Saratoga: Saturday, 7/22, Plays ** Pete's Picks**
- Little Pete
- Jul 22, 2023
- 5 min read
We have 11 today featuring the 3yr old fillies in the G1 Coaching Club Oaks in race 9. I will be attacking the early double (Races 1 & 2) and a spot pick 3 (Races 6-8). Big Pete will attack his "Play of the Day" and the late pick 3 (Races 9-11); GOOD LUCK.
Little Pete's $2.00 Early Double:
R1: 1, 2, 7
R2: 2, 3, 4
Cost: $18.00
Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:
R6: 2, 3, 5
R7: 3, 5, 6, 7
R8: 1, 5, 8
Cost: $36.00
Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:
R9: 1, 2, 4
R10: 2, 4, 6, 8
R11: 1, 7, 8
Cost: $ 36.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 3:
(7) STRICTLY TABOO with the cut back angle in this 5.5F sprint on grass. She's been gaining ground late at 6, 7 & 1M and Clement shortens her way up. Davis has a race with her and there are at least three with speed to set her up.
$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 7.00 Ex 7 w/ 1, 4 Cost: $ 14.00
We'll use (7) Strictly Taboo in R3 and try to cash in on a Daily Double.
(1) Chileno or (7) Achilles Heel in the 4th.
$ 7.00 Daily Double 7 w/ 1, 7 Cost $ 14.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 5:
Brown has yet to get on track but I'm guessing we'll see his barn heat up soon. (1) UNDERVALUED ASSET was several lengths ahead of the 3rd place finisher in that May runner up Allowance. They get to go a little farther and Irad returns. A strong bullet on the 15th indicates this filly should be on her toes.
$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 7.00 Ex 1 w/ 3, 5 Cost: $ 14.00
Big Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 6:
(3) Roses for Debra is the logical play in here and should have the pace to run into late with (2) Bubble Rock setting the early fractions. I will include (2) Bubble Rock on my play as well, as it sometimes turns into a jockey race with these short field turf races. I want a horse that I figure to be towards the front early and let the jockeys behind have to make decisions throughout. My last play will be (5) Wakanaka who should not be 8/1 come post time. This race is not void of speed and this horse possesses the necessary speed in this sprint and shown ability with routes. This one should be a sneaky play late to hit the board and potentially hit the wire first.
$3.00 Ex Box 2,3,5 Cost: $18.00
Race 7:
I am going into this race thinking that these 2 year olds have some blazing speed. This is the reason for my top pick being a horse I believe to stalk the pace in (3) General Partner. I think that Flavien Prat is going to have a day today with some jocks choosing to head south to New Jersey. I believe this horse will be flying down the stretch and a dangerous horse to leave off the ticket. (5) Valentine Candy and (6) Annointed are both Justify horses that I really like here to be forwardly placed. They are bred to go longer and should be able to sustain a big run throughout. (7) Dive Bomber is my last play in here from the Brad Cox barn. This horse is training to well in my opinion to exclude. We should expect an aggressive ride early to be towards the front and the horse should have plenty left for the stretch drive. This is shaping up to be an exciting race that I look forward to watching from the rail!
$3.00 WPS 3 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 3,6 w/ 3,5,6,7 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 5,7 w/ 3,5,6,7 Cost: $6.00
Race 8:
The Chad Brown entries are going to be extremely difficult to beat and worthy of a single in here. (1A) Grand Giomar Step is my preferred in here making his US debut. This horse is going to be forwardly placed and should be able to sustain a huge run in here late. With that said, I will hedge a bit with (5) Fearless Soldier and (8) Mercante. (5) Fearless Soldier lost by a head bob to More Than Looks last time out at Ellis Park and that horse won a Gr.3 next time out against a decent field. (8) Mercante faced winners for last time out and ran a respectable race. I think this 3 year old has found their footing on grass and I trust Alvarado to save ground in here throughout to have a fresh horse late.
$3.00 Ex Box 1,5,6 Cost: $18.00
Big Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 9:
(2) WET PAINT let Hoosier Philly get away last time and with regular rider Plat back aboard, they won't let that happen again. I like this gal to finish in front of Philly this time but she will have to hold off some closers. (4) GAMBLING GIRL figures to follow that move and Pletcher is heating up. This 9F better suits Gambling so Wet Paint will need to get separation turning for home. The above two will be tough in here but I want the filly on the rail. (1) SOUTHLAWN was no match for Gambling Girl in the G1 Oaks at Churchill but I don't think she gets over that track that well. All her races at Churchill are duds bt outside that venue, shes a player. She beat Pretty Mischievous two back and did it easy. Casse gave her some time and pointed to this spot and figures to save ground all the way. She's working lights out and has a quick breeze over the Spa oval..
$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex Box 1, 2, 4 Cost: $ 18.00
Race 10:
(6) DAUFUSKIE ISLAND is in great form right now and continues to dominate the front end. A must use but she faces her toughest competition to date. (8) ACCRETIVE was dancing with the big boys last year but went to the shelf after the Spa meet. He's back and may only need to be 75% for this group. A must use but we'll try to beat him and Dauf with the hot Rice Barn. (2) TAKIN PHAROAH has back to back wins after he was claimed three back and looks like a new horse. This Pharoah can go or stalk so the break will tell the tale. I don't see how we can get 10:1 ML but we'll take it. (4) VICTORIOUS WAVE will get overlooked here shipping in from Finger Lakes. He figures to get first jump on Pharoah and Accretive and can hold on for a piece.
$ 7.00 WPS 2 Cost: $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 2, 8 w/ 2, 4, 6, 8 Cost: $ 18.00
Race 11:
We stay with Rice as the Entry looks solid. I prefer (1A) FLINT RIDGE so I'm hoping that is the one that goes but (1) CATCHYASOON can control this right from the start. I only like two others to close out the night cap. (7) SENOR JOBIM was claimed by Jacobson last year and ran ok out west before taking some time off. He returned to NY in Feb and picked up a check. Now this 9yr old shows up here with steady works and an outside draw. Franco can stalk and come with his run turning for home. (8) DIGITAL FUTURE won at 25k two back but that was a Aqueduct. It's a different 25k when you're at the Spa but his speed figure that day was far better than most in here. If he can come close to that effort, it's all his.
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