Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Friday, Aug. 8
Best bet: DRAGONEER (10)
Best value: AWESOME EMPIRE (9)
FIRST: Max Money drilled twice since third in debut; forward move predicted. World Wide Web also was third in first start and ships in from Jersey for Joe Orseno; dangerous. Running On Bourbon debuts for barn that's 2-for-2 at meet; very interesting.
SECOND: Film Academy was a hard-charging maiden winner in last; takes another. Global Prosperity, another last-race maiden winner, could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat. Alexis Zorba's speed must be respected.
THIRD: Beach Ballad took backward step in last after sharp third in debut; rebounds. Fraudster never fired on sloppy surface in debut; improves with switch to sod. Deep Learning debuts for Chad Brown; doesn't take deep thought to land here.
FOURTH: He's Got This drops after improved fourth in last; soundly defeated these types three back. Valenzan Day fires strong efforts with machinelike consistency; big-time player. Winter's Ghost will be aided by cutback to mile.
FIFTH: Lawyer Mason was a willing second in debut; timid call in field with eight firsters. Three Thirteen was done in by scorching splits in first start; front-end threat. Truman's Commander debuts for Mark Casse; follow the money.
SIXTH: Empires King was second to a 12-length winner in debut; not likely to face such a rival here. Escape Hall fired eye-catching half-mile workout to conclude training tab; main danger. Bod Beach owns a second and third from two starts; logical.
SEVENTH: Prariedale compiled solid work slate for first start in nearly two years; barn is capable off long layoffs. The Hero Code was a clear-cut second in most recent; worth long look. Salamis has the benefit of the rail and hails from Chad Brown barn; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Ocean Club set rapid fractions when winning Woodbine stake last time; main speed once again. Deep Satin tallied sharp final fraction when taking last; very playable. Be Your Best is fleet-footed and starts from the hedge; must be factored into the mix.
NINTH: Awesome Empire logged determined score in first start on Spa soil; pairs up. Uncle Jim spun his wheels in the slop last time; dangerous on dry land. Storm the Streets tallied two wins and two seconds in last four starts; don't overlook.
10TH: Dragoneer displayed solid late kick in lone start on Spa sod; first-time Lasix is the clincher. Wicked Improbable made wide move when a useful fifth in debut; very interesting. Snare exits sprints, starts from the rail and could secure clear lead with heads-up handling. Favorable Scenario moves to grass for Chad Brown; not likely to offer favorable odds.
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