Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 8/8 – Saratoga Races 9 & 10
We are taking a look at the four Grade 1 races today at Saratoga and we will start with races nine and ten on a 14-race card. We’ll begin our portion of the day with the Test Stakes. Three-year-old fillies will sprint seven furlongs on the main track.
Then we will go to the turf for our first time as seven horses will go one mile on the inner turf in the Fourstardave Stakes. This race is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup so there is some added importance to this race.
Let’s take a look at these two races.
Saratoga Race 9 – Test Stakes (Grade 1)
A field of eight is entered in the Test Stakes. We have two cross entrants in this race. The 2 Percy’s Bar and the 8 Carmel Coast. Both fillies will run here today and have scratched from a non-graded stakes race at Ellis Park.
Favored in the Test is the 7 Explora (5/2 morning line). She bounced back from a tiring fourth in the Kentucky Oaks by going date to wire in the Leslie’s Lady Stakes at Churchill Downs in June. The Bob Baffert filly will go for the lead, but she will have company early in this race.
The 1 Movie Night (7/2 ML) takes on stakes company for the first time today after an impressive win against optional claiming company at Churchill Downs at the end of June. She has shown that she can be close to the lead as well as off if it. She probably won’t be on the lead down the backstretch, but she can be making a move late in this race.
The 6 On Time Girl (7/2 ML) finished second to Explora in the Leslie’s lately but note that she bled in that race. If she is okay after that race, which looks like it after several workouts, she could be coming from off the pace here this afternoon.
The 5 Goodall (5/1 ML) finished second in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes here at Saratoga last month. She has races on the lead, but recently she has stalked behind the leaders early on in races. With the speed in this race, she could have a perfect spot behind the speed.
Joe’s Test Stakes Pick
Explora figures to gun for the lead but there are other horses in this race that have the same intention. This should set up nicely for the stalkers and closers today. I’ll take On Time Girl who appears to be fine after that race in June at Churchill Downs.
I’ll call this race 6-7-1-5 and my play is $20 to win on the 6.
Saratoga Race 10 – Fourstardave Stakes (Grade 1)
We take our first trip of the day to the turf at Saratoga where a field of seven will go one mile on the inner turf. Favored in the race is the 5 Deterministic (2/1 ML). He won this race last year and looks to repeat here today. He won the Grade 1 Manhattan here back in June going longer. There is versatility in his game as he has gone for the lead and stalked recently. I’m expecting him to be on the lead with the cutback to a mile today.
The 1 Rhetorical (5/2 ML) dueled in the lane and ended up finishing fourth in the Manhattan here in June. Like the favorite, he shortens up here this afternoon. Look for him to be right off the pace here this afternoon at a distance that he enjoys.
The 3 Zulu Kingdom (7/2 ML) closed well for a dead heat victory in the Grade 3 Kelso here at Saratoga last month. He loves the mile distance and the Saratoga lawn so that is a very good sign. There are some races where he was on the lead, but I’m expecting a late move here today.
The 4 Classic Q (8/1 ML) takes on the boys here in the Fourstardave today. She won the Just A Game Stakes here back in June going gate to wire. There is other speed in this race, but if she can control the pace she can steal this.
Joe’s Fourstardave Pick
There is speed in this race and I don’t think Classic Q can get the dream trip like she did back in June. Rhetorical and Deterministic should have great trips, but I think that Zulu Kingdom will be closing late to get up in time to win this race.
I’m calling this race 3-5-1-4 and my play is $20 to win on the 3. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
