Quills Picks Winners – Thursday 7/9 – Saratoga Race 6

It’s Thursday and that means we will head to Saratoga for today’s race. Our race is an optional claiming race on turf course for fillies and mares.

Ten fillies and mares are entered and we do have one “main track only” entrant in the 10 Sailaway. There is rain in the forecast, but it appears the rain will come after this race. But if this race does get taken off the turf early enough in the day that Sailway can run, stop what you are reading and play the 10.

But we will look at this race as a turf race here today.

Saratoga Race 6 – Allowance Optional Claiming

Favored in today’s race is the 2 Play With Fire (3/1 morning line). She races for the first time since Keeneland last October. She was bumped around and finished towards the back of the pack in the Grade 2 Valley View Stakes. She returns looking to use this race to get back into stakes company. Look for her to make a move late today in her return race.

The 7 Opulent Restraint (7/2 ML) likes to be closer to the pace and may be on the lead here this afternoon. She might even be on the lead here this afternoon potentially being a candidate to go gate to wire here this afternoon.

The 9 Ashikidah (6/1 ML) closed strongly in France in her last race last October, just missing by a head in a field of 18 fillies. Look for her to be mid-pack, and if she has clear sailing, look out!

The 5 Brisbane (5/1 ML) finished fourth at Monmouth Park in the Miss Liberty Stakes in her first race in over a year and a half. She definitely needed that race, and seeing her return after some long layoffs in her past performances is promising. She will sit and make a huge move last as well.

Joe’s Pick

If you know me, one of the thing I like is horses, especially coming to run in America for the first time, racing in obscenely large fields like Ashikidah has done a few times in her career. Her closing kick is very strong and she should be able to get up no matter what the pace is this afternoon. Brisbane will be closing as well, but Ashkidah will get the job done today.

I’m calling this race 9-5-2-7 and my play is $20 to win on the 9. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!