Thursday Racing Picks: Saratoga
John DaSilva provides picks and analysis for Thursday's meet at Saratoga.Â
Race 1 – Pick #2 Punk Rock Princess (6-1 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG
Ships in from Maryland for Jeremiah O’Dwyer after finishing fourth in allowance going shorter at Charles Town. In her only career start on grass, she stalked the pace and finished well to be second going one mile at Laurel in August. Faces claimers for the first time in her career and she faces straight three-year-olds for the first time since winning allowance at Charles Town going seven furlongs in January. While O’Dwyer may not have a good record on turf, he does win at 29% with horses in claiming races.
Race 3 – Pick #4 Team Win (6-1 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG
Drops in class and makes local return after closing to be beaten two lengths this distance at Gulfstream Park when dropping to claiming ranks. She makes her first start over this local turf course. She did win an off the turf race at Saratoga on July 31, 2019 in a starter race when making her first start since breaking her maiden at Belmont Park when she made her turf debut. She should stalk an expected solid pace and overtake the tiring pacesetters in the stretch for the victory.
Race 6 – Pick #11 Kitten’s Romance (9/2 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG
The Ramsey homebred and Wesley Ward trainee stretches out after finishing well to be third going mile at Churchill Downs while making career and turf debut in June. Drops slightly and price off that effort now get Javier Castellano to ride. Ramsey has never been afraid to be aggressive and drop a good horse in class in order to gain a victory. Ward has been doing well with his trainees lately after an unusual slow start this year.
Race 9 – Pick #1 Pat On the Back (6-1 ML) - Click here to bet with TVG
Winner of the Grade 2 Kelso and multiple state bred stakes winner drew the rail while cutting back to sprint after tiring in the Commentator Stakes in seasonal debut. Comes in to this race with a good work and he is versatile enough that he could race close to the early pace or he could be further back and still be successful. Because of his last couple starts, he will be overlooked and at post time he will go off as an overlay versus these.
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