TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato will give their best bet of the day for every Friday, Saturday and Sunday card of the Saratoga meet, and bet $50 Win/Place on their selection. In the case of a scratch, an alternate pick will be posted on twitter. The handicapper who has accrued the biggest bankroll through Sept. 3 wins.
SS: Saturday's Result – Pretty Boy Flash looked like an easy winner in the stretch, but just couldn't get by Royal Copy and had to settle for second at 2-1. I guess I should just be happy cashing a $3.10 place ticket at this point! Total: $890.
Sunday, Race 8, OC – Toughest 'Ombre figures to have things his own way on the front end at what should be a very fair price in this big field. The bay gave his backers quite the thrill at 101-1, staying on for a close fourth behind the classy duo of Camelot Kitten and Highland Sky at this distance in the GIII Pennine Ridge S. at Belmont June 4. Toughest 'Ombre ran a huge race that day, taking the first turn about four wide after breaking from an outside post, and wasn't exactly slowing down late either, clocking his final eighth in :11.62, beaten a half length. He faded to 12th after setting the pace when stretched to 1 1/4 miles in the GI Belmont Derby July 9 and has posted three four-furlong breezes since for this turnback in distance. Toughest O'mbre adds blinkers and is re-united with Dylan Davis, who was also aboard in the Pennine Ridge. Here's hoping that they heavy rain is over and this one remains on the lawn. Selection: #2 Toughest 'Ombre (10-1).
BD: Saturday's Result – Original top pick Olive Branch scratched from the Adirondack, and replacement play Cairn was dead on the board and never made an impact in the second race. Might be crazy to pick a horse in a turf race Sunday, but maybe we'll get lucky. Total: $1350.
Sunday, Race 2, MSW – Chad Brown has two firsters entered here–Cosi Bella and Sweet Connie Girl–who sold for $360,000 and $150,000, respectively, at OBS March. Both breezes were solid, with Cosi Bella working in a quick-looking, unblinkered :10 flat and Sweet Connie Girl covering the same distance in a very fluid :10 2/5. I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see Cosi Bella win or run well, but Sweet Connie Girl's stride looked a little more turfy to me and I'm hoping she'll be the bigger price due to her cheaper price tag at the sale. By good grass and debut sire Lemon Drop Kid and from the family of both champion juvenile Gilded Time and 2014 GI Arlington Million winner Hardest Core, there's plenty of reason to expect Sweet Connie Girl to come out running here. Selection: #10 Sweet Connie Girl (5-1).
Tune in each race day from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for Saratoga Live, available on Fox Sports 2 (channel finder), MSG+ (channel finder) and Altitude (channel finder).
For the complete broadcast schedule, visit NYRA.com
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