Saratoga opens… with success for the track and the JJPPs…
My opening play and noted as a Feature Play on the PLUS came home, producing a $7.70 win mutual. This price wasn’t too bad, after a series of scratches would require us to adjust our FAIR VALUE Line for this race. With the track newly renovated with a better “inside rail” and improved drainage and a slighly different “mix” — all that and everything seemed about the same. The racing was competitive and most horses took a good hold, and raced very well. It certainly did NOT favor early speed, but speed horses did hold on just fine. I thought the inside was pretty good, but horses out in the middle were able to finish without looking defeated and unable to pass. My assesement was the track played FAIR and HONEST, with a slight edge to horses that saved ground as long as possible.
I thought the JJPPs were pretty terrific and we came very close to having a great day. Another one of my Pop Out Keys was Caracaro in the 9th, with a stellar effort, drawing away from the field after having a somewhat challenging trip… only to be nicked on the money by a horse that saved ground every step and was un-impeded in his trip along the rail…. Still Caracaro was trying hard to win through the lane, but his lack of experience and the difficulty of the trip for him while Country Grammar had every advantage – translated to getting beat a neck!
We have another terrific Saratoga card for Friday… and I am zeroing in on the action.
Del Mar takes this week off!
An outbreak of the COVID-19, effectting 15 jocks, has caused DMTC to close the racing at Del Mar for this weekend. And will pick up next Fri, Sat & Sunday!
While this is quite annoying, it’s also something that we may come to understand during the Covid period, until a vaccine is at hand.
Daily Menu:
Belmont – Jerry J’s Power Page Classic & Plus
AS MY MOM WOULD SAY, “THERE IS NOTHING MORE EXCITING THAN WATCHING YOUR 2 BUCKS RUN!”