Quills Picks Winners - Wednesday 9/2 - Saratoga Race 8
We head back to Saratoga as it is closing week of the summer season. Before you know it, New York racing will return to Belmont Park in two weeks. But we still have six days of races at Saratoga before the first races in three years at Belmont Park happen.
Today’s race will be race eight of a nine-race card. New York-bred optional claiming fillies and mares will sprint six and a half furlongs on the main track in the penultimate race of the day.
Saratoga Race 8 – Allowance Optional Claiming
Favored in today’s race is the 5 Braverthanubelieve (2/1 morning line). She won her first two races last year but has not raced since last December when she made a wide, closing move for the win in a restricted stakes race. She may be a filly that could be a good one, and she has some fast works in her last two weeks.
The 1 Kay Cup (4/1 ML) also races for the first time this year, having run last on New Year’s Eve at Aqueduct. She likes to be closer to the pace and could get first run at the top of the stretch if she is ready.
The 9 Rina’s Revenge (10/1 ML) closed belatedly back in March at Aqueduct finishing fourth and then went on a six-month layoff. She has the ability to close and does have the speed up front to close if she is ready to go here today.
The 2 Grace and Grit (6/1 ML) finished to a runaway winner last month here at Saratoga after getting bumped around at the start of that race. She has been consistent this year having finishing first or second in her last six races. This filly can close and should be doing that with the speed here today.
Joe’s Pick
I want to say take the favorite and move on to the finale here. But I think that the workout that she had last week may have been a bit too fast. She may just be a fast horse though she showed the ability to close in her starts last year. But I want to try to beat her today.
I’ll go with Grace and Grit here. She can close with all the speed that is in the race, and she has this pattern of finishing first or second in each of her last six races. She finished second last time out, so if the pattern holds, she wins today, right? Yes, it’s not the smartest of handicapping angles, but sometimes you have to do something like this.
I’m calling this race 2-5-9-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 2. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
