Check out my Friday (6-7-24) Saratoga Race 11 analysis below.
SAR 11 (G1 New York, 9.5T) – Post Time 6:05pm EDT
Primary – #5 AMERICAN SONJA, #2 English Rose
Secondary – #10 War Like Goddess, #13 Surprisingly, #3 Didia, #6 Fev Rover, #1 McKulick
Horse Comments:
#5 American Sonja (10-1) is an overseas shipper and she fits with these. She fired trifecta shots in 10 of 12 starts. She landed the place on soft ground in the local G3 Saratoga Oaks at this course/distance last summer. She landed the place in her final two G3 starts in Ireland in 2023. She kicked off her 2024 campaign with a clear victory in a G3 in Ireland on April 28 and runner-up Pensee Du Jour returned to win a G2 at Saint-Cloud on May 20. Frankie Dettori ends up here and she might offer value for Joseph O’Brien.
#2 English Rose (3-1) won both starts in 2023. She missed by a neck in the G2 Cape Verde at Meydan on jan 19, and won the G2 Balanchine in Dubai by 2 1/2 lengths on Feb. 23. She shipped to Keeneland and landed the place in a solid effort in the G1 Jenny Wiley in April. Charles Appleby’s lightly raced Frankel filly is tactical and still has upside.
#10 War Like Goddess (4-1) is ready to run for Bill Mott but this race is probably a bit short for her. The 1 1/2 miles specialist needs to get her 7-year-old campaign started. She was supposed to run in the G3 Bewitch at Keeneland in April but scratched. She competed in this race at Belmont last June at a mile and a quarter, and she failed to quicken and raced wide from the outside post and ended up 6th of 7. She likes this turf course (5 3-2-0).
#13 Surprisingly (15-1) is interesting at a price if she can work out a trip from the outside post under Flavien Prat. She fired trifecta shots in 8 of her last 10 stakes starts and this might be a good distance for her.
#3 Didia (9-2) is a 10-for-16 win type and this is a good distance for her. In addition to enjoying the winner’s circle, she can set the pace, stalk, or close, and she will try hard from start to finish. The multiple graded winner was a close second in this event at Belmont Park last year. This is her first try at Saratoga but she has fired on many turf courses, and she wants it firm.
#6 Fev Rover (8-1) only ran one bad race last year and that was an 11th of 12 finish when last seen in the G1 BC Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita in November. She won the Nassau in 2022 and the G1 Beverly D and G1 E. P. Taylor last year. Mark Casse’s Canadian Horse of the Year can set the pace, stalk, or close, and she runs well fresh.
#1 McKulick (10-1) has run some quality races, especially at Saratoga. She won the local G2 Glens Falls last summer and landed the place in the G2 Flower Bowl. She was 1st in the G3 Waya and last of 12 in the BC F&M Turf to end her 2023 campaign. She started 2024 with a victory at GP in the G3 Orchid and was an even fourth in the G3 Sheepshead Bay.
Wagers:
#5 to win
Exacta box 2-5
Trifecta 2-5/2-5-10-13/1-2-3-5-6-10-13
Recent Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
May 20 – Luv to Win ($7.40)
May 21 – Tony Small ($9.80)
May 25 – Legend of Time/White Palomino/Royal Majesty Trifecta ($33.80)
June 2 – Chismosa ($8.60)
June 4 – Gun Collector/Bazinga D/Picture This Trifecta ($137.40)
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