Saratoga Closing Weekend: Jockey Club Gold Cup Analysis

The final Saturday of the Saratoga meet includes a number of stakes races. The feature on the Saturday card is the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The race looks like a bit of a heavyweight showdown between Proxy and Rattle N’ Roll.

Full Card Analysis

Rain was had on Wednesday and it was pretty clear throughout the day that speed was dominant. As the track dried out Thursday horses still seemed to have an issue trying to close ground on the field.

If the conditions persist on Friday’s Saranac Stakes card, players would be wise to upgrade horses near the front throughout the Saturday program.

Saratoga Race Course- 1

Post: 12:40 PM ET; $136.5k Maiden Special Weight going 5 1/2 f on turf; Entries: 16

• #3 BARAYE (7-2) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. She goes out for the Ward barn and gets Rosario in the irons. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #1 LYRICAL PARDON (15-1) is a price horse and appears to be one that could score at a sneaky price.
• #16 VALUE AREA (8-5) makes the second start off a brilliant speed figure for this group, but the post will be a challenge.
• #9 LIFE’S AN AUDIBLE (5-1) has to be respected going out for the combination of Pletcher and Ortiz at second asking.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 16- 9

Saratoga Race Course- 2

Post: 1:13 PM ET; $156k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 m on dirt; Entries: 6

• #5 ACCRETIVE (9-5) is the top pick. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Ortiz.
• #1 TONAL IMPACT (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #2 UNCLE MOONLIGHT (5-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 GUNTOWN (4-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He comes into the race in good form and shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.

Selections: 5 – 1 – 2 – 6

Saratoga Race Course- 3

Post: 1:48 PM ET; $500k Flower Bowl S. going 1 3/8 m on turf; Entries: 4

• #2 MCKULICK (4-5) looks best here for Brown and Ortiz. In the short field she is much the horse to beat. This should be nothing but a prep for the Breeders’ Cup.
• #4 AMAZING GRACE (7-5) has run against some decent horses, but is clearly a cut below the top pick.
• #1 PARNAC (6-1) is another likely underneath player. The distance and recent speed figures suggest that this one could offer a little better return than the #4.
• #3 TAMARAMA (6-1) is the same boat as the #1 only slightly less fancied. That being said, she is part of the 2nd tier and may offer the most value if the other two runners take money.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 1 – 3

Saratoga Race Course- 4

Post: 2:21 PM ET; $149.5k Allowance going 6 1/2 f on dirt; Entries: 10

• #A DAUFUSKIE ISLAND (5-1) gets the top selection. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #3 AWESOME NATIVE (9-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #4 CHILENO (6-1) makes sense on speed figures.
• #1 LAFITTE’S FLEET (5-1) has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.

Selections: 1A- 3 – 4 – 1

Saratoga Race Course- 5

Post: 2:52 PM ET; $250k Prioress S. going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 5

• #5 DAZZLING BLUE (6-5) is the top pick. She shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Rosario.
• #1 JERSEY PEARL (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. She seems to fit well enough here. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #4 ALVA STARR (2-1) should be competitive in this spot. She may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #2 UNIFIED ALLIANCE (10-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She has been running against some solid company.

Selections: 5 – 1 – 4 – 2

Saratoga Race Course- 6

Post: 3:26 PM ET; $136.5k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/16 m on turf; Entries: 16

• #13 FORTUNE SELLER (3-1) should improve off the first start and looks best here. He makes sense on speed figures. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #10 AGATE ROAD (5-2) should be good going long here in just the 2nd career start.
• #14 UNCLE BO (6-1) hit the board and first asking and will look to break the maiden with an improved effort.
• #15 NOBLE WAVE (12-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. He looks to be the class of the field. This one will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.

Selections: 13- 10- 14- 15

Saratoga Race Course- 7

Post: 4:00 PM ET; $136.5k Maiden Special Weight going 7 f on dirt; Entries: 12

• #9 DIVE BOMBER (7-2) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. He has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #3 GENERAL PARTNER (4-1) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end. The first start should help carry the speed a bit longer.
• #11 PENTATHLON (8-1) ran a productive figure at first asking. An improvement makes him dangerous.
• #1 ASK ISAAC (8-1) comes in off a solid debut which saw him in the mix. The price is fair for a swing here.

Selections: 9 – 3 – 11- 1

Saratoga Race Course- 8

Post: 4:34 PM ET; $150k Harvey Pack S. going 5 1/2 f on turf; Entries: 9

• #4 BIG INVASION (7-5) is the top pick. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #5 OUR SHOT (2-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #2 DANCING BUCK (7-2) could be in with a shot in this race. He runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #3 THIN WHITE DUKE (5-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He seems to fit well enough here but the waters are pretty deep. 5-1 is about as short as you’d want to take.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 2 – 3

Saratoga Race Course- 9

Post: 5:08 PM ET; $95k Allowance going 6 f on dirt; Entries: 13

• #9 TOSCONOVA BEAUTY (15-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. She will likely be out on or near the lead and will look to hold off the charge to the wire.
• #10 RICHIES PRINCESS (5-2) should improve off the first start and looks best here. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Rivelli and Ortiz. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #3 MISSING FORTUNE (8-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #5 SANDY’S GARDEN (6-1) could get the right setup in this race and isn’t that far off in speed figures.

Selections: 9 – 10- 3 – 5

Saratoga Race Course- 10

Post: 5:44 PM ET; $149.5k Allowance going 1 m on turf; Entries: 16

• #6 I’M VERY BUSY (7-2) gets the top selection. Chad Brown will look to pull away for the trainer crown with a win here.
• #7 ROYAL SPIRIT (6-1) goes out for Linda Rice who is chasing Brown in the standings. She goes to Lezcano for the ride here which is one of her first call jockeys.
• #4 RUSE (8-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He looks to be the class of the field. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 DANZIGWITHTHESTARS (6-1) comes into the race in really good form. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.

Selections: 6 – 7 – 4 – 1

Saratoga Race Course- 11

Post: 6:18 PM ET; $1000k Jockey Club Gold Cup S. going 1 1/4 m on dirt; Entries: 8

• #1 PROXY (2-1) is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Stidham and Rosario. The Monmouth victory last out was super impressive.
• #4 RATTLE N ROLL (9-5) goes out for the Mcpeek barn and gets Hernandez in the irons and has races good enough to beat this group.
• #3 WARRIOR JOHNY (20-1) is a price horse and will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 UNBRIDLED BOMBER (15-1) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 3 – 2

Saratoga Race Course- 12

Post: 6:52 PM ET; $50k Maiden Claiming going 1 1/16 m on turf; Entries: 16

• #15 ARISAEMA (5-2) looks best here. She looks to be the class of the field. This one shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #4 CAMCHA (2-1) should improve off the first start and should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Clement and Ortiz.
• #6 LEM ME DRINK (5-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one is well bred for this spot.
• #1 SPERSS (12-1) seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 15- 4 – 6 – 1

Betting News Horse Racing Coverage

Betting News provides in depth analysis of the week’s biggest races. This week’s lineup includes Saturday and Sunday cards.

Saturday

• Grade 1 Pacific Classic from Del Mar including 5 stakes races and three Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races.
• Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup from Saratoga including 4 stakes races and two Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races.

Sunday

• Grade 1 Spinaway from Saratoga.