NYRA Announces 2020 Saratoga Stakes Schedule; Travers August 8th

The New York Racing Association has released the 2020 stakes schedule for Saratoga Race Course, and there are plenty of changes that will be in place as the horse racing world continues to adjust to what has already been a topsy-turvy 2020.

10 Races, including the Schuylerville and Lake George, on tap for Spa Opener

Ten races are on tap when the gates open at Saratoga Race Course for the first of 40 days on Friday. 

First post is scheduled for its traditional time of 1:00pm.  The 10th race, a Claiming race, is scheduled for 6:17pm.

The opening day card includes its traditional feature race, The Schuylerville (GIII) for 2 year old fillies, which carded 10 fillies to go six furlongs on the main track. 

The rail horse, Catherinethegreat was installed as the 5/2 morning line favorite by the track oddsmaker.  A third time starter, she has placed 1st and 2nd in her past two tries, both in Maiden Special Weights at Gulfstream Park.  Jose Ortiz rides the Florida bred for trainer Mark Casse.

John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher do their usual pairing together for the second choice, Nonna Madeline.  The Kentucky bred will start next to Catherinethegreat in post 2, and was a convincing 3 1/2 length winner for jockey Joe Bravo in her one start, a Maiden Special Weight at Monmouth Park.

Lady Apple, the #9 horse, has stakes experience having run in the Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park her last time out.  This twice-raced maiden had a narrow lead on a stalking trip entering the stretch, but was bested by Athens Queen by a neck at the wire.  Irad Ortiz will be on board for Steve Amussen.

Congrats Gal, Fightress, Lonely Road, Tapping Pearl, Sergenti Empress, Eyeinthesky and Blame the Frog complete the field of 10.

Opening day will also feature the Lake George Stakes (GIII) for 3 year old fillies going 1-1/16 miles on the turf course.  Seven horses are expected to start, with Nootka Sound entered in the event the race gets switched to the main track. 

Daddy is a Legend is the morning line favorite, but has had issues reaching the winner circle since winning the Jimmy Durante Stakes (GIII) at Del Mar last November.  In her three races since, Daddy is a Legend only made the board once, a third place finish in the Edgewood Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs.  Manuel Franco will ride this filly for trainer George Weaver. 

Chad Brown trains the second choice, Altea.  Finishing behind Daddy is a Legend in the Edgewood Stakes, Altea broker her maiden over in France, where she raced until this year.  Her first race on U.S. soil came in the Florida Oaks (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs, where she was just a head behind the top two finishers Andina Del Sur and Goodthingstaketime.  Irad Ortiz will ride the French bred.

Speaking of Andina Del Sur, the 8/1 choice on the board hasn't seen the winner's circle since that Florida Oaks win.  She tried Grade I company, but a beat by over 16 lengths in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland convinced the connections to go back into Grade III company, where she finished 6th in the Wonder Again Stakes (GIII) at Belmont Park, a race where most of these horses are emerging from.  

Goodthingstakestime did not emerge out of that race, instead opted to try the Appalachain Stakes (GII) at Keeneland and the Penn Oaks at Penn National, where the Irish Bred finished with a pair of third place showings.  Jose Ortiz rides.

Rail horse Punked, Longshot Going Out and outsider Heavenly Love complete the 7 horses who will race on the turf. 

CONFIRMED: American Pharoah to run in the Travers

WTEN

The connections of American Pharoah confirmed during an interview with Time Warner Cable News's Marissa Jacques that the Triple Crown winner will run in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 29th.

He will bid to become the first racehorse since Whirlaway in 1941 to win both the Triple Crown and the Mid-Summer Derby.

The New York Racing Association previously announced that if American Pharoah were to run at Saratoga, they would boost the purse for the Travers up to $1,600,000, an increase of $350,000 from the previously announced $1.25 Million purse.

The $1.6 Million would be the largest purse ever run at Saratoga, topping last year's Whitney Handicap, which was run for $1.5 Million.

Gates open for the 13 race program at 7:00AM, with the first post slated for 11:45AM.  The Travers, the 11th race on the program, is scheduled for 5:46PM.

Tickets for the Travers Stakes are sold out, as the New York Racing Association announced earlier in the meet that attendance would be capped at 50,000 for the race regardless of whether or not American Pharoah would run in the Mid-Summer Derby.  As such, NYRA is advising potential visitors to Saturday's races not to come if they have not purchased any tickets in advance.

However, those with season passes will still be admitted to the race course by going through the regular three gates they have all meet long.

American Pharoah enters the Travers on an eight race winning streak after losing his debut race in a Maiden Special Weight at Del Mar in California.  His wins include the three Triple Crown races, the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, the Del Mar Futurity and FrontRunner Stakes in California.  In his last start, he won the Haskell Invitation, defeating rivals Keen Ice and Upstart, both who could be alongside him in the Travers.

According to his owner, Zayat Stables, American Pharoah is scheduled to wrap up his career this October as he heads to Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup Classic on Halloween.

American Pharoah is coming to Saratoga

The Bloodhorse reports American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat wants the Triple Crown winner to run in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on August 29th.

If he runs in the Mid-Summer Derby, American Pharoah would be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, bidding to join Whirlaway as the only horse to have victories in the Triple Crown and the Travers Stakes in their career.

Whirlaway accomplished that feat in 1941.

The New York Racing Association, expecting a boost in attendance and handle because of the appearance, offered to boost the purse of the Travers Stakes to $1.6 Million Dollars if American Pharoah were to run, up $350,000 from its scheduled purse of $1.25 Million.

The Travers, the centerpiece of the Saratoga Race Course meet, is traditionally known as the Mid-Summer Derby, and commonly is the final major three year old stakes before owners race against older horses in preparation for the Breeders' Cup.  It is also NYRA's most attended non-giveaway day at Saratoga, and second overall only to the Belmont Stakes in June.

The Stanley Cup is coming to Saratoga

Dennis Wierzbicki - USA Today Sports

Hockey's greatest prize is coming to Saratoga Race Course.

The New York Racing Association announced today that the Stanley Cup will be paying a visit to the historic course next Monday, August 10th, from 1:30PM to 3:30PM.  The Stanley Cup will be on display at the NYRA Community Outreach Booth in the backyard, where fans will have the opportunity to get their picture taken with the Cup with a nominal donation to the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzurne.

The Stanley Cup comes to Saratoga Race Course compliments of Chicago Blackhawks Assistant Coach Kevin Dineen, who has local roots in the Glens Falls area with a summer residence on Glen Lake in Queensbury.

The Community Outreach Booth is located in the Saratoga Backyard, near the Jockey Silks room.

2014 in Review

A brand new year rings in at midnight tonight, bringing to an end the year that was.

And what a year it was. From the race track to the football field, a lot happened here in the North Country.  More after the jump.

Larry Collmus named Tom Durkin's successor

The New York Racing Association announced on Wednesday that Larry Collmus has been named the successor to Tom Durkin, and will be calling the races for NYRA starting in April 2015.

The 47 year old Collmus was the regular race track announcer at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, calling the races there for 20 seasons from 1994-2013, and gained worldwide notoriety for calling the battle between "Mywifenosevrything" and "Thewifedoesntknow" in August 2010, as viewed below.

He also has called the races at Golden Gate Fields in California and also Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts.  In 2007, he succeeded Tom Durkin as track announcer for the winter meet at Gulfstream Park in Florida, and succeeded Durkin again as the principal announcer for NBC's coverage of the Triple Crown.

Collmus will continue calling the races during the winter meet at Gulfstream Park, and will continue his work for NBC Sports for their Triple Crown coverage, but his recently-acquired position at Churchill Downs will come to an end.

"I'd like to thank everyone at Churchill Downs who treated me very well during my brief time there," Collmus stated during a press conference at Saratoga Race Course.  "I am trading one dream job for another."  He also added that he is "so excited and honored to become the next voice of New York racing."

Larry Collmus will begin calling the races during the final month of racing at Aqueduct in April 2015, and will be the chief announcer for Belmont Park as well as Saratoga Race Course.

Tom Durkin, who had called the races for NYRA for 24 years, announced earlier this year that he is retiring from race calling on August 31st, the penultimate day of the Saratoga Race Course meet.

"I would like to congratulate Larry and wish him the very best," Durkin stated.

John Imbreale, who is NYRA's TV Producer for their on-track signal and other various NYRA programming that airs on MSG+, will take over as track announcer until Collmus's arrival.  Imbreale has served as NYRA's winter announcer and back-up to Tom Durkin.

Saratoga 2014: Travers Tables to go on sale.

UPDATE: THE NEW YORK RACING ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT RESERVATIONS HAVE SOLD OUT.  THE PHONE NUMBER AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW CAN BE USED TO PLACE YOURSELF ON A WAIT LIST...

The New York Racing Association has announced that 130 picnic tables will be made available for advance reservation for Travers Day starting tomorrow (Wednesday, August 13th).

The tables can be reserved for $100 per table, with each table seating a maximum of six people.  The table reservation does not include the $10 General Admission for Travers Day.

Reservations can be made at the Reserved Seats Box Office on the race course grounds, over the phone at 1-844-NYRATIX, or by e-mail at boxoffice@nyrainc.com.

Travers Day will be on Saturday, August 23rd, with first post scheduled for 11:35AM.

Seek Again sets track record in Fourstardave

Seek Again, bottled up on the rail heading into the stretch, was able to break free and get past Grand Arch to win the Fourstardave in record time at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.

The race started with a hot pace, as Silver Max and Sayaad set the early fractions.  The two started to give way, giving the lead to stalking Grand Arch.  Seek Again appeared as if he would be trapped behind the tiring horses, finally found an opening to burst through, squeezing by Grand Arch to win.

Seek Again stopped the timer in 1:33.25, shaving .17 off the mark L'Oiseau d'Argent set back in 2004.

Seek Again, third in the Manhattan on Belmont Stakes Day, will seek out middle distances for his next few starts, which could include the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November.

Saratoga 2014: The John's Call Stakes - Day 17 of 40

Most years, the John's Call Stakes is the longest non-steeplechase stakes race offered at Saratoga Race Course.  This distinction has been taken away by tomorrow's Birdstone Stakes, which will be ran at an unusual 1 3/4 Miles.

Two of the last three John's Call Stakes winners have gone on to win graded stakes races.  Last year's winner, Hyper, went on to win the Bowling Green (G2) at Belmont Park in his next start.  Sanagras (2011) came away from a win in the John's Call to finish fourth in the Bowling Green, but bounced back to win the Sycamore (G3) and the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G1) after.

In the 2014 edition, Winning Cause will have an easier go without the stable-mate Micromanage running in the race.  But that doesn't mean he'll be guaranteed a win - just keep in mind what happened with Palace Malice on Saturday.

So let's find out who, if any, could take away Winning Cause's trip to the winner's circle this afternoon.

Race 9: The John's Call Stakes - 3YO+ - 1 5/8M (T) - Purse: $100,000 - Post: 4:49PM

	Horse	A/S	Jockey	Trainer	M/L
1	Tricky Hat (CHI)	5/G	R Napravnik	C R. McGaughey III	5/1
2	Horvat Clan (KY)	5/G	J Lezcano	D A. Cannizzo	15/1
3	Bohemian Dance (IRE)	4/F	J Bravo	M Dilger	15/1
4	Alpha (KY) (MTO)	5/H	J R. Velazquez	K P. McLaughlin	8/5
5	Micromanage (KY)	4/C	J Castellano	T A. Pletcher	3/1
6	Seton Hall (KY)	7/G	B Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	I R. Wilkes	10/1
7	Manchurian High (FL)	6/G	F Boyce	L Kurtinecz	20/1
8	Winning Cause (KY)	4/C	J R. Velazquez	T A. Pletcher	2/1
9	Grand Rapport (KY)	7/G	C H. Velasquez	D Jacobson	12/1
10	Holiday Star (PA)	4/G	E S. Prado	H Graham Motion	6/1

TRICKY HAT: When the person(s) who compile the comments for Equibase only report "no factor" for a horse's run, then you can tell that the horse had no interest whatsoever in the race.  That was the case for Tricky Hat, who finished last in the Monmouth Stakes (G2) back in June.  When he's on his game, as he was in the Laurel Turf Cup Stakes back in September, he hovers mid-pack and strikes in the far turn.

HORVAT CLAN: He dueled and faltered in his first stakes race, the Bowling Green Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park last month.  If he can escape with the pace, he can be a dangerous horse at a long distance, exhibited in his Allowance win at 1 1/2 Miles back in June.  Under new connections since getting claimed out of a claiming race at Belmont in early June, they have tried to develop him into a front runner.

BOHEMIAN DANCE: Bohemian Dance pushed the pace in the Justakiss Stakes at Delaware Park, but tired and finished 5th out of 6 horses.  He won an Allowance race at Gulfstream Park in May, but there he stayed behind the pace and passed tiring horses on his way to the winner's circle.  So it's not a sure thing what you're going to get with this horse. 

ALPHA: Scratched - but if that name looks familiar, it's because this is the horse that last year won the Woodward Stakes (G1), and two years ago was your Travers (G1) and Jim Dandy (G2) winner.  He's a horse that is suffering through some hard times, and needs a boost after a few rough finishes.  We'll see him again this meet, I'm sure.

MICROMANAGE: Scratched - He's been running dirt stakes lately, not turf stakes.  So he'd be a question mark had he run this race.  He's entered in tomorrow's Birdstone.

SETON HALL: Scratched - He last made it to the winner's circle in an Allowance race on the turf at Churchill Downs back in June 2013.  He's also entered in tomorrow's Birdstone.

MANCHURIAN HALL: After his 1/2 length win at 20-1 in an Allowance race at Pimlico, his connections thought big things.  But they thought too high, as he was a last place finisher in the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park.  The positive was that he was within 6 lengths in a tightly-packed finish.  

WINNING CAUSE: After four straight graded stakes races, the connections drop Winning Cause down to this level.  But his races haven't been bad - 4th in the United Nations (G1), 3rd in the Monmouth Stakes (G2) and 2nd in the Red Bank (G3).  His fourth, a 7th in the Ben Ali (G3), only came six days after running 2nd in an Allowance race.  Winning Cause is a horse that will stick around the mid-pack, important if there is a lot of front-end speed in this marathon.  And he might be a horse that will appreciate the quarter-mile between his last in the United Nations and this race.  

GRAND RAPPORT: Scratched - Could have been a come-from-behind threat in this race.

HOLIDAY STAR: He's going to need the pace to collapse if he's going to scoop up a win in the John's Call.  In fact, the outside post might help his running style.  He has distance experience on the turf, finishing third in the Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park.  

***

ANALYSIS: Pace makes everything in a race of this distance.  Go too fast, and you're going to have nothing left for the end.  Go too slow, and you could see a wire-to-wire in front of you.

Horvan Clan will be expected to be a early pace factor, but the question is how much will Bohemian Dance push things.  The first quarter's time will be key towards figuring out how this race will go.  Then there's the resume - which horses have the class and experience running a race like this?

Winning Cause is one of those horses, and should be bet heavily with the scratch of Micromanage.  But this can easily be a race that is upset.

My Picks: 2-8-1
Edit: Yeah, goofed up and put down the 7 here.  I meant the #8, Winning Cause.

***

Mythical Bankroll
Bankroll Entering Today: $65.07
Bets
$2 WIN, PLACE, SHOW - 2 ($6)
$1 EXA BOX - 2-8 ($2)
$1 TRI - 2/8-2/8-1 ($2)
Total Bets: $10.00
Remaining Bankroll: $55.07Reminder: Please gamble responsibly.  Picks and Mythical Bets are provided for entertainment purposes only. WMML FOX Sports Radio 1230, its sponsors or management is not responsible for any damages caused by use of our material for gambling purposes

Graveyard of Favorites Claims Another Victim

Marylou Whitney waves to the clubhouse crowd prior to the
running of the Whitney Handicap Saturday | WMML Photo

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Graveyard of Favorites claims another victim, this time in the name of Palace Malice.

Moreno, the horse who got nipped at the wire by Will Take Charge in the 2013 Travers Stakes went wire-to-wire to win the $1.5 Million Whitney Handicap, the richest race in the history of Saratoga Race Course.

Junior Alvarado, the rider on Moreno, said to media he felt the race was his as his horse turned for home.

Itsmyluckyday angled outside after Alvarado angled inside, but couldn't get the kick he needed to get past Moreno.

Moreno would win by better than a length.  Will Take Charge finished third.

Moreno hits the wire first in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap
WMML Photo

The Whitney score was the first Grade 1 for the four year old horse by Ghostzapper, and only his third career trip to the winner's circle.  He faded in the stretch to finish three lengths back of Zivo in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park.  The win boosted his career earnings to over $1.7 Million Dollars.

Palace Malice, the 3/5 favorite, never fired in the stretch and faded to an uncharacteristic sixth place finish in the Whitney Handicap, the richest race in the history of Saratoga Race Course.

"I don't know what went wrong," jockey John Velazquez told media after the race.  "He didn't run at all."

The favorite entered the race fresh off a length victory in the Grade 1 Met Mile at Belmont Park, rattling off four straight victories.  He hung in third behind Moreno and Golden Ticket, however, had nothing for the stretch run.

And They're Off!  Horses spring from the gate in the
Grade 1 Whitney Handicap | WMML Photo

The win was trainer Eric Guillot's second career Grade 1 win at Saratoga.  In 2010, he trained Champagne d'Oro's path to the winner's circle in the Test.

However, it was bittersweet for Gulliot, who saw his two year old colt, Sir William Bruce, fatally fall following his run in the fifth race.

At this time there's no word where Moreno will race next, though the Woodward on closing weekend is a possibility.

However, one thing will be on Guillot's mind.  Moreno now has an expense-paid trip to Santa Anita in the fall, as the Whitney is a "Win And You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

***

Moreno before receiving making his way to the winner's circle
WMML Photo

Over 36,000 attended the races on Saturday, which is approximately 10% better than last year's Whitney card.  However, the 36,000 figure is questionable as NYRA released a statement to the media that their 2014 daily attendance figures have counted the nearly 6,000 season pass holders.  

$3.75 Million Dollars was wagered on the Whitney through mutuals and single-race exotics, which is 10% better than the money that was wagered last year when Cross Traffic went wire-to-wire.

NYRA boosted the purse of the Whitney Handicap this year, doubling the purse from $750,000 to $1.5 Million, effectively making it the richest race at Saratoga Race Course.  The attempt was to persuade owners and trainers to keep their horses out east.  

In addition, NYRA added three stakes races to the Whitney card, the Test and the Vanderbilt as well as the overnight Lure Stakes.  They also boosted overnight conditional races, resulting in Allowances being worth over $100,000.

Sweet Reason passes the Test

Sweet Reason takes the Test, prevailing over a crowd of
 horses in an exciting renewal of this Grade 1 race | WMML photo

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Test has continuously been a race filled with exciting finishes.

The 2014 renewal of the Grade 1 Test was no exception as the top five finishers were within three lengths of each other.

The start featured Fiftyshadesofgold and Southern Honey dueling at the front.  Miss Behaviour stayed a length behind.  Sweet Reason was well off the pace.

Heading into the stretch, upset-minded Little Alexis joined the crew when Sweet Reason made up ground and took the lead, prevailing to win by a narrow length over four horses all within a neck of each other.

It's Sweet Reason's third career Grade 1 victory, after posting victories in the Acorn at Belmont Park and the Spinaway last year at Saratoga.  In her win in the Spinaway, she romped in the stretch, pulling away by 5 1/2 lengths on a sloppy track at this same distance.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode the winner for trainer Leah Gyarmati and owner Treadway Racing Stable.

Palace sprints to Vanderbilt victory

Palace passes by Happy My Way to score the
G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap | WMML Photo

SARATOGA SPRINGS - At the top of the stretch, it appeared that Happy My Way was going to win his fourth straight race, and fifth out of six starts.

But Palace had other plans.

Happy My Way gunned to the lead in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, churning out fractions of 22:1 and 44:2 before approaching the top of the stretch with a three length lead over Palace.  Without any other front pressure, it was looking like Happy My Way was ready to draw distance on the field.

But Palace came to the outside, and started making up ground on the favorite before passing him deep in the stretch, and prevailed to win the Grade 1 race by a length.  Palace stopped the timer for six furlongs in 1:08:56, just over a half-second off Speightstown's record at this distance.

It is the 10th win for the City Zip-sired horse, and seventh out of 12 starts at the distance of six furlongs.  Cornelio Velasquez rode the victor for trainer Linda Rice.

It's likely Palace's next target will be the Grade 1 Forgeo at seven furlongs during closing weekend at Saratoga Race Course.

Filimbi fights her way to De La Rose win

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Filimbi wins her first stakes race on U.S. soil as the Bill Mott trained entry wins the De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.

The four year old filly stayed off the pace, keeping within five lengths of the leaders, then was let go in the far turn by Joel Rosario, and took command of the race past Dayatthespa at in the final sixteenth mile to win.

Dayatthespa, previously unbeaten in three tries at the Spa, got involved with a duel with Alaura Michele and Ready Signal down the backstretch and was worn down in the stretch by the winner.

Pianist came from the back of the pack to finish third.

For Juddmonte Farms, this was Filimbi's first stakes win on U.S. soil, having won the Prix Isola Bella in France three starts ago.  She came from an Allowance Optional race at Belmont Park where she won by a narrowing half length over Scampering and Gathering, two horses who have come back to run 1-2 in an Allowance at Saratoga Race Course on July 20th.

Filimbi has now won five out of ten starts, and is a perfect ten for ten in the money.

Saratoga Previews to resume tomorrow

We'll resume our Saratoga previews tomorrow when we take a look at the Whitney card.

Until then, enjoy the races and follow Fox Sports Radio 1230 on twitter (@WMML1230) for Whitney Day coverage.

Saratoga 2014: The Coronation Cup - Day 11 of 40

After a day off to let the track dry, we're back with a Wednesday card at the Spa.  Today, jumpers gets under way at 12:25 p.m., and the feature is the Coronation Cup Stakes, one of several races that sprung up a few years ago when Saratoga started running 5 1/2 Furlong turf sprints.

The Coronation Cup Stakes is for three year old fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf course, and is favored by Recoup.  Let's meet the field:

Updated at 12:00PM to reflect today's scratches.  The 2, 4 and 9 are all scratched from this race.

Race 9: The Coronation Cup Stakes - 3YO Fillies - 5 1/2 F (T) - Purse: $100,000 - Post: 4:42PM

	Horse	A/S	Jockey	Trainer	M/L
1	Ruslana (MD)	3/F	P Lopez	W A. Ward	12/1
2	Sweetmarys Success (FL) (MTO)	3/F	J Rosario	W A. Ward	6/1
3	Burn Control (KY)	3/F	K Carmouche	K A. Demasi	6/1
4	Hot Squeeze (NY)	3/F	C H. Velasquez	G Weaver	12/1
5	Scatcapade (FL)	3/F	J Rosario	C Clement	5/1
6	Recoupe (KY)	3/F	R Napravnik	M J. Trombetta	7/2
7	Stars Above Me (GB)	3/F	I Ortiz, Jr.	H Graham Motion	5/1
8	Fat Kat (PA)	3/F	J Bravo	R E. Reid, Jr.	10/1
9	Isabelle (NY)	3/F	A O. Solis	L L. Lewis	8/1
10	Elena Strikes (KY)	3/F	J R. Velazquez	T A. Pletcher	4/1

RUSLANA: The first of two Wes Ward trained entries, Ruslana was with the pace through the first quarter at Woodbine on the synthetics, but tired on the turn and finished in last.  She won on the Ocala Training surface, helping to set the early pace with Silver of Hope, and lasted through the stretch while Silver of Hope tired.  The last time she ran this distance on the turf, was in a Maiden Special Weight here last summer, where she failed to live up to her being the 2-1 favorite, fading to 7th.  Her other turf race at the Spa went a little better, finishing second in her debut.

SWEETMARYS SUCCESS: Sweetmarys Success is a main track only entry, and will only run this race if the race gets switched off the turf.  If she does run, this Wes Ward trained entry won her first two races, but suffered a bumped start in her last start in the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, resulting in a 6th place finish.  Sweetmarys Success has been scratched as a Main Track Only

BURN CONTROL: Her debut couldn't have gone much better when she won by 7 1/2 lengths at Parx.  When she followed that up with a 1 1/2 length win in an allowance, it got her connections thinking about stakes competition.  Burn Control has good ability to win the sprint, but has been untested on the turf.

HOT SQUEEZE: A winner already at the Spa, Hot Squeeze comes to this race only 7 days after winning an Allowance race at this distance as the 4-1 favorite.  She couldn't fire in the Crank It Up Stakes at Monmouth.  She's two-for-two at Saratoga Race Course, breaking her maiden here at this same distance last summer. Hot Squeeze has been scratched from this race by the Stewards.

SCATCAPADE: Joel Rosario rides this horse who is fresh off a fourth place finish in an Allowance Optional race at Belmont Park.  There she tried to save ground, but couldn't fire together a good kick at the end to win.  She won at a mile on the turf in a Maiden Special Weight at Gulfstream Park in Florida, her lone victory.  She came close to victory in a five furlong turf sprint at Gulfstream, closing in on the leader late but came up a length and a half short.  

RECOUPE: Recoupe is five for six in the money this year, with her lone miss coming in an Allowance at Presque Isle.  She's a perfect three-for-three on the turf, last winning a turf sprint Allowance at Penn National.  She has never raced in stakes competition, so her class could come into question today.

STARS ABOVE ME: This is Stars Above Me's first race in the states, having raced her last three at Newmarket, England.  There she finished 3rd in her latest effort, a handicap race.  Her lone win was at Leicester, winning a Novice Weight For Age race.  

FAT KAT: Finished last her latest effort in the Victory Ride at Belmont Park, breaking a string of four straight in-the-money appearances, including three straight wins at Parx.  She's another horse who will be making her turf debut in this race.

ISABELLE: Isabelle finished just ahead of Fat Kat in the Victory Ride.  She won the Bouwerie Stakes, running to the lead and not relinquishing it through the stretch at Belmont Park.  She'll be taking to the turf for the first time in her career in this race.  Isabelle has been scratched from the race.

ELENA STRIKES: Long dirt races was not meant to be for this filly when she tired badly in the 1-1/16 mile Pocohontas Stakes at Churchill Downs last year after finishing third in the Schuylerville.  She went wire-to-wire in her latest effort, an allowance at Belmont Park.  She's be racing on the turf for the first time.

***

ANALYSIS: This is a tough race to figure out.  Pedigree knowledge will come in handy as there's a bunch of horses who will be taking to the turf for the first time in their career.  The way this race is shaping up, this could be an all-out shootout to the wire, with a bunch of horses who will be firing to the front by the half-mile pole.

For what we're picking here, we're going to use turf experience over those who don't have it.  But understand that this race could become a total crapshoot due to the many without experience and the distance.

My Picks: 1-6-10

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Mythical Bankroll

Current Bankroll: $75.07
Today's Bets
$2 WIN 1, 6 ($4)
$0.50 TRI BOX 1-6-10 ($3)
$3 SHOW 10
Total Bets: $10.00
Remaining Bankroll: $65.07

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