It is Traver’s Saturday at Saratoga and we are prepared to handle the card. There is some expected rain in the forecast (What else is new) and it will be important to monitor that situation throughout card. The crowd in downtown Saratoga is expected to be upwards of 40,000 and the energy throughout the day will be evident in each race. I plan on maintaining my focus on the early double (Races 1 & 2) and a spot pick 3 (Races 8-10). Big Pete will have a couple of his “Play of the Day”s and look to take down the late pick 3 (Race 11-13). We appreciate you taking a look at our write-up and GOOD LUCK.
Little Pete's $1.00 Early Double:
R1: 2, 7, 8, 9
R2: 4, 6, 14
Cost: $12.00
Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:
R8: 6, 12, 13
R9: 3, 4, 6
R10: 2, 5, 6, 7
Cost: $36.00
Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:
R11: 1, 5, 7
R12: 1, 2, 6
R13: 1, 2, 3, 11
Cost: $ 36.00
Little Pete's Early Double:
Race 1:
(2) Catire Vizcaya is coming in with two bullet workouts and Irad is getting the mount after an impressive debut; must include. (7) First Trumpet is my top pick in here who has improved each time out and the extra distance will help this Carpe Diem. (8) Walstib is another horse that had an impressive debut and training strong into this one and must be included. (9) Awesome For Sure is my price play in here to improve second time out and take a leap up in here and close well.
$3.00 WPS 7 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 2,7 w/ 2,7,8,9 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 8,9 w/ 2,7,8,9 Cost: $6.00
Race 2:
(4) Feather’s Road is going to lay it out this race out and will be on the lead from the jump. This horse has staying power and could wire the field. (6) Courageous Oh La has speed as well and has won on an off track. (14) Newport Bridge is the MTO coming off a nice maiden win. Right back with the hot connections.
$3.00 WPS 14 Cost: $9.00
$5.00 Ex 4 w/ 6, 14 Cost: $10.00
$2.00 Ex 6, 14 w/ 4, 6, 14 Cost: $ 8.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 3:
(1) WHAT'S UP DOC goes out for the 3rd time this meet. He was a good 2nd to Paddington two back and then had some trouble last time. The 9F fits this Chrome well as the others will struggle with the two turns. A nice draw makes this guy save some ground and the young jock is hungry for another win.
$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 5.00 Ex 1 w/ 2, 4, 7 Cost: $ 15.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 4:
(9) BOLD JOURNEY has the pedigree to run well on the mud/off dirt. He's 9 for 16 lifetime finishing 1st or 2nd. He finds a field he can handle and picks up Rosario.
$ 7.00 WPS 9 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex Box 7, 8, 9 Cost: $ 18.00
We'll use (9) Bold Journey in R4 and try to cash in on a Daily Double.
(2) Catch That Party or (7) James Aloysius in the 5th.
$ 7.00 Daily Double 9 w/ 2, 7 Cost $ 14.00
Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:
Race 8:
This race is going to come down to the late closers down the stretch and I am going to go with three of them. (12) Southern Horse ships in from California and looking strong coming into this one to be stalking the lead from the break and then close strongly from the outside. (6) Highly Flammable is my top pick in here to have the positioning early and then find the lane late towards the rail for an excellent finish. (1) Elusive Edge to the inside and Johnny V harnessing the speed is why I am including here. This horse is going to excel at the cut back and be sent right from the break.
$3.00 WPS 6 Cost: $9.00
$3.00 Ex Box 1,6,12 Cost: $18.00
Race 9:
(5) New York Thunder is the real deal and will be victorious in a battle with (6) Arabian Lion, who I will also include. (4) Fort Bragg needs to be included in here as this horse has proven its ability at further distances and should have more stamina late than the early speed. This one is going to be won from the gate and should be exciting on the front.
$3.00 WPS 5 Cost: $9.00
$3.00 Ex Box 3,4,6 Cost: $18.00
Race 10:
I really like (2) Matareya here to find the rail early and be ready to roll late down the stretch under Flavien Prat. (6) Echo Zulu may be too good on the lead for any others to catch. (7) Goodnight Olive is going to be stalking throughout this one and be ready to run towards the wire late. (5) Wicked Halo is going to be forwardly placed as well and with the right trip could make it interesting late.
$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 2,6 w/ 2,5,6,7 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 5,7 w/ 2,5,6,7 Cost: $6.00
Big Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 11:
To me, this years Sword Dancer came up a little light in terms of class and quantity. Many have participated in G1's but there are not a lot of wins this year. The exception is (5) PIONEERING SPIRIT as far as wins. He has more than the rest of the field this year but he hasn't faced G1's before. Since they switched to turf, he's been perfect and I will use. (7) STONE AGE is tough to trust but he may have found the right field. He's more of a defensive play only. I'll trust Jose and go with (1) SOLDER RISING in this spot. He jumps off the Rice runner after winning four in a row and chooses this one. He has two 2nd place finishes in G1 and should save ground from the one hole.
$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex Box 1, 5, 7 Cost: $ 18.00
Race 12:
(1) FORTE will go off the favorite as his Dandy score was sharp. He appears to be back in form and is a must use for me. (2) ARCANGELO is the new shooter with an smart run in the Belmont. He's training well up to this and the 10F should work perfect for this Arrogate. (6) DISARM is the sleeper. Some may have forgotten that he finished 4th in the Derby and was the only closer to come late. He followed that up with a win vs cheaper and then may have been a little short in the Dandy. This guy has improved each time out and is sitting on a big run. Maybe he's a late bloomer like the Gun Runners can be.
$ 7.00 WPS 2 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 2, 6 w/ 1, 2, 3, 6 Cost: $ 18.00
Race 13:
(1) RIGHT TO WIN and (1A) GROWTH CAPITAL form a powerful entry for Brown. Growth Cap has the speed to take them all the way and Right To Win has his back if he starts to back up. A must use for me. (2) FLY RIGHT almost broke his maiden here last year. He was a neck back of General Jim. He too will be closing in through the stretch and Castellano has been finding the holes all year. (3) CONVERSING moves back to the turf where he belongs. He's been off for a while but he did well in his debut here last year. Shug can get them ready when he has to. The American Pharoah runner, (11) BAIE LONGUE stretching out is the danger. Mott gave him a sprint to get him ready for this. The two turns is what he wants and Jr has been solid up here.
$ 7.00 WPS 11 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 1, 11 w/ 1, 2, 3, 11 Cost: $ 18.00
Little Pete's Travers Pick:
(6) Disarm
This race is going to set up well for a closer and Forte will be tough to beat in here late. The angle I am going with here is that Rosario will be able to sit in a stalking position early with the added blinkers and then run their best race come stretch drive. This horse is improving each time they touch the track and I love the thought of Rosario competing against this bunch late.
$7.00 WPS 6 Cost: $21.00
$4.00 Ex 6 w/ ALL Cost: $24.00
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