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Thursday’s Race Recap from Saratoga:
(All odds US)
Saratoga:
Race 1: 2nd@ 3.75/1
Race 5: 7th@ 14.30/1
Race 10: SCRATCH
In Race 1, Sippican Shop was behind the pace battle early and flew home fastest of all late, but it was too late to get to our favored winner. In Race 5, debuting Hayes Bay broke last and rallied only mildly late. In Race 10 we were taken off the turf and scratched. Mama said there’d be days like this. We haven’t had much action this week but we’ll look to step that up in these next few days. I smell a few bombs coming this weekend.
Let’s get to a Friday at Saratoga. Rain is expected so I’m only handicapping one turf race.
Saratoga:
Race 7: Bourbon Calling - 1 pt win -(US Morning Line Odds: 12/1)
Allowance/Optional Claimers go a mile and three sixteenths on the main track and most handicappers see this as a race between Speed Bias who appears to be the controlling speed and Costa Terra who prefers to stalk. After all they’re the morning line favorites. But I think Bourbon Calling deserves a look here as well for a few reasons. First, he’s having a career-year with three wins in six starts. He had two stakes starts where he had to race without Lasix and those were his poorest efforts but he’s back with Lasix today. He breaks inside of Speed Bias and should be able to out-hoof that one to the early lead if Manny Franco wants to. He’s stretching out from a pretty fast sprint where he faced the likes of Nakatomi and Baby Yoda. In the past he’s shown some tenacity holding on to win two starts earlier this year after dueling through fast fractions. From a low-profile barn who wins at 24% off similar layoffs and 22% with runners stretching out from sprint races. Surprise package at 12/1 or better.
Best of luck to all our members playing Friday’s races from Saratoga!