Saratoga, Del Mar Stakes RECAP!

Ballston Spa (G2)

The graded stakes races served up at Saratoga on this day didn’t lack star power but the fields were paltry and lacking in wagering opportunity. Tip of the hat to the connections of Starship Jubilee for being primed for her 4^th victory in a row, courageously holding off the Super Screener Top win pick, Call Me Love, who ran well in her own right with both horses advantage by the pace set up. Can’t be too hard on Sistercharlie who was making her 2020 debut and definitely was not helped by the slow pace set up.  She’ll win some big races this year but we have already seen her best.

A.G. Vanderbilt (G1)

And then there were four…when Whitmore broke through the gate before the start, it startled Lexitonian in the adjacent gate and the vet determined he needed to be scratched. The pace was modest and it was the Super Screener Top Pick, Volatile, all the way with the remaining 3 contestants bunched up within a length of one another at the wire.

DMR R 8

The pace came up even quicker and more pressured than anticipated which really helped the Super Screener Top Win and Top Board Hitter pick, Zimba Warrior, as he closed aggressively from the outside to easily win this 7-furlong affair. 

The other “A” horse, #10 Zimba Warrior, is actually a closer out of the Keith Desormeaux barn. Unlike the rest of the field, this colt has been facing much, much tougher competition so he drops into significantly easier here. Anything close to that race two back, in which he overcame a modest pace to finish a strong 2nd, would get the job done here. In 10 starts he has finished in the Trifecta 7 times. This would be a very useful vertical single to use up and down and in your wagers with more emphasis on 2nd and 3rd place.

It was back to a couple of “C” horses that completed the Trifecta.

San Clemente (G2)

As we shared in our webcast, Peter Miller’s Laura’s Light would be tough here but would also offer no value. She pressed then pounced late to snag the win. Our Top Board Hitter pick, Warren’s Showtime, closed to swiftly to catch 3^rd place but not enough to out finish Guitty who ran the race of her lifetime taking advantage of the swift pace.

San Diego (G2)

While not an attractive wagering opportunity, this was the stakes race of the day and it marked the return of Maximum Security debuting for his new trainer, Bob Baffert. He enjoyed a perfect trip stalking the pace setter and Super Screener Top Win and Top Value play, Midcourt, who dug in tenaciously as Maximum Security hooked him with one furlong to go and after a thrilling stretch duel, just got the nose down at the wire for the hard-fought win. It was an exciting race and great to see that Maximum Security is indeed, legit.

DMR R11

The Super Screener projected a swift and pressured pace but it came up just the opposite with forwardly placed horses taking all three of the Trifecta slots. But, in that bunch was the Super Screener Top Long Shot Pick, Magnificent Q T who completed the Trifecta at odds of 20-1. Here’s what the Super Screener had to say about this pattern horse prior to the race:

This is the best wagering opportunity on the Del Mar card thanks to the chaos that is likely to ensue in this night cap. The Super Screener has unearthed 3 viable long shots to consider in this race. #11 Magnificent  QT has only won one race in 10 starts but her best turf start came off a pattern that is in play right now…sharp dirt sprint followed by her best lifetime turf outcome while moving up in class. She finished 3rd that day, a year ago, at odds of 32-1. Doug O’Neill can get these price shots home.

It was favorites across the board in the Pick 4 and the paltry return reflect that. 

It’s back to Del Mar and Saratoga next weekend with the Bing Crosby (G1) and Clement L. Hirsch (G1) stakes on tap at Del Mar. At Saratoga there will be 3 graded stakes on the Saturday card with the headliner being the Whitney (G1). Some great weekend racing to look forward to!

Until this coming weekend, Go Fast and Win! 

Mike