RTSS Friday nailed two low-priced winners in 4 races. Maybe Saturday will land one or two at a price.
SARATOGA
RACE 6. State-Bred Maiden Claimer $40,000. 1 Mile and 1/16th. Turf (Analysis for turf only).
False Favorite: #9 Leadership Ability (5-2).
Reason: He ran a lackluster race in his debut last year and returns off a long layoff in a route with Lasix added. The modest pedigree doesn’t lean toward turf, and none of Chad Brown’s top riders signed on. There’s nothing especially compelling about him, and we see a few minor details that look like red flags.
BETS
#3 Berning Honor (7-2). He takes his first shot against turf claimers with the top BRIS speed figure in hand. Schettino switches riders to Prat, as he did in last year’s just-miss attempt against state-bred MSW company.
#5 Pinstripepizzo (8-1). He drops from MSW company to take his first try against claimers. The pedigree is superb, and he showed good early speed when facing tougher foes.
Top Relevant BRIS Speed Figs
- Not applicable because of multiple debut and lightly raced horses.
RACE 10. Optional Claimer $62,500 N2x. 1 Mile. Turf (Analysis for turf only).
False Favorite: #9 Verbal (5-2).
Reason: This Chad Brown trainee keeps getting bet as if he was a stakes horse, but his races since returning from a layoff of nearly a year raise doubts as to whether he’s even allowance caliber. His pedigree is modest also, and the layoffs after all six lifetime starts are further reasons to bet against him.
BETS
#4 Storm the Court (8-1). This tough stakes competitor returns to the allowance level and to turf. Thomas Amoss is 5 for 11 at this meet and appears to have another live runner here.
#7 Running with Scissors (10-1). This 7-year-old vet recently won at this level and appears to be plenty fit to do it again off the claim by Joe Sharp.
Top Relevant BRIS Speed Figs
- #4 Storm the Court (8-1), 95
- #7 Running with Scissors (10-1), 95
- #1 Duke of Hazard (8-1), 94
GULFSTREAM PARK
RACE 4. Claiming $6,250. 6 Furlongs. Dirt.
False Favorite: #1 Earth (2-1).
Reason: Six furlongs looks like a bridge too far for this 8-year-old gelding. His last win came at a distance of 5.5 furlongs, and he shows three stretch fades in his past three races at 6 furlongs at this level. Seven of his nine career wins came on turf or synthetic surfaces, so dirt has never been his favored surface.
BETS
#3 Joe DiBaggio (5-2). This old distance specialist drops from a lively effort at the $8,000 level. Placed at the right distance and class level in his third start off a layoff, he looks ready to roll.
#7 Sarawat (3-1). This converted router drops in from the same $8,000 race as Joe DiBaggio, where he finished a head behind that one. He looks to be fit as he faces a weak field.
Top Relevant BRIS Speed Figs
- #3 Joe DiBaggio (5-2), 83
- #7 Sarawat (3-1) 83
