Happy Saturday and we are still at Saratoga for another edition of the QPW and today I will give my thoughts and picks on three races today at Saratoga. The Kelso is the second race on the card, while the Diana and Sanford will be the tenth and eleventh races on the card. The races will be on the Fox family of networks tomorrow, so check your local listings.
Saratoga Race 2 – Kelso Stakes (Grade 3)
We start with an early race here in the Kelso, which is a one-mile race on the inner turf course. There are six older horses entered, with Repo Rocks entered for the main track only. There was some rain expected overnight, but it shouldn’t move this race to the main track. So barring anything unforeseen, we will have a field of five going here.
The 2 Mysterious Night is the 8/5 morning line favorite here and he was boxed into the hedge in the Poker last time out at Saratoga and got room late to close for second, but no one was getting the 24/1 winner that day.
The 5 Carl Spackler (2/1 ML) dropped back after he couldn’t keep up with the horses in front, as well as Mysterious Night he was running stride for stride creating the boxed in situation. He is 2 for 3 at Saratoga and should be bouncing back here after last month’s performance.
The 4 Talk of the Nation (2/1 ML) was dueled the Poker winner to deep stretch were he was passed by the favorite at Saratoga. He looks like he could be on the lead with the 3 Northern Invader (5/1 ML), who has gone for the lead on numerous occasions, but tired last time out in the Arlington at Churchill Downs.
The 1 Call Me Henry (15/1 ML) is a longshot here and probably gets caught on the front end as well.
I’ll call this race 2-5-4 and my play is $20 to win on the 2.
Saratoga Race 10 – Diana Stakes (Grade 1)
The second race we look at today is the Grade 1 Diana, which is a race for fillies and mares going a mile and an eighth. The 11 Venti Valentine is entered as main track only, and you probably need rains of biblical proportions to get this race off the turf.
Favored amongst the Turf Ten (nice name, huh?) is the 4 Didia (7/2 ML) who won the New York Stakes last month here at Saratoga. She won on the lead in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Invitational at Gulfstream in January and was off the pace in the New York. She drew off impressively to win that Grade 1 last month who has now won 11 of 15 on the turf and 11 of 17 overall.
The 8 Neecie Marie (12/1 ML) closed well in the New York last month to finish second to Didia at a huge price and probably will be a huge price again today.
The 10 Chili Flag (9/2 ML) won the Just A Game last month at Saratoga and will be going an extra furlong today. The added distance should be no challenge as she won at this distance last year at Aqueduct though that was allowance foes versus Grade 1 company here.
The 3 Mission of Joy (10/1 ML) just missed in the Just A Game finishing third to Chiil Flag and the 6 Whitebeam (4/1 ML) with the latter going to on or near the lead. I expect Whitebeam to be amongst the leaders and drop back here.
I think Chili Flag will show her closing kick here and outkick Neecie Marie to win the Diana. I’ll call this 10-8-4-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 10.
Saratoga Race 11 – Sanford Stakes (Grade 3)
The final race that we will look at is the Sanford, in which two-year-olds will go six furlongs on the main track.
Favored is the 1 Menfee (6/5 ML) who gunned for the lead last month at Aqueduct and almost blew a five-length lead in deep stretch. I think the jock may have misjudged the horse that finished a nose behind him at the end of the five-furlong race. He should be ready to go, but there may be other speed here today.
The 5 Three Echoes (4/1 ML) stalked the leaders and could not keep up in the stretch in the Tremont last time out. The 6 Studlydoright (7/2) closed very strongly to win the race and could get targets once again to pass in the stretch.
The 8 Mo Plex (6/1 ML) defeated New York bred maidens going gate to wire and he could be lurking right off the leaders here if he can’t get to the front with this outside post, or he could be gunning for the lead with the leaders.
I think Studlydoright will have the pace that he needs to close into this field and will repeat his race in the Tremont to win here again. I’ll call this 6-8-1-5 and my play is $20 win on the 6. Good luck everyone!
Check out my show “Also Eligible” on Saturday mornings at 10 am Eastern/7 am Pacific on the Bleacher Brothers’ Facebook, X, Twitch and YouTube accounts as AJ Johnson and I discuss the big races, the latest news in horse racing and much more!