BANKROLL: $976.75
Bettors woke up Wednesday to news of an impasse between NYRA and Churchill Downs. As a result, Saratoga betting was unavailable on both TwinSpires and DK Horse, two prominent horse racing wagering platforms. This is similar to the battle NYRA engaged in with FanDuel earlier this month, where both sides came to terms just before the meet started.
Neither side wins in a dispute like this, and I say that as someone that has friends and former colleagues at all three organizations. The losers, however, are bettors and fans of the sport who seem to take it on the chin with astounding regularity.
Anything that makes it harder to bet on and/or follow horse racing should be a non-starter. However, this is the second time this month we’ve had such an incident. Here’s hoping cooler heads prevail, and quickly.
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS: The fifth race was rained off the turf, cancelling my action.
THURSDAY’S PLAY: I’ll head to the eighth, which houses my longshot of the day. That’s #6 SIX PERCENT, who cuts back after a nice win going two turns here earlier in the meet. I’ll have a $10 win ticket on him, as well as $3 exactas above and below #1 CICCIOBELLO and #2 SHADOW DRAGON.
TOTAL WAGERED: $22
Best Bet: Jak N Bunny, Race 4
Longshot: Six Percent, Race 8
Race 1
Kantarmaci entry
Charging Aero
Critical Threat
KANTARMACI ENTRY (8/5): I prefer #1 WRITER’S REGRET, though #1A BRONX BOMBER wouldn’t be illogical, either. The former showed speed against a much better group last time out, and I’m anticipating him being prominent early given the inside draw; #5 CHARGING AERO (8-1): Didn’t have a great trip last time out, but has some prior races from earlier this season that would make him competitive in here. Fernando Abreu’s barn is a solid one, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him take a step forward; #4 CRITICAL THREAT (3-1): Has won two in a row coming into this event, and while the move to a lower-percentage barn is a red flag, simply maintaining his form could be enough. He’s recorded a pair of wins over this surface, so we know he likes it here.
Race 2
Summer in Erin
Beer Run
Letter Perfect
#4 SUMMER IN ERIN (9/2): Is one of two first-time starters from the Christophe Clement barn in this race, and this is the one I prefer. His dam’s four prior foals to race are all winners, and he sports a sharp series of local drills ahead of his unveiling; #3 BEER RUN (2-1): Is approaching “now or never” territory in his seventh career start. He’s been competitive at this level and distance elsewhere, and if the first-time starters need a race, he makes lots of sense. At his likely price, though, I’ll try to beat him; #7 LETTER PERFECT (3-1): Hammered for $425,000 last year and is the other half of the Clement duo. He’s got a right to be a runner, but none of his pedigree says “turf,” which could be a problem.
Race 3
Ichiban (MTO)
Avenue Niel
Aspen Grove
#4 AVENUE NIEL (6-1): Comes in off a long layoff for Clement and Rosario and boasts a recent work that hints she’ll be ready to run. She was last seen running third behind Chili Flag, who’s turned into one of the better turf distaffers in the country, and she’s run well going very long on turf in the past; #5 ASPEN GROVE (1-1): Has been running against much, much better horses of late, but I have my doubts. She’s yet to truly move forward from age three to age four, and while she could certainly win, this is a tough spot for the level, and she’s no lock; #1 BE YOUR BEST (5/2): Will attempt to drop down in class for the third time this summer following several races being rained off the turf. She won several races here two summers ago, including the P.G. Johnson, and Irad Ortiz, Jr., sees fit to ride.
Race 4
Jak N Bunny
Caldo Candy
Key Point
#4 JAK N BUNNY (3-1): Ships in from Finger Lakes, where he’s been a win machine. He’s won six of eight career starts, has plenty of gate speed, and looks every bit like the one they’ll have to catch turning for home; #8 CALDO CANDY (3-1): Romped over first-level allowance foes here last month and draws a solid outside post. The third-place finisher from his last-out effort has since come back to win, and this barn is solid at keeping horses on the right track; #7 KEY POINT (5/2): Hasn’t run in nearly two years, but has posted a series of solid drills for new trainer Brad Cox. His form from 2022 was solid, and he’d benefit from some of the other contenders getting involved in a speed duel.
Race 5
Dancing Liana
Good Mission
Ariana Rye
#5 DANCING LIANA (3-1): Showed speed last time out, when she was second in a similar spot downstate. She sure looks like the horse with the most early zip in this field, and I think she’s got a great chance to get comfortable up front and forget to stop; #1 GOOD MISSION (6-1): Debuts for a solid first-out outfit and may not have to be much to win on debut. There are some solid works on her tab, and while first-time starters drawing the rail can be problematic, the presence of strong gate rider Kendrick Carmouche seems like a plus; #4 ARIANA RYE (2-1): Comes back to dirt and drops in class, but hits me as a vulnerable favorite. Her dirt races downstate weren’t bad, but the drop from state-bred maiden special weight races to state-bred maiden claimers isn’t a massive one, and that last-out clunker is a concern.
Race 6
Iron Max
McDiesel
Shoot the Waves
#8 IRON MAX (7/2): Came flying in his debut last week, when he was fourth and beaten less than four lengths despite showing no interest early on. This barn’s runners tend to get better with experience, and the fairly quick wheel-back hits me as a sign of strength; #3 MCDIESEL (9/2): Dead-heated for second in a race several runners in here exit, and he hits me as the most likely frontrunner in a race that seems light on early speed. His pedigree says two turns won’t be an issue, and it’s possible he gets an ideal trip on an easy lead; #6 SHOOT THE WAVES (12-1): Didn’t do much running in his debut, but I think you can draw a line through that race. His bloodlines say he’ll relish more ground, which he gets here, and the additions of blinkers and Tyler Gaffalione could both move him forward at a price.
Race 7
On a Spree
St Andrews
Bar Fourteen
#3 ON A SPREE (2-1): Has won his last two starts by a total of nearly 11 lengths and seems like a very logical favorite. Unlike several others in here, he’s got plenty of two-turn form, and it’s possible he’s better than ever as an 8-year-old after going to Mike Maker’s barn earlier this season; #6 ST ANDREWS (5-1): Has been popular at the claim box this season and has a flexible running style that could come in handy. He’s shown enough tactical speed to sit just off the pace, as well as a solid closing kick, and that should give Tyler Gaffalione plenty of options; #7 BAR FOURTEEN (12-1): Needs to improve on speed figures but sure seems like the main speed, and that could make him dangerous at a price. Luis Saez has been a bit cold to start the meet, but he’s run second and third quite a bit, and this one has every right to hang around for a piece of it.
Race 8
Six Percent
Cicciobello
Shadow Dragon
#6 SIX PERCENT (12-1): Cuts back in distance after an impressive win against $32,000 claimers last time out. This is a tougher group, yes, but I like horses cutting back from two turns to the Wilson chute, and jockey Ramon Vazquez seems to be finding some momentum; #1 CICCIOBELLO (8-1): Is a pace play for me second off the bench, as the rail is a great draw for a miler with speed. He’s won out of the Wilson chute before, and this seems like the route and level he wants; #2 SHADOW DRAGON (3-1): Fits on speed figures but hasn’t won in more than a year. He did just miss last time out at Aqueduct, but the chute is an unknown, he doesn’t have a ton of early speed, and the likely price hits me as a bit of an underlay.
Race 9
McKulick
Eternal Hope
Chop Chop
#7 MCKULICK (2-1): Seeks to defend her title in the Grade 2 Glens Falls and should get an ideal setup to do just that. She loves these longer turf routes, was beaten just four lengths in the Grade 1 New York last time out, and should get plenty of pace to run at over a turf course where she’s enjoyed plenty of success; #5 ETERNAL HOPE (3-1): Went 2-for-2 stateside last year and attracts Flavien Prat in her first start since October. If she’s ready, she’s another who could get a favorable setup, but that layoff of nearly 10 months is a significant concern, even with powerhouse connections attached; #3 CHOP CHOP (5/2): Has yet to finish out of the exacta in six starts this season and exits a close-up second in a Grade 3 at Delaware Park. Her best effort came in the Grade 3 Bewitch at Keeneland, which she won, and she could get first run on the pace-setters when the real running starts.
Race 10
Welcome Back Babe (MTO)
Coach Sessa
Dance On Air
#12 COACH SESSA (9/2): Draws a terrible post in her first start since mid-October, but looms very large if she’s ready to run. Her debut here last summer at this route was easily her best race of the campaign, and she gets Lasix for the first time in the Thursday nightcap; #4 DANCE ON AIR (6-1): Had a few excuses last time out, as that was her first two-turn try and she was wide going into the first turn. This will be just the third start of this Chad Brown trainee’s career, and the addition of Flavien Prat certainly doesn’t hurt; #2 STARLIGHT DANCER (8-1): Responded to the added distance with a decent second at this level downstate. She didn’t have much pact to chase that day, but she made up some ground in the stretch and may have found what she wants to do.
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