We had another big day at Saratoga.  After skipping the hurdles in the first race, we went on a tear.  We hit 7 exactas out of the next 9 races. Here is a quick recap:

2nd…Winner and cold exacta. Return $3.60 & $2.50 to win/place and $4.50 for $1 exacta.

3rd…Hit exacta that returns $50.25 for $1.

4th…We miss.

5th: $3.90 for place and $10.10 for $1 exacta.

6th: We miss.

7th: We hit an exacta for $31.75 for $1.

8th: Hit exacta for $11.20 for $1.

9th: $2.90 to place and $6.10 for $1 exacta.

10th: $20.20 across the board and $20.50 for $1 exacta.

Big day.

A gorgeous day to go racing…especially if you are near or at Saratoga.  If not, let’s find an ADW near you — like TwinSpires.com.

Here is a closer look at today’s card at The Spa:

1st…This is a race for those that aspire to jump over obstacles placed strategically in their way.  I tend to avoid obstacles placed in my way.  So, you are on your own to select the jumps and the humps. Especially on “Hump Day.”

2nd: 5-1-3-2…Destin (5) came within a dirty nose of winning the 2016 Belmont Stakes, only to be edged at the wire by Creator.  Creator has long since departed the racing circles for the breeding shed, but Destin is still at it.  He’s had only one start this year and that came way back in May at Belmont Park.  But this son of Giant’s Causeway can and has fired fresh off the bench before and would not surprise to do it again today.  He has a G2 and a G3 win under his girth, but still looking for an evasive G1.  Won’t get that today, but may set sail on its path.  Here’s hoping that he gets back to fighting weight. Donegal Moon (1) is another conditioned by Todd Pletcher and he’s coming to hand quite nicely for this one, too. Ran second to Sharp Azteca in his last out, and that one may be as good as anything in the country right now. Have to keep an eye on this one. Flashy Jewel (3) is all speed and will try to go wire to wire.  May hang on for a piece. I bet the 5 to win/place and then key over/under the other three numbers.

3rd: 10-4-6-9-1-3-2…Machismo (10) could give Pletcher the Daily Double outright. He made a nice run in his debut on dirt, before tiring late on July 22. Now, comes back on turf and is bred for this surface. Watch out.  Could zip from the outside. Majestic Dunhill (4) got the Lasix for the first time in his last try and he made a nice move before tiring late, too.  Caught a real good one in that try.  Will be pressing the preferred choice today. Elusive Mischief (6) will be making his career debut and is by one of the hottest sires in the world (Into Mischief). Has trained lights out at Saratoga and should be ready for this tilt.  Another one, though, that may try to gas it. I bet the 10 to win/place and then box the 10-4-6 in one exacta and then key the 10-4-6 over the rest of the numbers in another.

4th: 3-5-4-6…Enduring Erin (3) plummets to a career low level and should be tough in this spot for a solid claiming operation. She just ran in a G2 in January and now has a price tag of $16K on her head. Go figure. But the 7YO should like this company. Arewehavingfunyet (5) is another class dropper and this daughter of Big Brown should appreciate the class relief, too. The last time in this type of company, she won. Frostie Anne (4) is a NY-bred facing open company and that normally is not good. But if you toss out the two tries on turf in her last three outs, she did win a dirt race. Capable. I bet the 3 to win/place and then key the 3 over/under the others.

5th: 9-6-5-4-8-1…Baby Bear’s Soup (9) is 4-1 ML and could drift a bit up the odds scale. He has won 4 races and coming off two solid performances, too. I take in a bit of a surprise. Spectrolite (6) has won 3 times and will be scooting right out of the gate. Will shorten up a bit today and will be tough to catch if nothing else collars him early on. Daddy’s Home (5) comes from the barn of Linda Rice, and they all can run (or so it seems). She claimed this one off Chad Brown in his last try and she does very well with the first race afterwards (.37 win percentage). I bet the 9 to win/place and then box the top three (9-6-5) in one exacta.  I key those three over (only) the 4-8-1 in a small exacta, too.

6th: 5-6-2-10-11-9-8…Le Pin (5), an Irish-bred colt by War Front, ran a real good one in his first try on turf July 8 at Belmont. Working very nicely before that race but shows only one published work since. Still, this is the one to beat. Oiseau de Guerre (6) had a wide, looping trip in his last and this son of War Front still nearly caught them at the wire.  That was his first afternoon performance in about 9 months. Should benefit from that race. Now in a Drive (2) and Winning Element (2b) both are capable of splitting the top pair. I bet the 5 to win/place and then hit a solid 5-6 exacta box.  I wheel the 5-6 over/under the rest of the numbers.

7th: 6-5-4-1-3…Tapella (6) is, yet another, one trained by Todd Pletcher that pops up at the top of my board today (this will be the fourth one in the first 7 races). She is a daughter of Tapit that cost $750,000 as a Saratoga yearling. Ran good in the slop in her career debut on July 24 at Saratoga, but tired in the late going.  Stretches out today and this should be more to her liking. Parade (5) is another Tapit filly and she goes postwar for trainer Shug McGaughey.  She is a deep closer and will appreciate the added distance today, too. Presumptuous (4) has been ITM in 7 of 12 lifetime starts but still searching the winner’s circle. I bet the 6 to win/place as my Best Bet of the Day. I box the 6-5 in one exacta and then key those two over/under the 4-1-3.

8th: 5-3-7-2-6…John’s Call Purse…Renown (5)  has had two clunkers in a row, but this 6YO guy has proven to be a class router and grass specialist. Rider is ice cold and hasn’t ridden very well at this meet, at all. But is better than the jock who has been getting up. Infinite Wisdom (3) has run two good ones in a row — against lesser company — but has hit the board in 11 of 15 lifetime tries. Solid rider switch to Irad Ortiz. One to beat. Red Rifle (7) is a tough bird and at age 7 can still hold his own. But he truly is better on dirt. I bet the 5 to win/place and then box the 5-3 solidly in one exacta and then key those 2 over/under the rest listed.

9th: 8-6-9-3-4-5-1-2…The top three choices are much preferred in here, but will try them over/under the rest to try to find a longshot. Nevisian Sky (8) has three really nice races out of his last four tries, and is 8-5 ML.  Probably will drift down from there. Voodoo Song (6) won two races in 5 days (July 22 and 26 here) and is back in again.  Will try to take them wire-to-wire for Linda Rice. Zigarch (9) won his last out and in his first race for new trainer Mike Maker.  Watch out for a repeat. I bet the 8 to win/place and then box the top three choices. I take those 3, again, over the rest of the numbers looking for a possible  longshot to hit.

10th: 8-4-7-13-12-3-2…A wide open affair to close out the day, but I finally land on the top two — Souper Colors (8) and Money Laundering (4).  I bet both of those across the board and then key them over/under the rest of the numbers.

Good luck &

All the Best/Gene