Good and soft to end the week at Saratoga with races 4 and 6 off the turf.  Looks like Mother Nature is taking a few days off so the weather shouldn’t be a problem through Thursday.

In race 7, Prince Rahy (#1) is running at his favorite distance on turf and can handle some give in the course.  I’ll box him with Operation Red Dawn (#2) and Inca King (#6) in exactas and play doubles and pick 3′s.

In race 8, The Union Avenue, Beam of Love (#6) can take advantage of an inside speed duel and run down Dance Gal Dance (#2) late.  I’m playing an exacta box and some doubles and pick 3′s.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 6 with 7 and 1

Race 2: 8 and 4

Race 3: 4 and 3

Race 4: 11 and 3

Race 5: 9 with 7 and 1

Race 6: 10 and 11

Race 7: 1 (Best Bet) with 2 and 6

Race 8: 6 (Best Bet) and 2

Race 9: 6 with 8 and 5

On a day where I thought you could toss darts at the tote board and be as good a handicapper as someone who studies the racing form intently, I ended up having one of my best days at The Spa.  It was a situation where having “seconditis” almost made me an incredible winner. It started with the early double, where both my second choices won for a $67 payoff.  Then, after a two race win hiatus, I started an incredible run in race 5!  It included listing:

* Four doubles ranging from $36.80 to $78

* Three pick 3′s ranging from $215.50 to $344.50

* Three exactas ranging from $20.60 to $54.50

* My best bet exacta box ($54.50)

During the streak, all my winners were my second choices except a 4-5 shot that I listed on top! I was also alive in the pick 4 and pick 6 with two horses in race 10, both over $2500 in the pick 4 and $8,000 in the pick 6.  Ironically, my second choice made a big move on the turn but ran second to end the streak.  I even collected a pick 5 consolation.  What a day to be second best!  I hope it made you a winner!

Muddy and soft at The Spa with races 2, 6 and 10 off the turf.  It’s so frustrating that just when you are beginning to get into a nice handicapping rhythm, Mother Nature wreaks havoc and the dragon starts moving races off the turf, constantly changing track condition and bias, then asking you to handicap baby races that were supposed to be on the turf and now feature horses who were not meant for the main track.  You are better off throwing darts at the tote board and making picks wherever the dart lands.  But I’m a glutton for punishment, so here goes.  Remember, I’m handicapping the remaining turf races as if they will be run on the turf so bet accordingly and good luck!

In race 8, a sprint on the turf and the best betting race on the card, Hold The Cruiser (#4) is the lightly raced newcomer in a race where her main rivals have had many chances.  She’s my pick to upset the field at a healthy price!  I’m playing her in an exacta box with Zip By You (#3) and Elegant Bess (#10) and in doubles and pick 3′s.

In race 9, The Yaddo, a wide open statebred turf route, you can make a case for 5 horses.  I’m picking You Go West Girl (#6) to get up in the last jump!  Play her in an exacta box with Nehantic Kat (#7) and Chestoria (#5) and in doubles and pick 3′s.  Here’s the entire card:

Race 1: 2 and 5

Race 2: 11 and 8

Race 3: 2 and 1

Race 4: 6 and 2

Race 5: 3, 7, and 1/1A

Race 6: 4 and 1A

Race 7: 8 and 4

Race 8: 4 (Best Bet) with 10 and 3

Race 9: 6 (Best Bet) with 7 and 5

Race 10: 8 and 2

The track was wet, we did lose three turf races and had several scratches.  Yet, this is Saratoga and the racing was still exciting despite the conditions not being perfect — especially race 6 which had a 6 horse photo for win!

Listed 5 winners, 4 on top and ended up pretty much even on the win bets.  My exacta boxes scratched down to 5 and collected twice, but the small payoffs resulted in a small loss for those bets.  Also had 3 doubles and one pick 3 — not enough to turn a profit.  Sunday’s weather looks ok so maybe things will be better.  See you then!