Saratoga G1 Previews For Saturday

Three G1 races highlight a high class card at Saratoga on Saturday including the following races. Travers Stakes, Ballerina Stakes, Kings Bishop Stakes. Previews of all 3 races are highlighted below.

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Saratoga R10 - 7f G1 3yo+F&M $250K

1st INFORMED DECISION - winner 13 of 18 including the Breeders Cup Fillies & Mares Sprint over 7f at the end of 2009 defeating the high class Ventura with a good margin to 3rd and 4th who both won next time out franking the form, back into the winners circle each of last 2 starts against weaker than it faces here but is proven at this level and likely to secure a good trip stalking from better than midfield.

2nd QUALIA - lightly raced improver by Saarland (Unbridled) out of a Meadowlake mare, winner 3 on end improving each time culminating in a 4.7l score at Belmont 2 back in $75K Optional Claming company before last start just missing behind Rightly So in the G2 Bed O Roses over 7f, scope for further improvement again here and pace scenario suggests a perfect trip stalking the leaders, the one with the most scope for further improvement out of these and has to be respected.

3rd JESSICA IS BACK - hit a new career peak last start winning the G1 Princess Rooney over 6f at Calder (Warbling 2nd), suited by the step to 7f but does not offer any more scope having faced the starter 44 times, realistically playing for the exotics tickets here.

Lay WARBLING - quoted as a 5.00 or 4/1 chance in prepost markets and has been beaten last 3 starts on end despite being lightly raced it looks as though may have hit its level, beaten by Informed Decision, Pretty Prolific and Jessica Is Back recently, hard to see it turning the tables here.

BETTING - Hard to deny the chances of the high class Informed Decision here having its 5th run this year, realistically need 3.20 or 9/4+ for value in this field and currently quoted at 3.50 or 5/2 in prepost markets.


Saratoga R11 - 7f G1 $250K

1st DISCREETLY MINE - hit a new career peak last start winning the G2 Amsterdam over 6.5f on this track by a widening 8.7l margin, 2l clear into the stretch then showed a sharp turn of foot to quickly put the issue beyond doubt, strong on the line suggesting the step to 7f will be no problems, has been beaten twice by Dfunnybone into 2nd previously but has hit a new level since whilst D Funnybone regressed slightly last start.

2nd BULLDOGGER - very lightly raced type having only 4th career start here and has big scope for further improvement, impressive winner last start over 6f on this track in $52K Allowance company, big margin also 2nd to 3rd that day adding good depth, dictated the pace on the front end and widened margin hitting the line strongly, 7f trip seems well within reach, also won debut by a wide margin over 6f on this track on sloppy going, warrants serious respect here

3rd D' FUNNYBONE - high class sprinter who has won five G2 events in its last 8 starts (yet to win in G1 company) including a score over Discreetly Mine 2 starts ago by 3.2l, doesnt look to have any further scope whilst Discreetly Mine has improved again since that last defeat, serious sprinter but faces a task vs the top 2 elects above.

Lay HURRICANE IKE & BANK MERGER - both of these 2 are also under the 10/1 line in prepost markets but they do not seem to possess the class levels of the top 3 chances nominated above who look to have the race between them so happy to lay both these 2 if bet on the exchanges below 11.00 or 10/1.

BETTING - Discreetly Mine is the clear top elect on its last start wide margin G2 win but looks skinny in the odds department prepost at 6/5 or 2.20, realistically need 2.70 or 7/4+ to make it a value betting commodity here.


Saratoga R12 - 10f G1 3yo $1000K

1st FLY DOWN - 2nd up off a short break after finishing 4.5l 5th in the Jim Dandy behind A LIttle Warm (had to come from off the pace in a leader dominated affair, good hidden merit), better suited here under the likely solid pace scenario, very good effort 3 back winning the G2 Dwyer at Belmont over 1m1/8th by 6l to Drosselmyer 2nd who came out and won the Belmont Stakes next start (finished a close 2nd to Drosselmyer in the Belmont), if anywhere near the level it showed in the Dwyer will shake this at a good price and prove hard to beat.

2nd TRAPPE SHOT - lightly raced improver who has won 4 from 6 and drawn for a perfect trip here (likely run of the race) stalking the leaders on the rail, winner 4 on end mostly by very big margins before last start finishing 4l 2nd to the best 3yo in the USA last start (Lookin At Lucky) in the G1 Haskell, scope for further improvement again here over the longer trip, ticks all of the right boxes.

3rd FRIEND OR FOE - won first 3 career starts before last start finishing 3l 4th in the G2 Jim Dandy, caught deep the entire trip that day and copped interference at a critical stage, very good merit battling on strongly that day without shirking the task, win 2 back in the Mike Lee at Belmont over 7f suggests it has the prfile to figure here with natural improvement, alley a minor query but if it gets cover stalking then it will be closing hard and may prove the knockout runner.

4th FIRST DUDE - has raced strictly in G1 company at its last 5 starts (sole win $45K Spcl Wghts Mdn) but not disgraced including finishing 2nd Preakness, 3rd Belmont Stakes and last start did all the work on the front end when battling on for 3rd in the G1 Haskell behind Lookin At Lucky, if it gets a soft trip infront here it is the one to run down, vulnerable to a few others with more scope.

5th SUPER SAVER - relished the slop in the Kentucky Derby holding sway over Ice Box and Paddy O Prado that day but got a perfect ride from Calvin Borel (master rails hugging cover trip in midfield), tough trip in the Haskill last start 3 wide on the pace but still should have finished off more strongly, true G1 horse but needs things to go its way and the alley is a big query here.

Lay A LITTLE WARM - won the Jim Dandy G2 last start but was very much one paced grinding performance after getting a perfect trip, no real further scope for ours and ridiculously short prepost at 7/2 or 4.50, great value laying commodity in a race full of proven G1 types and classy improvers as noted above.

BETTING - They bet 8/1 or 9.00 about Fly Down in prepost markets which looks great each way value but we also suggest a minor outlay on the other value pick on the top 3 being Friend Or Foe who is quoted at 15/1 or 16.00 prepost. Good value betting affair and good confidence exists. Top 5 listed above also look good for a high quality good paying exotic combination.