Here we are at the start of the final week of Saratoga’s 2022 meet. Racing starts today at 1:05 EST with a steeplechase race.
Jockeys Joel Rosario and Irad Ortiz, Jr. have been suspended for three days each for careless riding. We won’t see them until the weekend. Javier Castellano will also be serving a three-day suspension after dropping an appeal for a careless riding incident earlier this month. Trevor McCarthy will be out the next two race days after also dropping a suspension appeal.
Race 1 3-1-7-6
Race 2 6-3-9-8 Trainer Saffie Joseph has debut runner 6 I’m Nervous Now tuned up for this spot. This gray out of Animal Kingdom should sit mid-pack. Junior Alvarado is in the mount. He and Saffie are hitting at 28%.
Race 3 5-1-7-3 We were high on the 5 Rock Chalk on debut August 14th and he made a nice closing bid to get up for second that day. Trainer George Weaver wheels him back with similar company and jockey Eric Cancel stays aboard. A little more forwardly placed and this gray should be able to take this one today.
Race 4 4-3-5-2 Chad Brown exacta.
Race 5 2-6-4-1 Looks like a wide-open race. The favorites have not won in five months.
Race 6 5-8-4-10 The 5 Sals Dream Girl adds blinkers for the first time today and gets jockey Flavien Prat in the irons. Prat rode her two back to a second place finish.
Race 7 4-1-6-3 It appears on paper that trainer Mike Maker has put the 4 Xy Speed in a great spot to get to the winner’s circle today. Don’t count out stable mate 1 Shiraz though, as Luis Saez is back in the saddle and the horse is getting slightly more class relief here.
Race 8 1-2-6-7 The 2 Banyan Breeze is a threat to go gate to wire; I’m relying on trainer H. James Bond having the 1 Somebody ready to fire and run down the pacesetter late.
Race 9 3-1-2-9 The 3 Noble Huntsman gets jockey Manny Franco due to Javier Castellano’s suspension. This horse has faced tougher and was six wide at the stretch last time out. With a better trip he can take this Grade 3 for 2-year-olds.
Race 10 5-3-7-10 Big class drops for the 3 Devil Boy and the 5 Sinful Dancer. Going with Sinful Dancer on top for trainer George Weaver as I think he can get out of the gate quicker and sit a better trip. There is not much speed in this race at all.
Best of luck!