Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Aug. 12-16
Wednesday, Aug. 12
Best bet: GUM (9)
Best value: FIDDLING FELIX (4)
FIRST: Philip My Dear was a tough-trip second in last; gets there today. Feeling Festive owns two wins and a second from three starts; big-time player. Cyber Ninja exits clear-cut placing in last; must consider.
SECOND: Business Math drops after speed and fade in debut. Juneau regressed in last after second in debut; dangerous. Madison Moon ships in from Kentucky for first start; follow the money.
THIRD: Lots of Kisses made sustained run when third in last; more to give in third start of form cycle. R P Byrne bested top selection by a nose when second on July 12; very dangerous. Bengalese owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
FOURTH: Fiddling Felix, idle since May, shows a history of firing big efforts of the bench; call based on price. Mischievous M is rested and hails from streaking stable; very playable. Run Classic runs late and could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues.
FIFTH: Brillante fits Chad Brown's signature pattern. Artistic Success is fleet-footed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Olivia's Grace logged only win on Spa sod; very interesting.
SIXTH: Southern Kiss was a hard-charging second in debut; gets nod if able to escape AE list. Sweet Grace could move forward for potent second-out stable. Omi Maria is from a dam that has thrown two turf winners; follow the money. Mi Gordita is working swiftly for debut; don't ignore.
SEVENTH: Sweet Lisa adds blinkers after slow start in debut; forward move predicted. Lady Azul made steady run for third after poor break in first start; worth long look. Baby Beth compiled eye-catching work tab; could be the goods.
EIGHTH: Pens Street gets confident price hike in first start since claimed; owns win at the 9-furlong distance. Hidden Rose owns speed and fast numbers; big-time player. Seraphia is training with a purpose for first start since April; don't overlook.
NINTH: Gum tallied fast late-pace figure when third last out; two works in the interim seal the deal. Battle Winner is lightly raced and has ample room for improvement very interesting. Mistborn was second to a repeat winner in last; dangerous. Bourbon Milk Punch owns speed and makes third start of form cycle; worth long look.
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Thursday, Aug. 13
Best bet: MIDNIGHT CONCERTO (4)
Best value: SHOTGUN WEDDING (6)
FIRST: Combat Move overcame an 11-length deficit from quarter pole to the wire when second in debut; move to grass the plays to strength. Liberty's Advance makes third start of form cycle; very dangerous. Galway Gurl displayed newfound speed in last; price will be tempting.
SECOND: Mo the Merrier makes first start with maiden-claiming tag after fast-figured fourth in last. The Standard exits game placing in most recent; dangerous. Onepac is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead.
THIRD: Timia is fleet-footed and should secure clear lead with heads-up handling. Island Charm broke maiden in last and could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Lady Wisdom could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat; worth long look.
FOURTH: Midnight Concerto should pack amplified wallop with cutback to shorter route. Majaz owns a win and a second in two North American starts; very playable. Make You Mine was a tough-trip fourth in U.S. debut; must consider.
FIFTH: Vino Frizzante failed to fire in the slop last time; class drop and dry land are keys. Vekomancer gets class relief and returns to dirt; very interesting. Spun Size was a clear-cut second in last at Finger Lakes; don't ignore.
SIXTH: Shotgun Wedding owns fast late-pace figures and fired 5-furlong bullet on Aug. 2; ready to fire. Ready to Jam exits sprints and could play out as the main speed. Fionn, an uncoupled barn mate of second selection, exits graded stakes and is 7-for-11 lifetime; right in the thick of this.
SEVENTH: Highway Harmony is speedy and has won five of last seven; more to come. Abientot could be the prime beneficiary if top selection hits the wall. Shoot It True is another that would be aided by pace meltdown.
EIGHTH: Interceptor logged four tight works for first start in seven weeks; handles the distance. Parchment Party gets class relief after being overmatched in Suburban last out. Annexperience is fleet-footed and looms a wire-to-wire threat at a playable price.
NINTH: Flight Commander noticeably picked up the tempo in final workout; ready. Dark Force is another newcomer that has compiled strong training tab; follow the money. Criteria owns two seconds and two thirds from five starts; another minor award? Spherical drilled three times since improved third in last; dangerous.
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Friday, Aug. 14
Best bet: RIDGEWOOD RUNNER (8)
Best value: LANGUID (10)
FIRST: Stickupwithoutagun drops after chasing fast fractions and wilting in last; improvement predicted. Who's Your Zaddy exits game placing in last; dangerous. Bold Love should move forward with return to dirt; worth long look.
SECOND: Southern Kiss made sustained run when a clear-cut second in debut. Miss Ma'am gets favorable cutback to sprint after displaying improved speed in last; dangerous. Night Sky debuts for potent first-out barn; follow the money.
THIRD: Cosmic Year endured tough trip when overmatched in last start; four works in the interim seal the deal. Maui Strong was gelded after winning on June 26; very interesting. Intellect, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, packs potent kick on "A" efforts.
FOURTH: Swaging should pack amplified wallop with cutback to 7 furlongs. Toga d'Oro is fresh and could be positioned in the stalker's seat. Hot Property drops and fired crisp half-mile work since last start; must be factored into the mix.
FIFTH: Old Time Rocknroll made seven-wide run when third in last; added furlong plays to strength. Ovechkin owns speed and makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; finally scores? Gordy should improve with return to dirt; price will be tempting.
SIXTH: May December is from a dam that has produced five turf winners; best guess in 10-horse field with eight newcomers. Cut Your Losses and Baliage are uncoupled firsters from the Chad Brown barn; charting a must. Infuriata hails from solid first-out stable; must respect.
SEVENTH: Glen Airy plunges in price for Mike Maker; takes this if not damaged goods. Sharp Spark packs potent kick on best efforts; worth long look. Fever Night is speedy and riding a two-race winning streak; must respect.
EIGHTH: Ridgewood Runner makes first start for Joe Sharp after fast-figured win in last; more to come. Contrary Thinking is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Vibrant Express also is fleet-footed and needed last; right in the thick of this.
NINTH: Miss Vyvyanne ships down from Canada for high-powered connections; rates close call in speed-laden turf dash. Itzel could play out as the swiftest of the swift; dangerous. Delightful Flame is another that blazes out of the gate; price should be on your side.
10TH: Languid made strong run after poor start when a clear-cut second last out; gets there today. Mortal Lock regressed last time after being taken down from top position two starts back; big-time player. About Face was second in lone turf start; must consider. Melody Man owns sprinter's speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
Saturday, Aug. 15
Best Bet: SALMING (1)
Best Value: BEFORE THE WIND (12)
FIRST: Salming logged five-length score the first time he touched Spa soil; more to come. Math Tutor is speedy and rested; dangerous. Antietam bounced last out after fast-figured win two back; rebound threat.
SECOND: Saratoga Tea has an experience edge in field with seven newcomers. Mindfield fired 5-fulrong bullet for debut; could be the goods. Big Handsome is another firster that is working swiftly; charting a must.
THIRD: Cut Down the Nets worked three times since improved placing in last; takes next forward step. Road Show made sustained run when second in debut; big-time player. Arawak debuts for Mike Maker; follow the money.
FOURTH: Last Glory returns to dirt after taking backward step in last; improvement predicted. Lady Rose is another that regressed in most recent after fast-figured win two back; dangerous. Honest Reason's speed gives her a puncher's chance at a price.
FIFTH: Considerate City was pace- and trip-compromised last out; class drop seals the deal. Britain moves to turf for Miguel Clement; very interesting. Boomington logged win on Spa sod; worth long look.
SIXTH: V Formation debuts for potent first-out barn; best guess in field of nine newcomers. Oneinamilliongirl is firing bullets for first start; stay tuned to the tote. Groves is a Flightline firster that's training sharply; must consider.
SEVENTH: Candytown adds blinkers and makes third start of form cycle; set for best. Final Verdict should be aided by cutback to sprint. War Stride could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues.
EIGHTH: Q B Rocket debuts for Brad Cox after compiling swift work tab in Kentucky. Decimation, the only member of field to have started, is speedy and could prove tough on a soft lead. Katz in the Cradle noticeably picked up tempo of morning drills as race day drew near; very interesting.
NINTH: Ole Crazy Bone logged determined score in first start on Saratoga grass; takes another. Minaret Station was just half-length behind top pick when third in last; dangerous. Program Trading is riding a two-race winning streak; must be factored into the mix.
10TH: Mauna Loa projects as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Triskelion could be the prime beneficiary if top selection gets hooked on the led. Cadenza is another that would be aided by front-end duel.
11TH: Calling Card makes first start for Linda Rice after clear-cut score on June 27; ready to roll. Celtic Prince ships in after front-end score at Colonial Downs; very dangerous. Come Full Circle exits game placing in last; must respect.
12TH: Before the Wind makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; rail draw seals the deal. Gilbane owns two seconds from three starts; be no surprise. Mo Curls owns speed in bulky field; don't ignore. Fivedollarsforsox debuts for solid first-out stable; follow the money.
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Sunday, Aug. 16
Best bet: ZAPRUDER (1)
Best value: LOTSA TROUBLE (10)
FIRST: Zapruder logged four tight works since clear-cut score on June 28; fires another big shot today. Judge Boushay tallied fast internal and final figures when second in last; very dangerous. Caddiemaster exits strong victory at Finger Lakes last out and owns faster back numbers; right in the thick of this.
SECOND: Willpowered notched swift late-pace figure when making seven-wide move in last; more to give. Calvin's Ride should be favorably positioned near the front in compact field. Carc Brothers has yet to taste defeat in three starts; logical, short-priced player.
THIRD: Next On Stage tallied rapid final fraction when winning last by six lengths; takes another. She's a Gamer is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Limes Don't Lie worked three times since subpar fifth in last; more than good enough on "A" game.
FOURTH: Greenwell exits sprints and projects as the main speed in turf route. Suspend was a non-stressful fifth in debut; improvement expected. Jersey Guy was a two-move third in first start; very interesting.
FIFTH: Seeker's Hope drops and makes second start since two-month layoff; tighter. Lexington Pike exits clear-cut maiden score at Delaware last out; dangerous. Majestic Arc logged three seconds and a third from last four starts; must use in exotics.
SIXTH: Casino was a useful sixth in debut; forward move predicted. Not Ever, from a dam that has thrown two turf winners, makes first start for Miguel Clement. Chambered concluded work tab with crisp half-mile drill; follow the money.
SEVENTH: Private Flight makes first start since claimed by Linda Rice; breakthrough predicted. Instantly drops, moves to dirt and cuts back to sprint; wake-up potential. Rebalancing fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; be no surprise.
EIGHTH: Shared Success was dueled into defeat last out after determined win in prior; rebounds. Inspeightofcharlie made five-wide sweep to win last; could easily take another. Smooth Breeze (potent kick on best efforts) and Jack and Jim (lost rider in last after winning first two starts) are two more that must be factored into the mix.
NINTH: Learntodiscover was a last-to-first winner the first time he touched Spa sod; more to come. Intricate Spirit endured tough trip when fifth behind top pick last out; worth long look. Stradale was fourth in same last race as top two; price will be tempting.
10TH: Lotsa Trouble is rested and logs fast late-pace figures on "A" efforts. Princip is another that runs late; very interesting. Screaming Uncle owns speed and rates a puncher's chance at a price. Stewie sheds the blinkers and drops; don't ignore.
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