Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 7/25 – Saratoga Race 10
One of the tracks that we looked at this morning on Also Eligible is Saratoga, and I thought we would take a look at the Grade 1 race on the docket for today there. That race is the Coaching Club American Oaks where a field of nine three-year-old fillies will go one lap, or a mile and an eighth, at the Spa.
We have a few fillies here this afternoon that we have seen over the last few months whether it was a Kentucky Oaks prep race or the Oaks. This should be a fun race, even with the cross-entry notes in the program.
Saratoga Race 10 – Coaching Club Oaks (Grade 1)
We do have some updates before we break down this Grade 1 race. First, La Rascasse will be scratched it was announced on Friday that she will be scratched and will be out for the remainder of the year.
The 4 Miss Fulton Gal and the 8 Zany are both cross entered into the Monmouth Oaks, but there is no indication where those two fillies will run. Nycon was entered into a one-mile allowance on Friday at Saratoga. The connections wanted the added distance that this race offered.
The 6 Always a Runner (9/5 morning line) is favored in this race. She lost for the first time in the Grade 1 Acorn here at Saratoga last month. She was passed by Counting Stars on the turn and finished a respectable second. This filly will look to bounce back after her first loss after winning her first three races of her career, including the Kentucky Oaks.
The 1 Counting Stars (2/1 ML) won the Acorn with a strong move while wide. She turned the tables after finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks. There is some speed, but it is not an insane amount of speed here. I can see her not being far off the pace, but she does draw the rail here this afternoon.
The 8 Zany (9/2 ML) if she runs here will run for the first time since the Kentucky Oaks. She has an excuse in the race as she was bounced around some at the start. If she does run here at Saratoga today, she may be able to pressure the horses on the lead here today.
The 7 Directive (6/1 ML) won an optional claiming race here at Saratoga last month, going today’s distance. She is stepping up to take on some of the top fillies here, but she has shown some ability in her back-to-back wins. Does she assume the lead with La Rascasse scratched?
Joe’s CCA Oaks Pick
This is going to be a great race with Zany who was the it filly before her defeat in April at Keeneland. Always a Runner inherited that title after winning the Kentucky Oaks, but Counting Stars is on the cusp could be the leader in this division with a win here.
There isn’t that much speed in this race, but the top two horses will be there. I want to say that Directive will emerge, but I think that she is a race away. Thus, my pick is Counting Stars who has the win over the Saratoga oval and will get it done again this afternoon.
I’m calling this race 1-6-7-8 and my play is $20 to win on the 1. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
