Horse Betting World

A Big Day Begins on Turf

By Joey Adams

All eyes will be on Saratoga Saturday, where the $1,000,000 Travers-G1 highlights an outstanding card. In total, five graded stakes races will be run, beginning in Race 8 with the $200,000 Balston Spa-G2 for fillies and mares. This race has drawn a large field of 10, and it will be run over 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course.

There is little chance of rain Saturday, so the turf course should be firm. There have been 21 “firm turf” races run at this distance over the inner turf at the current meet, and it has played fair to all running styles. There have been five wire-to-wire winners and two winners who rallied from more than 10 lengths back at the second call. Outside posts have fared just well as those on the inside, but interestingly enough there have only been five winning favorites.

Here is a closer look at the field:

1-MISS KELLER … (ML 7/2) … This filly is the morning-line favorite and she draws the rail. As mentioned above, betting favorites have not been particularly strong at this distance, and runners breaking from rail are just 1-for-21. This gal was a strong winner in a local overnight stake last time out, and she fires every time Javier Castellano climbs aboard. That being said, she has yet to win at the graded stakes level or at today’s distance.

2-DANZON … (ML 20/1) … Dangled for an $80,000 claiming price in June at Churchill Downs and her current connections jumped in and signed the ticket. She promptly rewarded the new connections by winning the Locust Grove-G3 next time out. Unable to win a Claiming Crown race last time out but the race flow worked against her. Plenty classy and owns a strong late kick, yet like Miss Keller, she has been most effective at the one-mile distance.

3-PHOLA … (ML 4/1) … Beat only one when facing a couple of these in the recent Diana-G1. Drops a notch in class to a winning level, yet it has been 11 months since she won at this distance – and that came in an optional claimer at Delaware Park. The best effort of her career came over a yielding turf course, and the expected firm turf course could dampen her chances. Online Horse Racing

4-SILVER REUNION … (ML 10/1) … She has not been out since last October so it can be a vote of confidence that Graham Motion brings her back in a spot like this. She came back from a layoff, albeit much shorter, to post a career-best effort over the local inner turf last summer. A similar effort today gives her a chance.

5-STRIKE THE BELL … (ML 15/1) … Found her best form at Monmouth Park this summer and she may have finally figured things out. The question for her is whether she can be effective at this level. Two previous starts against graded company were complete disasters, although one came in a seven-furlong sprint on polytrack and the other came following an extended layoff. She has some appeal at a big price.

6-SCOLARA … (ML 12/1) … Continues to run her race every time she loads into the gate, but seems to have lost a step compared to last year. She has won only twice in the last 15 months, both against much lesser, yet she is reunited with Kent Desormeaux who was aboard for both wins. She’s going to need her best to challenge for the top spot.

7-DYNASLEW … (ML 8/1) … Set all the pace in the Diana-G1 and gave way grudgingly, ultimately finishing 4th but losing by only a neck. She could be set for a peak effort in her third start off the bench and she figures forwardly-placed in a race lacking much pace. Would be no surprise to see her run well again today.

8-CHEROKEE QUEEN … (ML 6/1) … Ignore her last when she stumbled leaving the gate and dumped her rider as the betting favorite in the Matchmaker-G3 at Monmouth Park. She had posted a career-best effort prior to that race when winning a stake at Philadelphia Park, and she will be reunited with Julien Leparoux who was aboard that day. Figures to have dead-aim from the second flight. Horse Racing Betting

9-MARAM … (ML 5/1) … Suffered her first defeat over the local turf when she finished 5th in the Diana-G1, beaten just a ½-length in a blanket finish. Only one win in five starts since tasting victory in the first four races of her career, which included a Grade III and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Tough call.

10-MEKONG MELODY … (ML 6/1) … Shipping south from Woodbine for Roger Attfield, who has already won two stakes at the meet with Woodbine shippers. This mare has won 4-of-5 starts since shipping over from Great Britain and she comes off a game win over a strong cast in the Dance Smartly-G2. There have been three winners from this post so the draw is not a huge concern. Tend to prefer her more than her stablemate Miss Keller, especially given the price. Horse Betting

SELECTIONS: 10-Mekong Melody, 4-Silver Reunion, 8-Cherokee Queen, 1-Miss Keller