Maiden America Thursday: The Hooptie Handicapper picks two races at Saratoga and two more at Del Mar

Maiden America 08.26.21

Hooptie Handicapper

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The texts and emails are buzzing all around about Big Gina’s spirits. Lord knows my siblings and I have learned never to bring up the subject of our exes around Big Gina because the wrath of her sprits and the big ‘we told you not to’ will rear its certain ugly head. That said, you have all been forewarned. 😊

1-Let Her Inspire U (6/5) catches a different situation than her female Practical Joke siblings in the 1st at Saratoga today. This is for 2yo fillies at six and a half furlongs on the dirt and of the others who returned to non-maiden races, they have won. The only horse who can contend with her today is 2-Twist Just Right (5/2) and without that one race experience, it’s doubtful, she’ll beat the 1 horse. If you can get even odds or better on Let Her Inspire U, grab that Pletcher horse and run like the Practical Joke thief in the night.

The 5th race at Saratoga is 9 furlongs, a maiden special, for $100,000. The Equibase power rating for this is 83 and two, maybe three horses project to hit that. 8-Keepcalmcarryon (5/2) has had two cracks to break 80, both versus +80 competition and she has put up 77 and 76 respective numbers. Furthermore, as. our database has shown, of the starters we've had at Saratoga that have had two starts, none have broken the 80 mark once they've raced two times in the 70s. 3-Imminent Storm (6/1) is going to be one to fool you. His mom, Sea Trial, out of Unbridled Song, was owned by the Phipps, and trained by Shug, who Imminent Song is trained by. His Dad, Flatter, pulled a 30 point pick up in his second start and based on his works, of late, that could put him in the mix for a win. 4-Rattle N Roll (2/1) has one brother who stretched out and won and two of four who won on their normal second asks. He overcame a dearth of traffic in his bow to get third place cash and put up a fine 78 Equibase fig. Has had solid works since. The main contender. For my money I am going with 6-Dowagiac Chief (8/1) who put in a very strong middle move getting to the front and maintaining it by a head into the stretch before tiring last out, putting in an 81 Equibase number on the turf in his second go. He has since clipped a :47 work on dirt and his trainer he is 17% from turf to dirt. That work tells me his preference and we’ll see a good price.

In the 1st at Del Mar, the best fitting horse to take this race is the 7-Mitigation (5/2) and that will be my choice. Her numbers fit well where the others do not. This is a $70,000 maiden special for two year old fillies going one mile on dirt.

The 4th race at Del Mar is also a $70,000 maiden special and it is five furlongs on turf for two year olds. I have to go with 5-Ammer Hall (3-1) with Richard Baltas/Flavien Prat who have this Palace Malice foal finely tuned for today’s debut. His brother ‘s are 25% winners and his recent :47 work shows his readiness.

Happy Hunting 😊