ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, MYHARTBLONGSTODADY

FIRST RACE

ESPRESSO CALIENTE ran well in his first career start on dirt back in April then faced a much better field of three-life claimers when switched back to the main track on opening weekend up here; giving him one more chance after chasing to no avail in off-the-turfer last time for twice this price. ENGINEERS REPORT caught a sloppy track in a race run in a downpour when dropped in class early in the meet and was no factor in the stretch; closer deserves another chance at this level. NIKO STRONG remains relatively unexposed to this point and has improved in his last two starts, winning on the drop with a show of speed two back and then chasing a front-running winner over a track that was kind to speed and just falling short last time; back to NY at the right level for a trainer having another solid meet up here.

SECOND RACE

MADDING CROWD is well drawn for her debut and she has some pedigree to back her up as a daughter of My Gi Gi, a Grade 2 winner on turf on her career; Mott’s 2yos have been showing up at this meet so far, and he has saddled four 2yo debut winners in turf routes over the past three Saratoga meets, all of them at prices. IRISH INTUITION broke slowly from the gate in her debut on turf and was always in behind horses through the stretch, which made it hard to tell how much horse she actually had, but she raced on without ever getting any momentum up and may be better than that first run makes her look as she switches back to turf. CHOATE BRIDGE has drawn a difficult outside post for her career debut but she blew out with some speed at the end of July at Keeneland and is bred to be a runner as a sister to Saratoga-loving Proctor’s Ledge, who is a multiple graded stakes winner on turf for these connections.

THIRD RACE

ZORZOR taking a logical class drop for this after proving to be no match for 2x allowance rivals last time at Churchill; parlayed a perfect trip from off the pace into a win two back with a new top figure, but he has a versatile running style and has improved for this trainer. ACOUSTIC was compromised by a slow break two starts back then took a wide trip and finished gamely while settling for second-best at this level while off the Michael Dubb re-claim last time; can save ground this time from his inside draw. PARAUARI has earned a couple of competitive figures in his first two starts stateside for the leading trainer, but he has not done much running in those races vs. better horses; class drop can only help.

FOURTH RACE

CURIOUSN CURIOUSER one of three exiting a similar race for the level on July 30th that was won strongly by Special Relativity, and finished behind both MAHO BAY and NOCTURNAL MISSION in that spot, but she was nailed at the break which left her at the back of the field early before coming wide and racing on all through the stretch; earned a career-best 80 Beyer when crushing claimers in her first start for this trainer two back. MAHO BAY sat a nice trip tracking the pace before going for home gamely in that last one, but she was no match for that strong winner in that spot; dangerous right back with a similar effort. NOCTURNAL MISSION was also bumped at the start of that July 30th race for the level and then couldn’t make an impact on the leaders in the stretch; has earned the top three figures of her career in her three starts for this trainer.

FIFTH RACE

WHEEDLE a half to a pair of solid runners from this dam in stakes winner Party Boat and Ultimate enticement, who ran well twice up here last summer sprinting on dirt; $350k yearling buy goes for a young trainer who is off to a good start so far and

6 Furlongs (1:08) Clm 16000 Purse $32,000 For Three Year Olds. Weight, 123 lbs. Non-winners Of Two Races In 2018 Allowed 3 lbs. A race in 2018 Allowed 5 lbs. Claiming Price $16,000.