Quills Picks Winners – Thursday 8/13 – Saratoga Race 8
We had some technical difficulties yesterday, but we were able to get the race posted a couple of hours before the race ran. Always keep an eye on the website or social media in the event that this rare event occurs in the future.
With that out of the way, let’s get to today’s race. Our race today is the Birdstone Stakes, and these horses will go the marathon distance of a mile and three-quarters on the main track today. A field of eight horses are entered in this race that will take almost three minutes to complete.
Saratoga Race 8 – Birdstone Stakes
Favored in the Birdstone Stakes is the 1 Parchment Party (8/5 morning line). He returns after not firing when stepping up to face graded stakes company in the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes. He is the top marathoner in the country right now and returns to his niche race this afternoon. Look for him to sit and make his move by the time they reach the third and final turn of this race.
The 3 Stars and Stripes (5/2 ML) is another Bill Mott trained horse that did not fare well in the Suburban last month. He is cross entered into Saturday’s Iselin Handicap at Monmouth, but Mott says that race may be too short for him. If he runs here today, he probably gets a similar trip to the favorite.
The 6 Interceptor (9/2 ML) tired late in an optional claiming race in the slop at Churchill Downs at the end of June. Previously he finished second to Parchment Party in the Isaac Murphy Marathon during Derby week. He also has a good closing kick here and should be able to handle the 14 furlongs here this afternoon.
The 7 Jokestar (4/1 ML) also lost to Parchment Party, but his race was back in March in the Temperance Hill Stakes at Oaklawn. This is his first race since the end of May where he fdid not fire in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine. He should be able to handle the stretch out here as well.
Joe’s Pick
There appears to be a rabbit in this race in Annexperience but he has only run twice on the main track and never went more than a mile and a sixteenth. I imagine his jockey will try to slow him down but there’s too many horses that can handle this distance.
Bill Mott admitted that he was taking a shot in the Suburban with today’s favorite Parchment Party. He should be able to handle stretching back out and hold on to his title as top marathon horse.
I’m calling this race 1-6-3-7 and my play is $20 to win on the 1. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
