By Dennis Miller
This Saturday is a little of a break from the big races but it sets up the next two Saturday afternoons as we have back-to-back big days of racing.
August 22 is Pacific Classic Day at Del Mar, featuring four big stakes at the San Diego area track. A week later it’s Travers’ Day at Saratoga where six Grade I races are scheduled.
Going along with Travers’ Day is our next Pick’em contest at the Pleasanton OTB. Once again, it will be FREE to enter for a chance to win cash vouchers!
Details will follow but mark off August 29 on your calendar for the contest!
This Saturday we look at two turf races – the Christophe Clement Turf at Saratoga and the $100,000 CTT and TOC at Del Mar.
Saratoga
Grade I Christophe Clement Turf
(9th race, 2:06 p.m. PDT)
It’s a long 1-1/2-miles on the inner turf course with seven horses set to go to post. Here are the horses I found interesting.
Tawny Port (Miguel Clement, Kendrick Carmouche) has two starts this year and one win. After starting the year April 18 with a fourth in the Grade II Elkhorn at Keeneland, he came back to win the Grade II Belmont Gold Cup on June 4 at Saratoga. He tracked the pace that day, took the lead at the top of the lane and extended the lead to over two lengths at the finish, earning a 101 Beyer.
Ole Crazy Bone (Michael Maker, Irad Ortiz) has two starts this year with a win and a place. The first was a second in an optional claimer on May 26 – his first start in seven months – at Churchill. He came back July 11 in the Grade II Bowling Green and led every step of the way over the Saratoga turf. Past history shows he prefers to be on or near the lead.
Program Trading (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat) has two wins in five starts this year but they came in the last two races. Two back on June 13, it was the $125,000 Monmouth at Monmouth Park where he tracked the pace, took the lead at the top of the lane and won by two lengths. On July 18 he took down the Grade II United Nations in similar fashion, sitting back through the first half, took the lead at the top of the lane, then won by over two lengths again.
Del Mar
CTT and TOC
(8th race, 5:30 p.m.)
There are 11 horses entering for the feature at Del Mar, with the field going 1-3/8-miles over the turf at Del Mar. There might be some good value in this spot as there doesn’t appear to be a heavy favorite. Take a look at the tote and find your value play.
Here are the most interesting horses for me.
Innovative (Ricardo Gonzales, Phil D’Amato) might be a live one at a price. One of three entered for the barn and she was a nose back from her stablemate in the Possibly Perfect Stake on June 12 at Santa Anita. She stalks the pace and moves late. The jockey is known for bringing in price horses in big races. This wouldn’t be the worst choice.
Vronti (Graham Motion, Umberto Rispoli) was fifth two back in the Grade I Gamely but rallied back on July 19 to run second in a $80,000 optional claimer at Saratoga. She’s back in stale company today I thing she is ready to make a run at it.
Kentucky Gal (Phil D’Amato, Antonio Fresu) beat her stablemate by a nose in the Possibly Perfect on June 12. She has been off since then but the barn is solid in bringing them back off a break. She has shown the ability to run on the pace or come from the back. Not sure which style to expect here but count on her being ready to run.