Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Sunday, Aug. 7
Best Bet: BLESS BLESS (10); Best Value: BOSS CARA (8)
FIRST: Mo's Treasure owns speed and gets favorable cutback in distance. Talkin Pharoah moves to turf after game placing on Keeneland dirt; dangerous. Blue Lieutenant is from a dam that has produced three grass winners; price will be tempting.
SECOND: Majestic Tiger tallied sharp final fraction when third in last; added furlong plays to strength. Good Skate owns speed and drops; dangerous. Blue Jays makes first start since claimed by Mike Maker; big-time threat.
THIRD: Fouette could be ideally placed in the stalker's seat in field with ample speed. Goodnight Olive could prove very tough if able to shake clear from other front-runners. Liberty M D is training sharply for first start in eight weeks; worth long look.
FOURTH: Naughty Gal has worked three times since breaking maiden by more than nine lengths on Fourth of July at Churchill Downs; pairs up. Janis Joplin runs late and could be aided by additional sixteenth. Apple Picker fired eye-catching 5-furlong bullet at the Spa on July 28; very interesting.
FIFTH: Maria From Miami was a useful third in debut; more to give. Will Be Famous logged crisp half-mile since non-threatening fifth in first start; improvement predicted. Tribal Queen bested top pick by a length when second around the track in debut; be no surprise.
SIXTH: Delight, one of only three runners in 13-horse field that have started, compiled tight work tab since debut. Pink Hue, from a dam that has thrown two grass winners, debuts for Chad Brown; obvious player. Invest Wisely is another newcomer with strong turf pedigree; charting a must.
SEVENTH: Walkathon is riding a three-race winning streak; keeps on giving. Contemporary Art packs potent late wallop; big-time danger. McKulick, 1-for-1 on Spa sod, was a clear-cut winner of Belmont Oaks last out; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Boss Cara notched swift late-pace figure when winning last start; two sharp drills in the interim seal the deal. Portilla had rapid internal and final numbers when second in most recent; very dangerous. Colorful Mischief owns a win and two thirds from three starts; logical contender
NINTH: Jouster was a determined winner in last and owns faster back numbers. Love and Thunder was less than a length behind top selection when a tough-trip second in last; obviously must be considered. Nazuna has drilled twice since winning on July 8; must be factored into the mix.
TENTH: Bless Bless owns fast late-pace figures on best efforts and makes first start since claimed by Mike Maker; delivers "A" game. Dream of a Day made sustained rally to break maiden last time; very interesting. Cash in a Flash is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Merci takes two-level price plunge after being sidelined for seven weeks; damaged goods?
