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Saratoga 3rd Race – Post: 2:18 ET. Degree of confidence: A-
Top Selection: 1-World Record
Other Contenders: none.

Forecast: This year’s renewal of the Amsterdam S.-G2 attracted just five runners and given that none are particularly quick leaving the gate, we’re expecting World Record to be the controlling speed. A powerful gate-to wire maiden winner at Churchill Downs two races back (was eased up in the final sixteenth), the lightly raced colt most recently finished a better-than-looked third in the Mayfield Stakes after missing the break from the rail and then having too much to do behind Raging Torrent, arguably the best sprinting sophomore in North America at the present time. The R. Brisset-trained colt must leave cleanly from the rail, but if he does – and with the addition of blinkers we’re anticipating he’ll to do just that – the son of Gun Runner is good enough to handle this task based on his recent career top number and the highly favorable race shape. There’s excellent wagering value at his 3-1 morning line if you can get it.


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Saratoga 10th race – Post: 6:19 ET. Degree of confidence: B+
Top Selection: 11-Rhetorical
Other Contenders: none.

Forecast: The known element doesn’t inspire so let’s go with a well-regarded first timer in this New York-bred one mile inner turf course maiden affair for older horses. Rhetorical did most of his preparation for this debut run in Kentucky but he did record a visually pleasing half mile training track breeze (:48b, fastest of 30 for the distance) last week to put him on edge. It should be noted that the son of Not This Time also impressed when breezing over the Saratoga lawn last year, but never started. A $320,000 Saratoga yearling buy, the W. Walden-trained gelding lands I. Ortiz, Jr. and is bred to handle any surface, so if the race comes off the grass for whatever reason, we suspect he’ll remain in the field. At 9/2 on the morning line, there’s a reasonable gamble to be had at anywhere near that price in the win pool and in rolling exotic play.


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