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 – The in-foal Lady Lara (Ire), off at 3-1 from an 8-1 morning-line quote, got the trip I was looking for and kicked home nicely in the stretch to finally get me back in the win column. Total: $812.50.
Sunday, Race 4, (S) OC – After kicking off her career with an impressive Saratoga debut win at this distance last September and a three-length tally in Belmont's Joseph A. Gimma S., New York-bred Melodic looked like she could be any kind. The chestnut didn't appreciate the stretch to a mile in the Maid of the Mist S. (finished a well-beaten seventh), then got back on track chasing home Frosty Margarita after that one was allowed to set a very easy early pace in the Key Cents S. at the Big A Nov. 22. Melodic hasn't been heard from since, but appears to be training up a storm–she's worked consecutive bullets at the Spa, including a five-furlong move in 1:00 2/5 (1/22) July 24–for her sophomore debut against older fillies and mares. There appears to be plenty of speed signed on to set up Melodic perfectly in this six-horse affair. Don't let her low speed figures scare you away–she's very live here. Selection: #1 Melodic (12-1).
BD: Saturday's Result – Lightstream ran huge in The Test, but that was a brutal final few strides. Good call by Steve on in-foal Lady Lara–I guess Uncle Mos are even winning stakes before they're born now. Total: $1350.
Sunday, Race 6, MSW – I've been doing trip notes for the majority of 2-year-old races in North America this year, and have a good one for Go Glam: “Rushed up out wide all the way to duel from two path–very clear of rest of field. Hit front midstretch, tired. Not beaten too much. Might be bettable next time.” Here's the replay of that race–she really had an impossible trip as the 2-1 favorite. The winner that day Fun came back to finish second at 22-1 in the GIII Schuylerville S. here on opening day, which certainly flatters the strength of that race even though the rest of that field has come back so-so. A $280,000 OBS April purchase off a solid breeze, Go Glam could step forward in a big way here, especially for a trainer in Steve Asmussen whose numbers with 2-year-old maiden second timers in dirt sprints at the Spa are exceptional. Selection: #10 Go Glam (6-1).
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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