Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Wednesday, Aug. 3
Best bet: BUCKINGHAM PRINCE (8)
Best value: ARTHURIAN (10)
FIRST: Jumper alert: Another waste of a race. Perfect Tapatino won most recent by 19 lengths. Howyabud was a 10-length winner of only start. Decisive Triumph is speedy; next race, please.
SECOND: Dorothy's the Boss should be aided by return to dirt; weakness of field is selection's strength. Glittering Prize is fresh and training consistently. Darn That Song fired 3-furlong bullet since game placing in last; logical, short-priced contender.
THIRD: Achilles Heel should pack amplified kick with cutback to sprint. Printrack could prove very tough if able to shake clear from other front-runners. Ready to March also is fleet-footed and chances hinge on pace dynamics.
FOURTH: War Canoe owns field's fastest late-pace figures on best efforts. Charge Account was wide fourth in last; very playable. Shadolamo could secure the lead if aggressively ridden from the bell.
FIFTH: Sul Pharoah could capitalize on clear ride with heads-up handling. Java Buzz will be sitting in the catbird seat if top selection hits the wall. Sosua Summer should benefit from turnback to sprint.
SIXTH: Dream On Cara holds an experience edge in eight-horse field with six newcomers. Lady Jasmine is training sharply and is from a dam that has produced a grass winner; very interesting. Smokie Eyes debuts for potent first-out stable (Christophe Clement); charting a must.
SEVENTH: Bar Fourteen projects as the controlling speed with proper ride. Tiergan will be in the garden if top selection wilts at crunch time. Blewitt is fleet-footed, fresh and owns fast back numbers; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Buckingham Prince fired 5-furlong bullet since game placing in last at CD; more to give. Dot's Dollar is quick from gate and will prove very tough on an unchallenged lead. Free Square was a determined winner in last at Laurel; price will be tempting.
NINTH: Juxtapose gets confident price boost after sitting out "jail" time in first start since claimed; big effort predicted. Bramble Bay ships in from Monmouth after hard-charging win in Jersey Girl Handicap last time; nice fit at this level. Poca Mucha was compromised by wide trip in last; must be factored into the mix.
10TH: Arthurian was a much-the-best maiden winner last out at Mountaineer Park; ready for prime time at big-time price. Regality needed last and should offer juicy odds; worth long look. Cathedral Beach owns fast numbers but takes suspicious price plunge; mixed message. Braciole is another that takes hard drop after failing to beat a runner in last; you've been warned.
