Saratoga: Thursday, 7/14, Opening Day Plays - Pete's Picks
- Little Pete
- Jul 14, 2022
- 7 min read
We are back to racing at the Summer place to be and we have ourselves an exciting opening day. Should be fast and firm for a 10 race card to start the meet and we are locked in and ready to take a swing at each one of them. I will be looking to take down the early double (Races 1-2) and a middle pick 3 (Races 5-7) . Big Pete will have his full breakdown on his "Play of the Day" and the late pick 3 (Races 8-10). We appreciate you taking a look at this write-up and GOOD LUCK.
Little Pete's $ 4.00 Early Double:
R1: 6, 8, 9
R2: 6 Cost: $ 12.00
Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:
R5: 2, 4, 7
R6: 4, 9, 11
R7: 1, 2, 4, 9 Cost: $ 36.00
Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:
R8: 1, 3, 6, 13
R9: 1, 3, 6
R10: 1, 6, 8, 11 Cost: $ 48.00
Little Pete's Early Double:
Race 1:
(9) Kershaw from the outside will benefit from some early speed in here and will find a nice rail position early and wait for a lane late to open up to run down the tiring horses. (6) Bear Alley is going to be the one seeking the lead and if this horse is allowed to set the fractions without too much pressure, then this one will be tough to catch late. (8) Royal Tryst is my last play in here who should have a bounce back performance in here and be able to be involved early and show enough stamina to compete late.
$3.00 WPS 9 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex Box 6,8,9 Cost: $12.00
Race 2:
The half a million filly in (6) Chocolate Gelato is an impressive horse in the morning workouts and we should expect this horse to find the lead and never get it up. I will be targeting this horse as a single and will be looking to hit a nice cold exacta underneath with (5) Two Minute Drill; who is training lights out and should be towards the front early as well and should have enough to stick around late.
$20.00 WIN 6 Cost: $20.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 3:
Joe Sharp reached in and grabbed the 6yr old (6) ATTENTIVE and looks to make a quick return on his investment. He puts Irad in the saddle and cuts him back slightly. They figure to have a target on some of these speed runners entered and come late through the lane. He’ll need to work out a trip but that’s what Irad gets paid to do.
(4) High Tide is the class of the bunch and (5) Street Copper is the wise guy shipper with some speed figures that are comparable to this field.
$ 7.00 WPS 6 Cost $ 21.00
$ 7.00 Exacta 6 w/ 4, 5 Cost $ 14.00
We’ll also use (6) Attentive in R3 and try to crash in on a DAILY DOUBLE play.
We’ll use likely favorite (3) Remote and the Animal Kingdom colt (6) Snow’s Island in the 4th.
$ 7.00 Double 6 w/ 3, 6 Cost $ 14.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 4:
(3) Remote will attract a lot of attention with a decent 2nd place finish at this distance last time. The inner turf will make this War Front tough as he figures to save ground up front. I’ll try to beat him with the (6) SNOW’S ISLAND as he stretches back out here. After a year absence, he ran a high figure in his 2022 debut. That may have taken a little out of him as he regressed slightly but still managed to get 3rd behind Re-Pete winner Balthus. He’s bred to run all day and seems to corner well as he ran ok at GP and Kee. The 6:1 ML is a little low IMO so the word may be out that this guy is sitting on one.
$ 7.00 WPS 6 Cost $ 21.00
$ 7.00 Exacta 6 w/ 3, 5 Cost $ 14.00
We’ll also use (6) Snow Island in R4 and try to crash in on a DAILY DOUBLE play.
$ 7.00 Double 6 w/ 4, 6 Cost $ 14.00
Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:
Race 5:
(2) Catching Cupid with the class relief and the inside position will play well into this horse's attack late. I think Rosario will look to be a length or two off the lead and then pounce on the competition late. (4) Tommy Gun has been under performing against better and this well needed class relief will result in a much more fierce runner. (7) The Institute wanted nothing to do with the wet track last time out and the previous time Jose Ortiz got the mount on a fast track this horse ran a big second place race. I will be playing this horse will the expectation that Jose Ortiz will have this horse up front early and wait for the lane to open up to let this horse run a late charge.
$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex Box 2,4,7 Cost: $12.00
Race 6:
(9) King Moonracer ran an impressive second last time out after an extended layoff and coming into this one with a bullet workout. I think Castellano will set this horse up well enough early to be the widest late to run down the tiring horses in this sprint. (4) Just Say When has three career races and has won one of them and placed the other two. This horse will be around throughout and Irad Ortiz is a bully at Saratoga. (11) Me 'N Sap is my last play in here who is coming into this one after a win and likes the late running style. I think that plays well into this race filled with horses who want the lead.
$3.00 WPS 9 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex Box 4,9,11 Cost: $12.00
Race 7:
(2) Gina Romantica has put two great showings on the track that resulted in wins and the one race that this horse did not perform well was due to a bothered break. This Chad Brown horse has the post position and the jockey to perform extremely well in this one. (1) Goddess of Fire will get the patented front running race under Johnny V. This horse will be an extremely tough catch late and a must play IMO. (4) Angitude wanted no part of a wet track and is poised to get a firm track to run on. Rosario will be running a big race late and this horse has the pedigree to be a true threat late in here. (9) A Mo Reay will be my last play in here after a gritty win last time out. This horse gains Irad in here and ran a nice debut on this track last year which I think will play into this horses closing speed.
$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 1,2 w/ 1,2,4,9 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 4,9 w/ 1,2,4,9 Cost: $6.00
Big Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 8:
(3) MYRISKYAFFAIR is one of a pair of Clement runners with a shot in here. A blowout maiden win, followed up with a nice 2nd in a G2 puts this gal at the top of many lists. Rosario has been no worse than 2nd with her in three starts and figures to save ground (1) CANISY is a lightly raced filly with top notch breeding to excel at thid distance and surface. She outworked her stable mate on 7/1 and was a fast closing 2nd when she faced winners for the first time. This could be a special one as she continues to learn this game. I’m all over the 4:1ML. (13) SANTA GIULIA becomes an interesting 8:1 shot. She's a Chad Brown runner that draws in from the also eligibles. Most people don't pay attention to the AE's when they start their handicaping and post their picks. She's been working nicely, gets L1 today and new regular rider, Prat takes the mount. The outside post won't matter as much as we are on the inner and they will have the length of the stretch until the first turn. A must use IMO. The other Brown, (6) CUSTOMER LIST will get plenty of play as she figures to bounce back after a dissapointing try in a stakes race.
$ 7.00 WPS 1 Cost $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 1, 3 w/ 1, 3, 6, 13 Cost $ 18.00
Race 9:
(1) JUST CINDY was impressive in her maiden win and picks up Irad. She must go from the rail but I’m expecting she’ll have company. (6) ME AND MY SHADOW has speed and favorable post to work out a clear path to the front. Look for Tyler to gun her and try to take them all the way. I’m more interested in the “other” Casse to come and get them late. (3) ADORA was bet heavy and won easy going shorter. I don’t think this Into Mischief will have any problems stretching out and Davis will be hungry for some W’s. Nice steady works down at Belmont for this.
$ 7.00 WPS 3 Cost $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 1, 3 w/ 1, 3, 6, 9 Cost $ 18.00
Race 10:
We close opening day with a NW2L claiming sprint. (6) ABUSE OF POWER drops several levels which is odd because he’s been running ok against better. I’ll use, but it seems a little fishy to me so I’ll look elsewhere. Ward has (1) MAGNILOQUENT who could be the speed of the speeds. Jose will likely use his post as an advantage and go quickly as the far turn comes quick at this 5.5F distance. Irad shows up on (11) TRAIN TO ARTEMUS. She moves back to turf where she belongs but will need to save some ground somewhere. She will likely come late but can she make up the ground she most likely will lose on the turn? I want to take a shot with (8) HALF BIRTHDAY. She has been slow for most of her races but they have been on the dirt. They put her on the turf in her last three starts. She broke her maiden first time on grass, then ran her best race facing this level two back. The connections go to cocky and tried NY Stakes company but that was a mistake. They now spot her where she belongs and is a generous 12:1 ML.
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