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: Last Sunday's Result – Melodic got bet like she couldn't lose going off at 2-1 from a 12-1 morning-line quote, but could do no better than a well-beaten third after bobbling at the break. Total: $812.50.
Friday, Race 9, Tale of the Cat S. – After Gorgeous Bird broke his maiden as a 2-year-old going seven furlongs at Churchill and followed with an impressive allowance win going a one-turn mile in his sophomore debut at Gulfstream in January, the grandson of champion Bird Town looked like he could be any kind. He never factored in a pair of subsequent Triple Crown prep attempts and a brief experiment on grass continued to dirty up his form. Save a blowout optional claiming win in the Indiana slop in October, Gorgeous Bird's sophomore season couldn't have been more of a disappointment. A well-beaten eighth after setting the pace going 1 1/8 miles in his second attempt this term beneath the Twin Spires in late May, Gorgeous Bird punched home nicely to get the money when turned back to 6 1/2 furlongs in a quickly run $50,000 stakes race at Ellis July 16, good for a very respectable 88 Beyer Speed Figure. Could sprinting turn out to be what Gorgeous Bird has wanted to do all along? In a race absolutely flooded with early speed, the tactical gray could sit a dream trip against this deep bunch at what has to be an enticing number. Selection: #10 Gorgeous Bird (12-1).
BD: Last Sunday's Result – Well, I've done a good job so far finding the races with Pletcher's best 2-year-olds and then picking someone else. . . Unfortunately, Go Glam had more problems than just the steam horse and never made an impact. Total: $1350.
Friday, Race 7, Alw – This race is full of lightly raced, well-bred, expensive 3-year-olds, but I don't particularly trust any of them–especially with what figures to be a solid pace. Instead I'll go with ultra-consistent 5-year-old New York-bred gelding Pax in Terra. He was third in a strong race two back won by subsequent Curlin S. scorer Connect with convincing next-out Saginaw S. winner Wake Up in Malibu second. Pax in Terra was always last of five in the Saginaw, but it seemed to me like he was simply run off his feet with the fast pace and one-turn configuration of that event. A two-turn nine panels should suit him better, and he may very well fly past all the flashier types late. Selection: #2 Pax in Terra (12-1).
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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