Saturday Stakes previews
Real Writing on Racing 💯
The Haskell Stakes Grade 1 $1000000 3yo’s 1 1/8 dirt Monmouth Park
1. Following Sea – Runhappy colt stretches out here for Pletcher/Rosario after dusting entry level allowance foes at Belmont in first start on east coast since transfer from Baffert barn. Ran fast last two but it’s a lot to ask to go from 6 ½ to 9 furlongs against high level competition. Only chance seems to be getting loose on the lead but remember with no whips, if he starts to get fatigued, he can’t be encouraged. Can’t recommend here.
2. Antigravity – First Samauri colt took forever to break his maiden then came to Monmouth where he has won back to back starts. Just doesn’t appear to be fast enough to get in the mix here.
3. Mandaloun – Odd race last time capturing the mini-Pegasus in a frantic finish over Weyburn who appeared to come back at him. Florent Geroux can’t let him lag and lose position early like he did last time as Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon are clearly a step above the competition in the last. I’m not sold on him in this spot at all.
4. Hot Rod Charlie – The favorite here off of a super game effort in the Belmont last out, sheds blinkers and seems to be set to get a nice stalking trip off of Following Sea. He is the fastest horse in the race with a pair of 0-‘s in the last 2 and clearly the one to beat for O’Neill and Prat. The question is does he regress with those two big efforts and shipping back and forth across country? Interesting fact: Doug O’Neill has never won a race at Monmouth Park
5. Pickin’ Time – Breen might have had his hat on too tight when pickin this spot for this son of Stay Thirsty who has been relatively dreadful since capturing the Nashua last fall.
6. Midnight Bourbon – Tiznow colt was the Going in Circles future book favorite for the Jim Dandy but Mr. A chose to go for it here and honestly he probably made the right choice. Improved speed in the Preakness last out coupled with a bump up in figs as well as a stalking position off of the speed and the presence of Paco who has more no-whip experience than the riders of the other contenders makes him our choice at anything close to the morning line of 9/2 which seems generous.
7. Basso – Outside of the connections receiving better seating arrangements than a non-Haskell runner there is nothing else positive to say.
✅Barry “Sniper” Spears selection – Mandaloun
Remember you don’t have to play if you don’t like the price! There are tons of good races today all over the country, bet smarter! If Our Super Freak is anywhere close to the morning line in the Molly Pitcher at Mth (race 10) take the money and run!
The Diana Grade 1 $500000 4yo and up F&M 1 1/8 on inner turf Saratoga
1. La Signare (Fr) – 6 year old mare from the barn of Brendan Walsh just missed last out in the Gamely at Santa Anita going this same 9 furlong distance. Handles all types of ground but she rarely wins, 3 lifetime victories and doesn’t figure to have the kick to outsprint some of the others in here especially with a predicted slow pace on what might be a soft course.
2. Pocket Square (GB) – the first of the Brown runners was wildly overbet in the Just a Game last out and really didn’t offer up much. Lightly raced filly loses Prat to stablemate but picks up Johnny Velazquez. Might appreciate the return to two turns but might not be good enough either. Would have to jump to new top to get in the winners circle.
3. Magic Attitude(GB) – Threw in a clunker last out in the New York Handicap going 1 ¼ over soft ground at Belmont. Doesn’t seem to fit well in this spot cutting back, perhaps on course with give in ground and having a one run closer style in a race lacking pace.
4. Vigilantes Way – Shug calls the shots (favorite DRF comment) but her primary advantage here is she has some early speed and should be able to stay close to Summer Romance. She needs to run a race of her lifetime to get on the board here but has slowly been showing improvement in her 4yo year.
5. Harvey’s Lil Goil – Has overcome a terrible name to become a real factor in the filly and mare turf division after being a pretty good dirt runner earlier in her career. Didn’t fire last out but that was on very soft ground and need to keep an eye on how much rain they get before this race today. Has tactical speed and virtually always runs her race for hall of fame trainer Bill Mott but morning line price of 3-1 is too low for us here.
6. Summer Romance – ran huge at Belmont for English trainer Charlie Appleby when leading throughout and just getting nipped on the wire by her stable mate in the Just a Game on Belmont day. Figures to be the pacesetter once again under Luis Saez and Europeans have been dominating the New York turf races this summer. The soft ground is a bit of an unknown though she has had a decent amount of success on courses listed as good overseas.
7. Lemista (IRE) – Her trainer has had a stranglehold on this race in recent years though his two runners in this edition are far less accomplished than in previous runnings. Ran well in her US debut finishing second to Harvey’s Lil Goil in the Beaugay two months back. Will be overbet off of that effort like most Brown/I.Ortiz horses are though she has handled soft conditions that we might encounter today.
8. Althiqa(GB) – Ran down Summer Romance to win the Just a Game in her last. Has handled very soft turf in the past and figures to be the one to beat here if new rider Manny Franco can get any sort of decent trip. She doesn’t have to be at the back of the pack based on euro form though from the outside position that’s where he may land going down the backside. Showed last time can quicken and improve in traffic as well.
✅Barry “Sniper” Spears selection - Magic Attitude
Cross Country/Cross breed pick 5 (all races shown on Fox Sports networks)
*If you are playing it today we will give you a little help on the Meadowlands legs. In post position order NOT order of preference
Race 7 WM Haughton Memorial $265400 for FFA pace
2. Century Farroh- 9/2 - shuffled back last out yet finished full of run. Better luck from post 2
6. Allywag Hanover 8/1 – had no shot last out with wide trip but figures to be rolling late behind expected hot pace
7. Ruthless Hanover 7/2 – got cut off on backside which lead to break last week. Will be blasting out for position for new driver Brian Sears
Race 8 Hambo Maturity $400000 1 1/8 with 11 and 12 as trailers
3. Hypnotic AM - 8/1 – this race figures to have a lively pace and flow and this filly may well find herself flying late
4. Ramona Hill- 6/1 – last years Hambo winner adds trotting hopples after a break last out. Qualified good and has tremendous closing kick when she is right.
7. Gangster Hanover 15/1 – has been driven very passively this season by the ultra aggressive Ake. This is just a stab at a 50-1 shot but the chaos of the two fastest horses drawing post 10 and 11 might lead to a wild finish.
12. Ready for Moni – 3/1- might be able to work out something following perhaps Ramona Hill from the back tier. Has been super in every start this year.
Race 9 Meadowlands Pace $700000 for 3yo
A wide open race with as many as 6 logical winners
4. Southwind Gendry – 3/1- Has been racing mostly in sire stakes in PA but loves the mud (4 for 4) for Burke/Gingras
5. Lawless Shadow - 10/1 – Canadian shipper also kept light schedule pointing to this. Fan of the price but not of the driver.
7. One Eight Hundred - 9/2 – Been destroying easier competition but faded after soft fractions in elim. Guessing improvement tonight
8. Abuckabett Hanover -15/1- was the Going in Circles Meadowlands Pace future book fav earlier in the season. Odd decision to go back to Yonkers (1/2 mile track) after harrowing trip in first Messemger elim then dull try in elimination last week might have scared off most but driver McCarthy sticks and so do we