Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Saturday, July 19
Best bet: COMMUTED (12)
Best value: OH REALLY (5)
FIRST: Credit Risk concluded work tab with sharp 5-furlong move; best guess in eight-horse field with seven newcomers. Blue Highway is from a dam that has produced seven winners from seven foals to race. Belloro hails from potent first-out barn; charting a must.
SECOND: Blue Pill was pace- and trip-compromised last time; amplified kick with slight cutback. English Castle could prove very tough on a soft lead. Come Full Circle makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; don't ignore.
THIRD: Maybern passed six rivals in the stretch to break maiden last time; more to come. On the Ledge has won three of last five starts; big-time player. Not for Hire is fresh and makes first start since gelded; must consider.
FOURTH: Justthefactsjack projects as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Sarir could be in the garden spot if top one gets hooked on the lead. Fantastic Flame will prove a tough customer if able to shake clear from other front-runners.
FIFTH: Oh Really tallied solid late-pace figure when winning lone turf start; pairs up. Daunt is training with a purpose for first start in more than eight months; worth long look at long price. Rhetorical owns two wins and a third from three starts; likely underlay.
SIXTH: Alimara tallied sharp final fraction when a clear-cut second in last; more to come. Wrigleyville worked four times since even third in most recent; dangerous. Can't Fool Me is a two-time winner on Spa sod; worth long look.
SEVENTH: Stradale was bought for $1.3 million this past April; best guess in nine-horse field with eight newcomers. Handsome Linc lost head bob at the wire when second in debut; experience helps. Growth Equity outworked 131 rivals in half-mile bullet on July 6; charting a must.
EIGHTH: L'Antharis notched quick late-pace figure when second in last; logged game placing this course and distance last summer. Il Siciliano faced tougher rivals in last two starts; big-time player. Steadfast Resolve could run past them all if pace meltdown ensues.
NINTH: Toupie could play out as the controlling front-runner with heads-up handling. Zeitlos could be in the catbird seat if top selection hits the wall. Pipsy is riding a two-race winning streak; right in the thick of this.
10TH: La Cara logged three works since wire-to-wire score in most recent; keeps on giving. Immersive owns four wins and a second from five starts; will attract the bulk of the cash. Take Charge Milady, a determined winner in last, could get overlooked in the wagering.
11TH: Skelly is fresh and projects as the dominant speed on the fence. Book'em Danno packs potent late wallop; could easily take this. Mullikin fired half-mile bullet since last start; must be factored into the mix.
12TH: Commuted, idle since January, tallied lone win after similar layoff; swift work tab seals the deal. Invictus logs fast late-pace figures on best efforts. Rookie Card is fleet-footed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Antonio of Venice consistently earns fast figures; be no surprise.
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