Check out my Saturday (6-8-24) Saratoga Race 11 analysis below.
SAR 11 (G1 Manhattan, 9.5T) – Post Time 5:36pm EDT
Primary – #9 MEASURED TIME, #6 Al Riffa
Secondary – #8 Far Bridge, #5 Program Trading, #1 I’m Very Busy, #7 Nations Pride
Horse Comments:
#9 Measured Time (7-2) is 5-for-7 for Charles Appleby. He won a pair of turf route stakes at Meydan over the winter and had the lead and ended up 4th of 16 in the G1 Dubai Turf on March 30. He is a logical win contender in this heat and he had a big turf work on June 1. He went 5f in 1:01.05 (5/9) and blitzed a final 1/4 in 22.88 without being asked for his best.
#6 Al Riffa (6-1) was a Group 1 winner in 2022 and placed in a pair of Group races last year. He returned with a close fourth in the G1 Prix Ganay, and he might go better in his second start of the year. John Velazquez rides for Joseph O’Brien and the lightly raced colt still has upside.
#8 Far Bridge (10-1) did not run his best race when splitting a 10-horse field in the G1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs last time. That was the first time he finished out of the trifecta and he might go better at square odds. The G1 Belmont Derby hero owns some strong late pace ratings and I would love to get him in the money.
#5 Program Trading (5-2) is 5-for-6 with a runner-up finish. He won two turf route stakes last year (Saratoga Derby, Hollywood Derby), and returned with a head victory in the G1 Turf Classic on May 4. He can set the pace, stalk, or close, and that versatility makes him a dangerous win threat.
#1 I’m Very Busy (9-2) was fractious prior to the gate opening in the G1 Turf Classic at Churchill on May 4, and he ended up 7th of 10 as the beaten favorite. He was a close second in the G1 Pegasus Turf on Jan. 27 and was clearly best in the G2 Muniz on March 23. He is capable of winning this from off the pace if he behaves himself.
#7 Nations Pride (9-2) is 9-for-16 with more than $2.6 million in career earnings. He won three stakes races last year including the G1 Canadian International, and was third as the beaten chalk in his G2 Man o’ War return, and his stablemate Silver Knott won that heat. Charles Appleby’s classy horse should work out a decent tactical trip. He worked 5f on turf in 1:00 (2/9) on June 1 and completed his final 1/4 in 23.17 (asked for best).
Wagers:
#9 to win
Exacta 6-9/6-8-9
Trifecta 5-6-9/1-5-6-7-9/8
Superfecta key 9/1-5-6-7-8
Recent Bettor Bet$ 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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