Miss J McKay winning the License Fee in May at Belmont.
Miss J McKay winning the License Fee in May at Belmont.NYRA | Chelsea Durand

RT's Saturday Saratoga Picks: 4 races, 2 MSWs for 2yos, plus the Grade 1 CCA Oaks and Grade 3 Caress Stakes

RT's first post is at 1:05 pm EDT.

T’s Spot Plays

07.23.22

Follow Me @RtsSpot

Saratoga R1|Post Time: 1:05 pm ET

Inner Turf 1 1/16 Miles|2YO MSW|Purse: $105K

Yesterday, when Alexis Zorbis went off at 6/5 in the 1st at Saratoga - that had sucker bet written all over it. He had two competitive races to date and yet did not have a race nor a workout since arriving on the U.S. The same goes today for 9-Reckoning Force (3/1). Both horses are trained by Joseph O’Brien and this colt had a race a month ago, and since he has had little time acclimating here, I will not bet him. 7-Activist Investing (9/5) is the morning line fave and my choice with Chad/Irad and by Europe’s 14th leading turf sire Kingman. In typical Chad Brown fashion, his works have been so/so, yet Brown is 3/6 with 2yo’s makes debuting in a route.

Saratoga R5|Post Time: 3:16 pm ET

The Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks

Dirt 1.25 Miles|3YO fillies|Purse: $500K

Given her recent two bullet works and troubled last trip on a heavily speed biased day at Pimlico, I am taking 5-Secret Oath (6/5) in this. 3-Nest (1/1) is going to, deservingly, take the money, yet Secret Oath is on an upswing in her Equibase pattern.

Saratoga R6|Post Time: 3:51 pm ET

Dirt 6 Furlongs|2YO MSW|Purse: $105K

Many talented runners in this and it has the makings of being an excellent betting race. $1M Keeneland September Yearling 8-Phlepsy (7/2) is half-brother to last year’s Kentucky Derby trail contender Highly Motivated and son of Into Mischief. Another Chad/Irad entry and this one I am fading. Chad Brown is just 1/11 with Into Mischief 2yo colts first out and given his broodmare sire A. P. Indy, we will see him in longer races and will be one to keep an eye out for. Just not this race. 1-Summonyourcourage (4/1) $500K Keeneland September Yearling colt by Practical Joke has two races with his first hitting a today’s par of 82 and then coming up just short by a neck to Sanford winner Mo Strike. He had a good work from the gate before shipping here. Pletcher/Luis Saez 24% when paired. Never count out a Godolphin bred and owned two year old debuting and 6-Balsa (6/1) has been showing good form in his works. Trainer Brad Cox 17% with first time starters overall and at Saratoga, he is 1/2 thus far this meet. $525K Keeneland September Yearling 5-Powerful (9/2) is by 27% 2yo sire Nyquist and trained by 15%er Steve Asmussen. Out of Pulpit’s daughter Antiquity (1:2 with her progeny on first ask), his worktab has been solid with a bullet 1:00.2 from the gate. My choice is the outside draw and 10-Bring Theband Home (6/1). Whenever you get a 33% Into Mischief second starting 2yo colt, who is a speed horse with an outside draw, along with the fact he was sent as an odds on favorite his first time, you must grab it.

Saratoga R10|Post Time: 6:13 pm ET

The Grade 3 Caress Stakes

Turf 5 1/2 Furlongs|4YO+ fillies and mares|Purse: $200K

2-Miss J Mckay (6/1) is the choice as Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. has developed a form of late where he gets better in the last half of the card than the first half. He scored a big win in the License Fee stakes at Belmont two back on this Hangover Kid mare and missed her last race, yet now returns.

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