Garrity's Friday Dad's Hat Happy Hour Handicapping picks 3 races at Saratoga, plus Monmouth Park, Woodbine
If it’s Friday, it’s time for another installment of Dad’s Hat Happy Hour Handicapping: today we have plays in five races, three at Saratoga, and one each at Monmouth and Woodbine. Track conditions will be fast at the latter two tracks, but at Saratoga, where heavy rains last night and earlier this morning forced all races off the turf, the main track will be wet. Let’s go.
Saratoga Race Course, Race 7, 4:20 pm ET
Allowance/Optional Claiming, 1 3/16 miles, Dirt, 3 & Up
Seven older horses go in Race 7 from the Spa. We probably would not select him on a dry track, but on a wet one, we like 2-Red Run, who gets class relief here, coming off good efforts in a pair of Grade 2 stakes, and who has run well on off tracks in the past. We will bet him to win at 5/2. The bet: Saratoga, Race 7, $40 to win on 2-Red Run.
Woodbine, Race 8, 4:49 pm ET
Starter Allowance/Optional Claiming, 1 1/16 miles, Synthetic, 3 & Up
This starter allowance north of the border drew a field of eight. The pick is 7-Stop the Humbug, who has run well on the synthetic track at Woodbine the last two times he’s tried it. Look for him to sit mid-pack early, and rally late. We will bet him to win at 6-1. The bet: Woodbine, Race 8, $40 to win on 7-Stop the Humbug.
Saratoga Race Course, Race 8, 4:58 pm ET
$150,000 Skidmore Stakes, 5 ½ furlongs, Dirt, 2-Year-Olds
The Skidmore was originally carded for turf, but after all the rain caused it to be moved to the main track, nine 2-year-olds were left to run 5 ½ furlongs on dirt. The pick is 2-Ship Cadet, who broke his maiden on turf, but looks to us to be more suited to dirt, as he showed when he finished second in the Tremont Stakes, on Belmont’s main track, back on June 11. Look for him to win with a big move around the far turn, and as the field turns for home. We will bet him to win at 4-1. The bet: Saratoga, Race 8, $40 to win on 2-Ship Cadet.
Monmouth Park, Race 8, 5:16 pm ET
$5,000 Claiming, 1 mile 70 yards, Dirt, Fillies & Mares 3 & Up
The nightcap at the Jersey Shore is this bottom-level claimer that drew a field of eight. The pick is 2-Cinnamon Dream, who makes a significant class drop after being thoroughly outrun in a starter allowance at Parx last month. She will appreciate the lesser company, and it helps very much that she appears to be sound and healthy, which is not always the case in these cheap claiming races. We will bet her to win at 6-1. The bet: Monmouth Park, Race 8, $40 to win on 2-Cinnamon Dream.
Saratoga Race Course, Race 9, 5:34 pm ET
$50,000 Claiming, 6 furlongs, Dirt, 4 & Up
Seven claimers go in this dirt sprint. We’re going with a straight-down-the-line speed play with 7-Cees Get Degrees, who has the most early speed in the group, and who has an outside post that will allow jockey Jose Lezcano to use it to maximum effect. Look for him to go right to the front, and stay there all the way around the track. We will bet him to win at 6-1. The bet: Saratoga, Race 9, $40 to win on 7-Cees Get Degrees.
That’s all for today. Until tomorrow, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.