Horse Betting World

Who Is Hot at Saratoga

By Joey Adams

Trainers run hot-and-cold throughout the year, and handicappers can take advantage if they recognize these phases early. This trend can be more prevalent at the beginning of a race meet, especially at the so-called “boutique meets” (Keeneland, Saratoga , etc.), as certain trainers tend to point their racing stock for races at these locations. We are only five days into the Saratoga meet and already we have seen seven trainers send out multiple winners, an indication that their horses are primed and ready. These hot streaks will not last forever, but if the handicapper can identify these hot barns it only takes a day or two to build a healthy bankroll. Saratoga Online Horse Betting

Here are the trainers who have already sent out multiple winners at Saratoga:

Brown, Chad

Wins: 4
Average Win Price: $16.28
Brown has sent out four winners through the first five days, all of them maidens. Most importantly, three of those maiden winners were first-time starters, all running with lasix and ridden by Javier Castellano. Despite this hot start not a single winner was the betting favorite, with a pair of winners coming in at $27.00 and $20.60. Two winners came in MSW races (one a two-year-old FTS) and two winners came in maiden claimers. Every winner showed a workout within the last seven days. Saratoga Race Track

Pletcher, Todd

Wins: 4
Average Win Price: $6.05
It is no surprise to see Pletcher at the top of the standings early, but check out his average win price in comparison to Chad Brown – more than $10.00 less. Nearly every starter from this barn, and there are many, will take serious action at the windows. Three of Pletcher’s winners have been the betting favorite. All four winners have come over the main track, at distances from 5 ½ furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, and from a $25,000N2L claimer to a Grade I stakes victory by star filly Devil May Care. No surprise that all four winners were ridden by Pletcher’s main man John Velazquez. The only Pletcher winner who was not favored was a two-year-old first-time starter ($6.60).

Asmussen, Steve

Wins: 2
Average Win Price: $5.25
Another trainer who is always near the top of the standings at any race meet, Asmussen is producing the least value on this list. He sent out an impressive two-year-old debut winner Wine Police (first-time lasix, workout 4 days prior to the race) and the promising, lightly-raced Ash Zee (repeat winner off a MSW victory, workout 5 days prior to the race). Both winners were ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan.

Dutrow, Rick

Wins: 2
Average Win Price: $14.15
This top New York trainer shows a healthy average win price thanks to a victory by two-year-old filly Le Mi Geaux ($20.20) in the Schuylerville-G2 opening day. Dutrow’s other winner was a recent claim going turf-to-dirt and route-to-sprint. Both wins came in main-track sprints with runners showing 33 and 45-day layoffs, with workouts in the preceding six days.

Levine, Bruce

Wins: 2
Average Win Price: $7.65
After a horrendous 2009 meet at Saratoga where he went 1 for 48, Levine is off to a quick start this summer. Both wins came at 7F on the main track with New York-breds and both winners were moving from a route to a sprint. The winners showed 33 and 43-day layoffs and no more than two workouts, at least eight days out from the race.

Maker, Mike

Wins: 2
Average Win Price: $19.20
At the 2009 Saratoga meet Mike Maker sent out three MSW winners in turf routes, including two who were making their turf debut. So it should have come as no surprise when Maker won the second race on opening day with Kathern’s Kitten ($17.20), a runner moving to turf in his second career start. Displaying his versatility, Maker also sent out Maybesomaybenot ($21.20) to win the six-furlong Sanford-G2. Both winners were ridden by Julien Leparoux and showed workouts in the preceding six days. Saratoga Race

Proctor, Tom

Wins: 2
Average Win Price: $8.95
For those who seriously follow racing in the Midwest , Tom Proctor is recognized as a top trainer of turf runners. At the young Saratoga meet Proctor has visited the winner’s circle with his first two starters, both turf winners who last raced at Churchill Downs. His winners show 34 and 44-day layoffs and multiple workouts, with recorded morning activity within five days of the race.

AN INTERESTING ANGLE

There have been 48 races run at Saratoga so far (through Wednesday), six of which were won by first-time starters. Of the remaining 42 races, a whopping 38 (90%) were won by horses that had finished no worse than 4th in their previous start. Of those races, 25 winners (60%) finished 1st or 2nd in their previous start. The angle – isolating horses who ran well in their most recent start has been the key to landing on winners early on at Saratoga .