Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Wednesday, Aug. 24
Best bet: KING ANGELO (6)
Best value: LIL COMMISSIONER (8)
FIRST: Freddy Flintshire won first start over Saratoga fences by nearly five lengths; more to come. Theocrat was a winner over the Colonial jumps last time; dangerous. Perfect Tapatino owns positional speed; must consider.
SECOND: Maddie's Grace was dueled into defeat in budding key-race debut; three works in the interim seal the deal. Gambling Girl runs late and will be in the garden spot if top selection wilts in the lane. August Bloom is a newcomer that's training with a purpose; follow the money.
THIRD: Built to Last owns speed but lacks heart; last chance with class drop. Sharp Sensation also is quick from gate and makes peak start of form cycle; worth long look. My Slick Nick gets the meds and moves to grass; very interesting.
FOURTH: Brawndo projects as the controlling speed on the rail with aggressive ride. Cathedral Beach won by nearly seven lengths the first time he touched Spa loam; very dangerous. Zen Master gets class relief and slight cutback in distance; right in the thick of this.
FIFTH: Forty Two Ace drops and gets favorable turnback to sprint. Good Culture owns fast late-pace figures on best efforts; big-time player. Kinetic Sky owns swift back numbers; must consider.
SIXTH: King Angelo was a front-running winner in last; gets early jump once again. Thin White Duke will be in the catbird seat if top selection hits the wall late. Under Oath adds blinkers after running last at every call in most recent; form reversal today?
SEVENTH: The Prince's Spur was pace- and position-compromised last time; class drop is the clincher. Drakon is fleet-footed and makes third start of form cycle; worth long look. Mad Magic has been claimed from both starts; very interesting.
EIGHTH: Lil Commissioner is rested and could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat. Boldish packs potent kick on best efforts; owns a win and a second in two starts at Saratoga. Lastchanceatglory, a front-end winner in last, drops in first start since claimed; damaged goods?
NINTH: Tide of the Sea owns speed, needed last and handles marathon distances. Bluegrass Parkway logs fast late-pace and final numbers on "A" efforts. Girl Dad was done in by poor start last time; don't ignore.
10TH: Miss Delicious logs field's fastest final fraction on best efforts. Dreamful could prove very tough on a soft lead. Stella Mars owns three seconds from three starts on Spa sod; logical contender. Mandy Green regressed in last after strong placing in prior; bounce-back threat.
