Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 7/4 – Saratoga Races 5 & 7
The season is officially underway at Saratoga and they survived day one with the heat and humidity covering the eastern half of the country. Though it will still be hot, it does appear that things will start cooling off some, which is a good thing with how hot it has been in the east.
Today we will look at the stakes races on the Saratoga card today. With this race, we will look at races five and seven.
Race five is the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes as two-year-olds will go six furlongs on the main track. Then we will skip ahead to race seven for the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks which is a mile and an eighth race on the inner turf course.
Saratoga Race 5 – Sanford Stakes (Grade 3)
We will have two scratches in this race. The 1 Waggley and the 7 Ashcroft Lane will be scratched from today’s race as announced earlier this week.
Favored in this field of nine juveniles is the 2 Booked (3/1 morning line). He won here last month during the Belmont Stakes Festival breaking his maiden. He was bumped some at the start, was close to the pace and was able to get clear of the field in his maiden breaker. This colt will draw the rail with Waggley scratched after winning from an outside post last month.
The 3 Goodbye to Romance (10/1 ML) was wide in his debut but was able to draw off for a fairly easy win in his debut in mid-May at Aqueduct. He could get a similar trip here this afternoon here at Saratoga.
The 4 Pocket Listing (9/2 ML) comes in from California after breaking his maiden in his debut at Santa Anita facing California breds. He went gate to wire, but did appear to be a bit green approaching the eighth pole. If he can get the lead and stay focused, everyone is running for second.
The 6 Jack’s Golden Goal (8/1 ML) is a maiden (common place in two-year-old stakes races this time of the year) who finished second in his debut facing Booked. He was closing on the favorite last month and might be able to get by Booked with the added distance today.
Joe’s Sanford Stakes Pick
I want to jump on the California invader Pocket Lining who won easily at Santa Anita last month. I’m not concerned about him being green in the debut. I’m more concerned about a horse coming cross country so early in his young career. But maybe it’s just me.
I will take the favorite Booked here. He progressed nicely in his second race over his debut and should improve more here today. Drawing the rail could be concerning, but I think he is the horse to beat and will get by Pocket Lining late.
I’m calling this race 2-6-4-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 2.
Saratoga Race 7 – Belmont Oaks (Grade 1)
A field of 10 three-year-old fillies take to the grass in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks. Faovored is the 8 Abashiri (5/2 ML). She finished third in the Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh. She appeared to be in tight late but had given up the lead to a fast closing filly who won again next time out. Note that trainer Charlie Appleby does very well sending horses to North America and to Saratoga.
The 6 Fitz Right (6/1 ML) closed well to win the Grade 2 Wonder Again at Saratoga last month. She will sit and make that move late to try to make it four wins in a row today.
The 10 Imaginationthelady (4/1 ML) had a rail trip and then tipped out to split horses to get up in a blanket finish in the Grade 2 Edgewood. She will sit and make one huge move late.
The 4 Faithful Departed (5/1 ML) was mid-pack in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs and drew off to win. She won two in a row and will also sit and make one big move late.
Joe’s Belmont Oaks Pick
Abashiri will be going to the lead, but I am not sure the she can sustain her lead late. She’s faced the best fillies in Europe and has faced extremely large fields, which is usually what I look for in a European horse. But I will go with Imaginationthelady here.
Imaginationthelady closed strongly in the Edgewood getting up late to win. She will be able to close again today and get up for the win though she might not be running along the rail with her outside post today.
I’m calling this race 10-6-8-4 and my play is $20 to win on the 10. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
