Whitney day at Saratoga and the weather appears to be cooperating. We have a 12 race card and we will be looking to cover most of them. I will be focused on the early double (Races 1 & 2) and taking down a spot pick 3 (Races 7-9). Big Pete will be locked into a couple of his "Plays of the Day" as well as the late pick 3 (Races 10-12). We appreciate you taking a look at this write-up and GOOD LUCK.
Little Pete's $2.00 Early Double:
R1: 1, 2, 5
R2: 1, 6, 8
Cost: $18.00
Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:
R6: 2, 3, 6
R7: 1, 6, 8, 9
R8: 1, 7
Cost: $24.00
Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:
R10: 4, 5, 6
R11: 4, 7, 10
R12: 1, 4, 5, 8
Cost: $ 36.00
Little Pete's Early Double:
Race 1:
(2) Alexis Zorba wants more distance and will have a better States performance second time out. Johnny V is on a tear right now and we should trust him to navigate a nice trip in here. (5) Red Route One getting Rosario aboard for this Asmussen horse on debut is warranting a play as is. This Gun Runner should love the distance and the workouts are showing plenty of speed to create a bit of distance from the competition. The wild card horse I like is (1) Track Mate who has been excellent in the morning and this Union Rags horse should love the grass and be involved early. I really like the apprentice, Jose Gomez, and think he will be storming down the stretch.
$3.00 WPS 5 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex Box 1,2,5 Cost: $12.00
Race 2:
My top play in here is (1) School of Thought This horse has the inside post and finished well against a couple others in here two back. I think this claiming race will come down to the best trip and I trust Irad with the inside post 10 out of 10 times. (6) Afilada has the hungry Luis Saez aboard again and this horse is going to be closing strongly against this bunch. I we can expect one thing it is that Saez will be aggressive enough early to allow this horse to find the second gear late. (8) Tekila has plenty of skill and has crossed the wire first before (DQ'd out of it) and again Johnny V is a menace right now.
$3.00 WPS 1 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex Box 1,6,8 Cost: $12.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 3:
Unfortunately, the race sets up perfectly for the favorite (2) KHALI MAGIC. There is a ton of speed and they all want the lead early. All Franco has to do is sit and wait for them to back up and find a seam to go by. I won’t try to beat her but I will look for the other two closers to follow her home. I’m looking for either (1) HAPPY SOPHIA OR (5) PRETTY CLEVER to pass the other tiring front runners late for the 2nd spot
$ 7.00 Exacta 2 w/ 1, 5 Cost $ 14.00
We’ll also use (2) Khali Magic in R3 and try to cash a DAILY DOUBLE play.
We’ll use (1/1A) Dream Works and (2) Good Governance in the 4th.
$ 7.00 Double 2 w/ 1, 2 Cost $ 14.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 5:
(7) SIFTING SANDS was touted as one of the good ones in the Brown barn a season ago but it didn’t pan out and they put him on the shelf. He’s come back with some energy this year and may be ready to step his game up after a sharp win last month. He’s a decent 5:1 ML with the other Brown taking all the attention.
(1) Public Sector just missed and (4) Duke Of Hazzard has been facing some good ones. Either one for 2nd.
$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost $ 21.00
$ 7.00 Exacta 7 w/ 1, 4 Cost $ 14.00
We’ll also use (7) Sifting Sands in R5 and try to cash a DAILY DOUBLE play.
We’ll use (1/1A) Point Proven and (2) Disarm in the 6th.
$ 7.00 Double 7 w/ 1, 2 Cost $ 14.00
Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:
Race 7:
(6) War Goddess looks great on paper and appears to be in great form coming into this one; I just think this is an opportunity to try and beat. The Chad Brown horse, (2) Virginia Joy, gets the Irad bump in here and will be storming late just like the favorite. In these long grass races it comes down to pedigree and trips, and I like the post position and the jockey in here to take this one. I also will be playing the other Bill Mott in (3) Petrcor has shown that she would like more distance and was bottled up last time out. I again think this comes down to the trip that each of these horses gets and I trust Jose Ortiz to be aggressive.
$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00
$3.00 Ex 2 w/ 3,6 Cost: $6.00
$2.00 Ex 3,6 /w/ 2,3,6 Cost: $8.00
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Race 8:
(8) Saint Tapit is fighting against winners for the first time, but this looks to be an impressive horse for the Pletcher barn. Nothing is signaling that this horse won't repeat in the winner's circle, but I just can't trust a horse next time out after breaking their maiden. (1) Perfect Munnings loses Saez for the other Pletcher and adds Dylan Davis. This inside post is winning at a high clip and Dylan is going to use this horse's natural ability to their advantage; SPEED. This horse should be prepped with a head start against the field and could run on with this one late. (9) Osbourne is a very interesting horse in here and I do not think we get 6/1 come post time. Irad is getting the mount and could be the difference to make this horse move up from back to back second places. Plenty of speed and coming into this one in great form. My last play will be (6) Hometown with the bullet workouts last time out and this horse looks poised for a HUGE race in here. Manny is going to place this horse on the lead and Baby Yoda was the last horse to beat this one and Baby Yoda is having an impressive 2022.
$3.00 WPS 9 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 8,9 w/ 1,6,8,9 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 1,6 w/ 1,6,8,9 Cost: $6.00
Race 9:
(1) Matareya looks much too good in here and I just do not see a scenario that this horse isn't fanned out wide and winning by multiple lengths; worthy single. With that said, I am going to hedge a bit with (7) Chi Town Lady. This horse gets Rosario aboard in here and we should expect this horse to do their best running late down the stretch. If there is an early pace battle, which there could be with some speed in here, then Rosario could pick off horses late and make it interesting.
$10.00 Ex Box 1,7 Cost: $20.00
Big Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 10:
I don’t see any flaws in (6) LIFE IS GOOD. He continues to show up every time and has dominated rivals his whole career. One lap around the Spa oval is well within his reach. Irad returns and the others don’t have the speed to keep up with him early. Many like (4) OLYMPIAD who has done well but where has he been in all these G1’s. I like the other Pletcher with Johnny V taking over. (5) HAPPY SAVER Will let his stable mate do his thing and then try to reel him in late. If the two turns becomes an issue late for Lie Is Good, then Super can be the Saver late.
$ 7.00 WPS 5 Cost $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 5, 6 w/ 4, 5, 6 Cost $ 12.00
Race 11:
I think most of these Euro’s fell asleep on Classic Causeway and they paid the price in the Belmont Derby. Today will be a different story. (10) STONE AGE May have had jet lag as he flew in for the Derby and was moving well at the end. He came up just short but the little time between races should have him primed for his best. (4) NATIONS PRIDE ran ok as well. He too was right there close to home and he gets his regular rider today. Both of these will be tough to handle today. (7) ROYAL PATRONAGE was getting bump around as they all were fighting for seems through the stretch. Clear sailing for this guy puts him in the conversation as well.
$ 7.00 WPS 10 Cost $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 4, 10 w/ 4, 7, 8, 10 Cost $ 18.00
Race 12:
Maidens close this Whitney day at the Spa. (8) DREAM POINT w/ Rosario up, is stretching out. Two turns should be within him self and his speed figures match up well against this group. A must use for me. I like (4) ACTION JACKSON a little bit more though. He’s been away for a bit but Abreu calls on Prat and he usually has them ready to roll off layoff. He’s been working up here for a while and seems they have been pointing to this start. (5) SIR JOHN gets L1 today for Mott who is starting to heat up. They also make their 2022 debut and have been working well up to this. (1) BERT BERT BERT may get overlooked here. He ran a respectable race last time only beaten 4+ lengths. This Classic Empire won’t mind the two turns and Davis gets the re-ride. I’ll take a shot with him to pick up the pieces late.
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