BetPTC.com / Graded Stakes Preview / Ed Meyer
Saratoga Race #8 – G1 Test Stakes – 7f – 5:10 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections – #10 – American Gal / #8 – Faypien / #4 – Tequilta
#10 – American Gal = 2nd start of the year from trainer Simon Callaghan (21%) with Jose Ortiz in the irons. She is 5/5 ITM and has a sharp work at Del Mar on 7/29. Add in an impressive win in the G3 Victory Starlet after stumbling at the start. #8 – Faypien = Bejarano / Baffert team up (33%) the past two months and she’s been away from the races 49 days. She has plenty of workouts to prepare and cuts back from 1 1/16 – 7f where she is a perfect 2/2. #4 – Tequilita = Luis Saez for Michael Matz and this daughter of Union Rags has been off since the Kentucky Oaks. She’s been working regular and is 1/1 ITM at the Spa.
Race #9 – G1 Whitney – 1 1/8 – 5:46 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections – #6 – Gun Runner / #5 – Keen Ice / #4 -Tu Brutus
#6 – Gun Runner = Impressive son of Candy Ride for the Asmussen barn. He ran a solid 2nd in the Dubai World Cup and came back 3 months later to score in the G1 Stephen Foster. He ran 3rd in the Travers last year and owns some bullet works over the Oklahoma training track. He is maturing into a machine and has some big plans for later down the road. #5 – Keen Ice = Jose Ortiz for Todd Pletcher (23%) the past 2 months. They bring a son of Curlin to post and made the same travels as Gun Runner and came back to win the G2 Suburban at Belmont. He’s 1/1 at the Spa and has the hot hand of Ortiz. #4 – Tu Brutus = Speedy son of Scat Daddy who will try to go flag to finish. He was a beaten favorite last out and this Chilean-bred can set some blistering fraction if left alone with Irad Ortiz.
Mountaineer
Race #8 – G3 West Virginia Derby – 1 1/8 – 5:21 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections – #3 – Patch / #5 – Impressive Edge / #7 – Colonelsdarktemper
#3 – Patch = 3-yr-old son of Union Rags exits the Belmont and been off for 56 days. Cuts back from a distance which may be more to his liking. They score (22%) off long layoffs and if you go back to Fair Grounds he was a close 2nd to Girvin who won the Haskell last weekend. Tyler Gafflione in the saddle and will have an honest pace to take a closing run. Rider and trainer have been winning (38%) the past two months and today they wear the Calumet silks. #5 – Impressive Edge = Robby Albarado for Dale Romans and they are 2nd off the layoff. They bring a son of Harlan’s Holiday to post and have faced some tough guys in his past. Albarado rides well for Romans (19%) and could be very dangerous today. #7 – Colonelsdarktemper = Son of Colonel John and has been knocking on the door. He owns some sparkling works including a bullet after the G2 Indiana Derby. Ever since the Pat Day Mile, he has looked better with every start.
Del Mar Race #6 – G2 Sorrento – 6 1/2 f – Two-yr-old fillies – 7:30 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections – #6 – Diamondsandpearls / #1 – Surrender Now / #2 – Spectator
#6 – Diamondsandpearls = Mike Smith aboard for Bob Baffert (67%) the past 60 days and this daughter of Congrats had an impressive maiden win. Her works are hot and a stalking trip off the pace may be the order of the day. Smith comes alive for the big races and it is never too early to start finding yourself a 2-yr-old filly for down the road. #1 – Surrender Now = Flavien Pratt and Peter Miller come to post with a daughter of Morning Line. Her sire wins (19%) with her first-time starters and did not disappoint that day. #2 – Spectator = Daughter of Jimmy Creed wins (31%) with his firster’s and did not disappoint winning by 5 3/4 for the Phil D’Amato barn. Jamie Theriot aboard and has every possibility for a big move forward.
Race #8 – G2 Yellow Ribbon – 1 1/16 on the turf – 8:30 pm EDT
BetPTC.com Selections – #6 – Pretty Gal / #7 – Cambodia / #4 – Juno
#6 – Pretty Gal = Mike Smith in the irons for Paulo Lobo. Smith wins (20%) with his turf runners and this daughter of Harlan’s Holiday is cutting back from 1 1/8 – 1 1/16. She drops in class from the G1 Gamely and could track from the back of the pack looking to make a sustained late rally. She is 6/10 ITM on the sod and is in the right hands today. #7 – Cambodia = Draden Van Dyke for Thom Proctor and they bring a daughter of War Front to post making her second off the layoff. She ships in from Parx and Proctor wins (21%) with a new face in the barn. She is 8/8 ITM on the green and can play the role of an up-close stalker. #4 – Juno = Gary Stevens is the pilot for Neil Drysdale and he wins (23%) on the weeds. She can dictate the pace and lose the field if left alone. She is 7/10 ITM on the greensward, and since getting Lasix three back she’s been knocking on the door.