Big Hits on Saratoga & Del Mar Closing Weekend!

G3 Glen Falls

This race set up precisely the way the Super Screener projected it.  The pace would be soft and with mild pressure and that’s what materialized when the Super Screener top long shot pick, Grateful, opened up a clear lead on the field and cruised along cutting super slow fractions. The Super Screener top win pick and top board hitter candidate, Harmonize, stayed in close attendance as anticipated then leveraged that superior internal pace advantage she had coming into this race to drive past Grateful at the wire for a solid win at generous odds of 7-2.  

 

“This year’s edition of the G3 Glen Falls is a wide open affair in which you could make a case for as many as 7 out of the 9 starters for the win.  Complicating matters is the fact that the pace projects to be quite slow with mild pressure so it turns more into a sprint late so position and late turn of foot will be highly valued screening attributes here.  The filly that best meets that requirement is #8 Harmonize from the Bill Mott barn.  She has not won since that G1 Del Mar Oaks win back in August 2016.  Recently she has faced some of the top US turf fillies in training including Lady Eli, Antonoe and Dickinson.  On the stretch out, she’ll be closer to the front end but will ration out energy evenly with plenty in reserve for that critical final furlong.  Anything close to odds of 7-2 represents solid value. Top win contender.”

 

While Grateful had the pace advantage, she still ran a strong race as the top long shot pick:

 

“Todd Pletcher-trained #5 Grateful may get overlooked here some as this lightly raced but progressive 3 year-old filly is readily clearing her conditions and is positioned well to take on this type of competition.  She has a pace advantage here and she’ll appreciate that cut back in distance which will give her more late kick as they approach the wire.  Offers plenty of value and worth including in your Exotic wagers.”

 

Several of the suggested wagers clicked including $32 worth of Exactas which returned $1,272 and the two recommend Superfecta wagers for an additional pay out of $887.

 

G3 Saranac

Super Screener top long shot pick, Voodoo Song, showed once again why this is his favorite turf course.  He spurted out of the gate and immediately opened up day light between him and the rest of the field at odds of 6-1.  He controlled the pace throughout and then when challenged, dug in with courage to prevail for the neck win.  Here’s what the Screener had to say about this colt:

Yoshida did not disappoint and ran his usual good race.  Bricks and Mortar had a tough trip and could easily have won this with better going.  He’ll come right back after this effort and will move forward in his next outing.  The suggested $3 Trifecta wager with Voodoo Song on top returned $223.

G2 John C. Mabee

This year’s edition of the John C. Mabee was shaping up to be a race with high return potential featuring a full field of 13 on the Del Mar lawn.  Instead, it ended up being a chalk fest as the top two favorites completed the Exacta at odds of 5-2 each.  

The Super Screener really liked the Paulo Lobo-trained pair of Kiss Me Now and Pretty Girl as they were the key to a big outcome here.  The barn that was ice cold stayed that way with all their runners on this day.  Kiss Me Now did manage to finish 6th out of 13 at gargantuan odds of 74-1 but that was about all she wrote for this race.

Bonus DMR ALW

In search of value on a weekend in which most of the Graded Stakes races came as short fields and chalky outcomes we opted for this Optional Claimer that at one time had 13 horses going but with 3 scratches the field was reduced to ten combatants.  As a result, the pace came up even softer than projected and the winner and place horse were 1-2 throughout the race making it difficult for deep closers to have a shot here.

Our top Super Screener long shot pick, Brimstoned, prevailed over a very determined David’s Memory for the win.  Here’s the insight the Super Screener uncovered about this winner:

The Super Screener also warned about the potential upset power of David’s Memory who nearly went wire-to-wire but settled for a very strong 2nd place finish and eye-popping odds of 38-1.  

Ample Sufficiency appeared like a winner and certain 2nd place finisher in the final yards in the stretch but his momentum was disrupted as David’s Memory started drifting in toward the rail closing the already narrow opening.  An inquiry and objection were lodged but the results stood.  A horse to include in your watch list when they return to Santa Anita.

 

A suggested 10-cent Superfecta wager which included David’s Memory on the ticket at those monster odds returned $829.

 

Other Super Screener highlights on Saturday included the following:

G1 Woodward

 

As expected Gun Runner looked impressive again and the other Screener top pick Rally Cry finished 2nd.  Nothing to bet here but a great race to watch and a rematch between Arrogate and Gun Runner will now be anxiously anticipated.

 

G1 Spinaway

 

As the Super Screener warned, #3 Lady Ivanka could slow the pace down and steal the lead on a track that set up well for that outcome.  This filly won and at a decent price.

 

G1 Del Mar Debutante

 

The Super Screener top win pick and value play, Moonshine Memories, prevailed at odds of nearly 6-1 going wire-to-wire showing her superior stamina over the rest of the field. The top longshot pick Piedi Bianchi closed gamely for second place at super odds of nearly 19-1.

 

“The Super Screener top pick and a value play is Simon Callaghan’s precocious filly #2 Moonshine Memories who is bred to route and showed stamina in her maiden victory.  She’ll stalk the pace leader and will get first run and will be able to continue to release energy and hold off other late comers. #6 Piedi Bianchi and #7 Dancing Belle are long shots that could complete the Trifecta as they will both be closing late with the latter horse the more likely of the pair to get up in time.  From a wagering perspective, consider boxing #2 Moonshine Memories and #5 Just a Smidge using the others under in other Exactas.”

 

The suggested Exacta wager hit for a juicy $2 payoff of $148.  

 

If the weather cooperates, we’ll take another go at what promises to be a tremendous card this coming weekend at Kentucky Downs, featuring full and contentious fields with low take out rates for the horse player.  Don’t miss it!

 

Until next weekend, “Go Fast and Win”

 

Mike