(Ryan Dickey / Photo Courtesy of Crushed Ice Catering)

By Ryan Dickey:

In response to all of the complaining I’ve read about Saratoga racing a five day schedule this meet, I have to say I vehemently disagree. While admittedly I’m not currently in Saratoga Springs fresh off two days of no racing action, and can appreciate it may be difficult to find things to do in and around town, I think NYRA got it right by starting earlier and having back-to-back dark days.

It’s good to take a little break to regroup if you haven’t been doing so well, and minus a nice score here and there, I haven’t had the greatest start to the Sararatoga meet, and I’m not about to throw in the proverbial towel.

With that being said, I have two spot plays today at the Spa. I’ll skip the Steeplechase race in the opener, and races 3 and 6 have been taken off the turf.

RACE 2 — The first race on today’s card that doesn’t feature horses jumping over fences is a $78k maiden special weight affair for New York-breds going seven panels on the main track. This race has first time starters, horses coming off long layoffs, and a few that were beaten by more than 15 lengths last out. Only one has finished in the exacta in his short career.

The coupled entry may take some money based upon #1A CONSTRUCTOR finishing second last out while getting first time starter #1 FREAKY STYLEY in a buy-one-get-one-free bet on the #1. At 8-1 on the morning line, and with a horse that finished second last out, in a jumbled race like this betting the #1 may look attractive. I hope they take plenty of money.

#5 THE HONEST TOUN finished third and garnered a nice set of speed figures in his debut at over 20-1 and is listed at 7/2 on today’s morning line under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. This is a logical choice for a winner, and I expect him to take plenty of money and be used extensively in multi-race bets.

Other first time starters include #3 FINANCIALSTABILITY, ridden by Jose Ortiz, and #8 MOONLIGHT NOW, trained by Charlton Baker and ridden by Manny Franco.

#9 GOLANI BRIGADE also garnered more than decent speed figures in his debut where he finished fourth for trainer Chad Brown.  He will take money at the windows as well.

With no hint of real early speed in the race, the pace scenario doesn’t seem to lead to an advantage for any runner. No better time to take a chance on a longshot.

A horse that I think will be “lost in the shuffle” in the second race at Saratoga today is #7 DANCERS FOR TOKEN (8-1 morning line) for trainer Robbie Davis and piloted by Dylan Davis. The Big Brown gelding finished a disappointing sixth on debut at Belmont at the end of May and was nearly 44-1 on the toteboard.

Here, he’ll be dismissed as others take a shot with the Brown horses, the coupled entry, or an Ortiz Brother.

I fully expect this horse to be double digit odds at post time, and am hoping for at least 15-1. His speed figures are close to the top for horses in this race, and his works (on paper) are better than most. He’s a live longshot in the second today, and I’m backing Dancers for Token.

RACE 5 — I’m sticking with seven furlong sprints on the main track today as the fifth race is a $35k claiming race for three year olds and up that have never won three career races.

While I’m more interested in playing exotics here (exacta and trifecta), I’ll start out by identifying my top-pick, #8 GIANT BOO BOO, ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Jeremiah Englehart. This Frost Giant gelding has only failed to finish in the exacta twice in eight career starts, and has finished first or second in five out of his last six starts. He has a nose for the wire.

I’m also interested in #2 INDIGO YANKEE for Ron Paolucci Racing, LLC, formerly known as Looooch Racing. I think the drop in class, being his third race off the layoff and having a win on this track helps his chances tremendously.

I’ll start my wagering in this race by playing a hefty 2,8 exacta box, as I have a strong feeling these will be the top two finishers.

Other horses I’ll use in this race are #4 DR. HIPP, and #9 Crea’s Bklyn Law.

A 2,8 over 2,4,8,9 over 2,4,8,9 trifecta is in order for this race, and if my top-two choices finish 1-2, it should be a day-maker in race 5.

Best of luck.