Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 8/29 – Saratoga Race 13
We reach the main event of the day as three-year-olds will run in the “Midsummer Derby”. A field of 10 horses will go a mile and a quarter at The Spa.
We have the return of Golden Tempo after winning the Belmont Stakes here in June and then missed training some time with an illness. We have Napoleon Solo facing the top horses in the three-year-old division today. We also have Renegade who won the Jim Dandy and Baby Vino who won the Haskell at Monmouth.
As you would expect just from hearing the word “Travers”, this field is stacked and let’s see if we can get a winner here in this race.
Saratoga Race 13 – Travers Stakes (Grade 1)
Favored in the Travers Stakes is the 9 Golden Tempo (5/2 morning line). We know how he will run. He will sit back and make one major run late. The workouts have looked great and looks like he is ready to show why he is the top three-year-old right now.
The 5 Renegade (3/1 ML) won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy here at Saratoga last month as he angled out at the top of the stretch and blew past Commandment and Silent Tactic in deep stretch. He bounced back from the Belmont and should be dueling in the stretch with Golden Tempo yet again.
The 10 Silent Tactic (10/1 ML) ran well in his first race in four months finishing third in the Jim Dandy last month. His speed figures have improved and with this being the second race off of the layoff, he could be sitting on a huge one.
The 3 Napoleon Solo (8/1 ML) was caught late by Baby Vino in the slop at Monmouth Park in the Haskell and could not hold off Vino who closed along the rail. The Preakness winner if lone speed in this race and could take this field gate to wire. But he faces some of the strongest closers here in this race today.
Joe’s Travers Stakes Pick
Napoleon Solo was pressured down the backstretch in the Haskell and dueled with Baby Vino from the turn to the finish. I doubt he gets as much pressure today with the lack of speed in this race. The Preakness winner should have things his won way and have enough left to hold off Renegade and Golden Tempo here today.
I’m calling this race 3-5-9-10 and my play is $20 to win on the 3. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
