DRF Race of the Day- Saratoga Race 8 The Better Talk Now Stake for 3yr old going 1 mile on Turf.
The experts at DRF both picked the Bill Mott horses, 8- Irish Territory (ML 10-1) Matt's pick; and 9- Westerland (ML 12-1) Dan's pick. As the ML suggests, this race is pretty competitive, the favorite is at 7-2 and the longest shot is 12-1. DRF Pace Projector suggests a fast pace with the ML favorite 1- Strike Power gunning for the lead, then follow by 6- Corot and 5- Rose's Vision then followed by 2- Ceevee. I think the 1 and the 2 will go straight to the lead, I believe that Jimenez will go and try to grab the lead because this horse had success when he is in front. Will he get it, remains to be seen. That leads to me to think that the ML favorite Strike Power will be a vulnerable favorite; he will be taking a lot of heat from the other front runners. His form lately doesn't exactly "strikes" confidence, even though his pedigree suggests turf. But why trying turf for the first time in a stake race? Looking at the rest of the field, the
3- Combatant (ML 8-1) seems most interesting to me. His maiden race was on turf at a mile and he didn't run poorly. In fact, I think he did well, ended up 4th by losing 1 1/4 lengths back in Sept of last year, then he broke his maiden new out, going 1 mile on dirt. He has done reasonably well on the 1 mile distance over the next several races. His last race was the first race back from a short break, going 1 1/16 on a yielding turf and he was 5th, loss by 6 lengths, but earn a Beyer figure 80 which is comparable to this field. I am willing to take another shot at him and hope that with today's distance and a firm turf, he can sit in mid pack and saving ground through out then get a run of the early speed horses. At ML 8-1, seems reasonable, especially he has been competing in stakes and graded races, he is as good as any of these.
$5 WP 3- Combantant (ML 8-1)
$2 EX 3/ 2, 5, 8, 9
$2 EX 8, 9/ 3 (think that the experts horses has a chance too, and we all trying to beat the favorite)
As usual, comments and suggestions are always welcome. GL all.