tough on an unchallenged lead. Lady Firefoot drops after even fifth in last; worth long look at long price.
Saturday, Sept. 5
Best Bet: WYNSTOCK (6)
Best Value: ON THE HILL (4)
FIRST: U. S. S. Valor fired two, crisp half-mile drills since tough-trip third in debut; more to come. Mystrix and Implied Open had just a had separating them when two-three, respectively, on Aug. 8; neither would surprise. Livid outworked 63 rivals in half-mile bullet to conclude work tab; charting a must.
SECOND: High Official tallied fast late-pace figure when winning debut; takes another. Liam's Law, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, could play out as the main speed. Bold Leadership, also from the Todd Pletcher stable, would be aided by fast fractions.
THIRD: Highlands Way has yet to take a backward step on the numbers; keeps on giving. Favorable Scenario packs potent late kick on best efforts. Funny Factor, a determined winner in last, owns positional speed in contentious field; must consider.
FOURTH: On the Hill logged four tight works since eight-week freshener; two-time winner on Spa soil. Bold Fortune is fleet-footed and could play out as the speed of the speed. B Thedonald owns two wins, one second and a third from five starts; can't ignore.
FIFTH: Rum Twist took backward step in last after game placing in debut; rebounds. Secret Wish has win-early breeding on both sides of pedigree. Aerial Affiar was a front-running second in last; worth long look.
SIXTH: Wynstock notched swift late-pace figure when a three-length winner in last; pairs up. Doc Sullivan was a strong second after slow start in last; very dangerous. Tuscan Sky and Reasoned Analysis had just a head between them when one-two, respectively, on Aug. 1; both demand scrutiny.
SEVENTH: True Essence, a solid second in debut, holds an experience edge in 10-horse field with eight newcomers. Free Legal Advice is from a dam that has produced three winners from three foals to race; very interesting. Mischief Time ($1.5 million), Pops Novo ($1.35 m) and Electro ($1.6 m) are firsters that sold for absurd prices; could finance a small country with that money.
EIGHTH: Pass On By is from a dam that has thrown four turf winners; new footing is the key. Related Party was a willing third in debut; big-time player. Stock Rising was purchased for $1.5 m as a yearling last fall; charting a must.
NINTH: Global Asset could be sitting in the garden spot in field that's jammed with speed. Ortley Avenue could play out as the swiftest of the swift with aggressive handling. Grunge also is fleet-footed and adds blinkers; must be factored into the mix
TENTH: Lion of Justice tallied lifetime best late-pace figure in last; 1 1/8 miles should play to strength. Annexperience is speedy and will be aided by cutback to shorter route. Iron Dome bounced last out after fast-figured placing in last; rebound threat.
ELEVENTH: Summer Starlet tallied rapid final fraction when a much-the-best winner in debut; more to give. Life Changing was a handy, front-running winner in first start; very dangerous. Girvy Girl justified massive tote support when winning debut at Gulfstream by 15 lengths; right in the thick of this.
TWELFTH: Ori is quick from the gate and could get the early jump in bulky nightcap. Hidden Presence and Y'allreadyforthis are late runner that could impact if top selection hits the wall. Griselda drops to lifetime low for Chad Brown; must consider.
Sunday, Sept. 6
Best Bet: STARS AND STRIDES (11)
Best Value: TANGO TANGO (12)
FIRST: The Standard drops after bouncing in last start; rebounds today. Disparate Impact displays same pattern as top pick (regression and class relief); dangerous. Warnock compiled solid work tab for move to grass; don't ignore.
SECOND: Unreasonable drilled twice since game placing in last; breaks through today. Play With Fire fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; must respect. Reining Flowers ships in for top-notch Kentucky-based barn; worth long look.
THIRD: Romantic Dancer should pack amplified kick with slight cutback in distance. Lovely Christina should move forward with return to dirt. Roman Grace owns speed and drops for Linda Rice; big-time player.
FOURTH: Hen Party is fresh and favorably posted outside in contentious Prioress Stakes. Mythical is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on a clear lead. Mashallah also is speedy and owns three wins from four starts; be no surprise.
FIFTH: Father Rick noticeably picked up tempo of drills as race day drew near; charting a must. Inalienable outworked 106 rivals in half-mile bullet on Aug. 22; could be the goods. Randee owns win-early breeding on both sides of pedigree; must be factored into the mix.
SIXTH: Iron Sight consistently logs field's fastest late-pace figures. Clear Conscience logged two of three wins on Spa sod; worth long look. Market Timing, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, could play out as the controlling speed.
SEVENTH: Two Clicks was a change-of-pace second in last; more to give. Valiant Diva could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues. Magic in My Eye makes third start of form cycle; very interesting.
EIGHTH: Brigadier General owns speed and returns to dirt. Riyadh Moon would benefit if top selection hits the wall. Tacticality was rested after clear-cut score on May 24; Brown's classic pattern.
NINTH: Blamicker projects as the speed of the speed in bulky field. Music in Motion, a determined maiden winner in last, could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Vekinda owns five seconds and two thirds from eight starts and is a must use in all exotic plays.
TENTH: High Official was a visually impressive winner in debut on turf; more to give on dirt. Booked is speedy and could play out as the dominant speed. Flight Command regressed in last after 10-length win in debut; right in the thick of this.
ELEVENTH: Stars and Strides logged three strong works since speed sharpened on dirt last out; 2-for-2 on Spa sod. Creditworthy, a winner of all three starts on Saratoga turf, is an obvious contender. Jean Valjean's speed gives him a puncher's chance at a playable price.
TWELFTH: Tango Tango is riding a forward line on the numbers; call based on price in wide-open nightcap. Kotlikoff gets Lasix for 3-year-old debut; worth long look. Main Thing could play out as the dominant speed in first grass start. My Togo moves to turf for Chad Brown; must be factored into the mix.
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