Saratoga Recap for Thursday (7-3-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (9f, 6.5f, 5.5f). On the turf course, a closing favorite won at 5.5f, front running favorite Classic Q went all the way in the Wild Applause at one mile (inner turf), a 7-1 front runner scored at 5.5f, and a 12-1 front runner graduated at 8.5f (inner turf).
Jose Ortiz and Luis Saez both booted home a pair. Linda Rice (dirt) and Rudy Rodriguez (dirt routes) both saddled two winners.
Saratoga Stakes Recaps for 7-3-25
Grade 3 Victory Ride (3yo fillies, 6.5f): Whatintheliteral scratched and that left a 4-horse field. Hollygrove set a pressured pace and post time favorite Echo Sound ($5) chased from second, took over, and bounded away to win by 4 1/4 lengths. My top choice Beauty Reigns broke slow from the inside post, stalked the pace, and was clearly second best. Indy Bay was third and Hollygrove weakened to fourth. Luis Saez rode the winner for Rusty Arnold. Fractions: 22.12, 44.85, 1:08.96, 1:15.94.
Wild Applause (3yo fillies, 8f inner turf): Especially (stakes scratch) and Ruth (Main Track Only) both scratched, and six runners broke from the gate. Classic Q was the favorite and she made the lead after Lavender Disaster backed off. Classic Q was 3-lengths clear after a half-mile and she basically won the race at that point. Play With Fire was slowly getting to Classic Q ($5.30) late but the race was over and the front runner tallied by a half-length. Play With Fire was second best and Lavender Disaster was best of the rest in third. Fixin to Bee, Midway Memories, and Love and Poetry rounded out the order of finish. Jose Ortiz rode the winner for Mark Casse. Fractions: 23.34, 46.46, 1:10.25, 1:21.71, 1:33.21.
July 3 Claims: Race 1 – Flat On ($17.5k, Rudy Rodriguez), I’m Solo N in Love ($17.5k, Ilkay Kantarmaci). Race 2 – Coquito ($$12.5k, Linda Rice), Equus ($12.5k, Wayne Potts), Toned Up ($12.5k, Bruce Brown). Race 4 – Candy Is Dandy ($20k, Linda Rice), Ragtime Sizzle ($20k, Ilkay Kantarmaci). Race 5 – Moon Gate ($32k, James T. Ryerson), Sassy Shenanigans ($32k, Steven Schauer). Race 9 – Fromanothamutha ($25k, Raymond Handal), Margin of Air ($25k, Ilkay Kantarmaci).
SAR Full Card Highlights – July 3
SAR 1 – Flat On/I’m Solo N in Love Exacta ($11.20), Trifecta ($26.60)
SAR 3 – Echo Sound/Beauty Reigns Exacta ($10.20)
SAR 4 – Ragtime Sizzle/Chocolatechocolate Exacta ($24.60)
SAR 6 – IRON ORCHID ($3.20), Exacta ($15.80)
Double (races 5-6, $28.40)
Pick 3 (races 4-6, $88.50)
SAR 7 – Chess Master/Maya Prince Exacta ($30.00)
Pick 4 (races 4-7, $363.00)
SAR 8 – Classic Q/Play With Fire Exacta ($13.60)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $39.80)
SAR 9 – MARGIN OF AIR ($4.60), Trifecta ($79.00)
Double (races 8-9, $16.80)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $48.60)
*Full Card Highlights Based on $2 Wagers Unless Noted Otherwise
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Saratoga Recap for Friday (7-4-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Three front running winners on dirt (6.5f, 6.5f, 10f). On the turf course, a 5-2 front runner won the flat mile opener (inner turf), an 8-1 front runner graduated at 8.5f (inner turf), a 5-2 stalker earned his diploma at 5.5f, stalking favorite Zulu Kingdom (IRE) captured the Manila (G3) at one mile (inner turf), 3-1 stalker Test Score tallied in the Belmont Derby (G1) at 9f, and 7-2 front runner Bring Theband Home went all the way in the Harvey Pack at 5.5f.
Hat trick for Irad Ortiz, Jr. (2 dirt sprints). Flavien Prat guided home two stakes winners.
Saratoga Stakes Recaps for 7-4-25
Schuylerville (2yo fillies, 6f): My Sweetheart was the favorite and she stalked and surged to the front, but the race was not over. My top choice Kingsolver ($8.90) battled on the pace, steadied, and came again and beat My Sweetheart by 2 lengths. The chalk was clearly second best and Simone was best of the rest in third. Miss Magical, Bay Yaupon, and Evolution also ran. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Rodolphe Brisset. Fractions: 22.35, 46.39, 59.32, 1:13.17.
Grade 3 Manila (3yo, 8f inner turf): There were multiple scratches (Fire Pit, Golden Channel, Strate Cash, Uncatalyzed). Maui Strong made the lead from the inside post and post time favorite Zulu Kingdom (IRE) chased from second. Zulu Kingdom ($2.80) put away the front runner and gamely prevailed by 3/4ths of a length. Capitol Hill rallied from far back to complete the exacta and Tiz Dashing stalked the pace and finished third. Maui Strong weakened to fourth and was followed by Revolutionnaire (FR), a disappointing Reagan’s Wit, Mythical Man, and Flat to Da Mat. Flavien Prat booted home the popular winner for Chad Brown. Fractions: 23.19, 46.85, 1:10.44, 1:21.61, 1:33.11.
Grade 1 Belmont Derby (3yo, 9T): Flying Mohawk had emergency colic surgery and scratched. He is recovering and will be sidelined for three months. Tank set the pace from the inside post and race favorite New Century (GB) chased from second. The latter was my top choice and it looked like he was in good shape turning for home, but he failed to quicken in the stretch. The whole picture changed in the lane and Test Score ($8.60) stalked, pounced, and won by a length and a quarter for Manny Franco and Graham Motion. World Beater nipped overseas shipper Luther (GB) for the place, and Tank was another head back in fourth. New Century and Final Gambit finished in a dead heat for 5th, and Early Adopter (GB) trailed. Fractions: 23.66, 47.79, 1:11.59, 1:34.34, 1:45.56.
Grade 2 Suburban (10f): Disarm scratched. Phileas Fogg ($14.40) controlled the pace from the inside post and held off Antiquarian’s late bid to prevail by a head. Locked was the favorite and he chased below par fractions and was more than six lengths behind the top two, and he was 5 lengths clear of Bendoog. San Siro, Awesome Aaron, and Honor Marie also ran. Kendrick Carmouche rode the winner for Gustavo Rodriguez. Fractions: 23.72, 47.83, 1:11.48, 1:36.02, 2:02.97.
Harvey Pack (5.5T): Main Track Only Antonio of Venice scratched. Bring Theband Home ($9.30) set the pace and that was the ballgame. He was never seriously threatened and crossed the line 4-1/4 lengths in front of my top choice Works for Me. The latter was the favorite and did not have the smoothest trip stalking the pace in a runner-up finish. Outlaw Kid stalked the pace and landed the show and was followed by Mischievous Angel, Witty, Our Shot, Axthelm, American Monarch, Felix, Mattingly, and Surveillance. Javier Castellano guided home the winner for Mark Casse. Fractions: 21.51, 43.52, 54.28, 59,90.
July 4 Claims: Race 5 – Frantic ($30k, Ilkay Kantarmaci), Tiote ($30k, Linda Rice).
SAR Full Card Highlights – July 4
SAR 1 – AWESOME CZECH (SAR Best Bet, $7.90), Trifecta ($50.48)
SAR 2 – KINGSOLVER ($8.90), Exacta ($16.80), Trifecta ($44.60)
Double (races 1-2, $31.40)
Double (races 2-3, $38.40)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $79.50)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $167.00)
*Full Card Highlights Based on $2 Wagers Unless Noted Otherwise
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Saratoga Recap for Saturday (7-5-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (5.5f, 6f). On the turf course, a 5-2 last-to-first closer won at 9.5f, a 5-2 closer graduated at one mile (inner turf), a 9-1 front runner scored at 5.5f, 6-1 stalker Think Big captured the Kelso (G3) at one mile (inner turf), and 6-1 closer Fionn tallied by a nose in the Belmont Oaks.
Five wins for Flavien Prat (4 turf wins and 2 stakes wins). Jose Ortiz booted home two winners. Junior Alvarado and Bill Mott teamed up for two dirt sprint wins. Brad Cox saddled two turf route winners and Prat rode both.
Saratoga Stakes Recaps for 7-5-25
Grade 3 Sanford (2yo, 6f): Obliteration ($3.80) was the favorite and he exceeded expectations. He dueled early with Blinging It Back and widened throughout in a facile victory by 10 1/2 lengths. Blinging It Back chased the romping winner throughout and was clearly second best. Imagine John, Strategic Risk, Fistfulofmoney, and Honey Dutch completed the order of finish. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Steve Asmussen. Fractions: 22.74, 45.56, 57.56, 1:10.65.
Grade 3 Kelso (8f inner turf): There were four Main Track Only scratches (Bank Frenzy, Game Warden, Wynstock, Yo Daddy), along with stakes scratch Nantasket Beach. Arzak stretched out and set the pace, and Donegal Momentum chased from second, took a bad step, and eased (walked off). My top choice Intellect (FR) stalked inside and surged to the front, but sprint/route runner Think Big ($15) was just waiting to pounce and he came after Intellect and won by a length. Intellect ran a winning race and was a clear second, and Win for the Money stalked and finished a head in front of Neat. Mountain Bear (IRE), Arzak, and Donegal Momentum rounded out the order of finish. Jose Ortiz rode the winner for Michael Stidham. Fractions: 23.14, 46.43, 1:09.87, 1:21.25, 1:32.81.
Grade 1 Belmont Oaks (3yo fillies, 9T): Opulent Restraint (IRE) got clear early in a race without a confirmed front runner and she stayed on nicely but was not classy enough to win. Nitrogen was the strong favorite and she stalked from the outside post and hit the front in the stretch, but Fionn ($14.40) made the last run under Flavien Prat to win by a nose. Nitrogen just missed and Opulent Restraint was a clear third. May Day Ready rallied mildly for fourth and Warming, Virgin Colada, and Totally Justified also ran. Flavien Prat booted home the winner for Brad Cox. Fractions: 23.12, 46.75, 1:10.10, 1:33.14, 1:44.84 (new track record).
July 5 Claims: Race 2 – Call Me Fast ($50k, Ilkay Kantarmaci), Leading Contender (50k, Gustavo Rodriguez). Race 8 – Antares ($75k, George Weaver), Judge Davis ($75k, Michael Maker). Race 9 – Shipsational ($45k, Brad Cox).
SAR Full Card Highlights – July 5
SAR 1 – EWING ($2.70)
Double (races 1-2, $25.60)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $54.00)
SAR 4 – Ragtime/Next On Stage/Alyeska Trifecta ($69.00)
SAR 5 – NATIONAL ARCHIVE ($7.10)
Double (races 4-5, $11.80)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $37.80)
Pick 4 (races 2-5, $348.48)
SAR 6 – EMBRACE TIME ($7.00)
Double (races 5-6, $29.00)
Pick 3 (race 4-6, $61.00)
Double (races 6-7, $68.50)
Pick 3 (races 5-7, $198.50)
Pick 4 (races 4-7, $595.00)
SAR 8 – TWISTED FILIGREE ($20.20)
Double (races 7-8, $114.00)
Pick 3 (races 6-8, $567.00)
Double (races 8-9, $232.00)
Pick 3 (races 7-9, $1,452.00)
Pick 3 (races 8-10, $1,840.00)
*Full Card Highlights Based on $2 Wagers Unless Noted Otherwise
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Saratoga Recap for Sunday (7-6-25)
Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on dirt (6f, 5.5f). On the turf course, a front running favorite wired the field at 1 1/2 miles, an 8-1 stalker scored at 8.5f (inner turf), a 13-1 front runner tallied at 5.5f, a 2-1 stalker won at 8.5f (inner turf), and a 10-1 last-to-first debut runner graduated in the 5.5f finale.
Riding doubles for Dylan Davis (turf), Manny Franco, Jose Lezcano (dirt sprints), and Jose Ortiz (sprints). Linda Rice saddled two dirt sprint winners.
July 6 Claims: Race 4 – Peek ($12.5k, Robert Falcone, Jr.). Race 5 – Brave Bear ($17.5k, Rudy Rodriguez), Sittin Chilly ($17.5k, Joseph G. Parker). Race 7 – Elegant ($50k, Linda Rice). Race 8 – Brew Pub ($12.5k, Ilkay Kantarmaci), For Some Reason ($12.5k, Lolita Shivmangal), Forgiving Spirit ($12.5k, Rudy Rodriguez), Rithim Nic ($12.5k, Robert J. W. Johnson), Takeschargesmiling ($12.5k, James Bentley Begg). Race 9 – Willintoriskitasll ($50k, Rick Dutrow). Race 10 – Mizty Fog ($50k, Robert Falcone, Jr.).
SAR Full Card Highlights – July 6
SAR 1 – One Nine Hundred/Aggelos the Great Exacta ($18.00), Trifecta ($28.40)
SAR 3 – IN TIME ($6.30)
Double (races 2-3, $13.20)
Pick 3 (races 1-3, $61.00)
Double (races 3-4, $59.50)
Pick 3 (races 2-4, $193.00)
SAR 5 – Trade Imbalance/Fly’n Frisbee/Sittin Chilly Trifecta ($146.00)
Pick 3 (races 3-5, $304.00)
SAR 6 – Downtown Channel/Life Advice Exacta (SAR Best Bet, $69.50), Trifecta ($135.48)
SAR 8 – FORGIVING SPIRIT ($12.60), Exacta ($33.00), Trifecta ($73.48)
Double (races 8-9, $60.00)
*Full Card Highlights Based on $2 Wagers Unless Noted Otherwise
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