Notes - Sept 1 [With Update]

- So it figures, I post my Friday picks here and get shut out for the day. How embarrassing. Of course, it was a pretty impossible day as evidenced by the $11,000 payoff for five out of the pick six. I was at Saratoga for the final weekend last year, and seem to recall the results being totally baffling. Of course, all these maiden races - especially the cheap ones - don't make it any easier. And there are five more of them on Saturday. I don't believe I'm going to fight the Head Chef's suggestion to go to the beach. In any event, though I haven't been doing that terribly of late, my selections on this site have not fared very well at all.

So I was thinking I should stop or cut back. But I recall a friend from long, long ago who, when faced with a cold streak, would make sure to bet each and every race. His theory was that he would be getting all of the bad bets out of his system, and just get them over with. Too bad there was no simulcasting then, he could have gotten an entire year's worth of bad bets over with in one day.

So with that in mind, I'm going to soldier on and tell you who I like in the Forego; do with it what you see fit. I won't be offended. [UPDATE: Chatain has a bruised foot and was being fitted with a special shoe. Thanks to reader affirmedny for pointing out the article in the Form, which is not new. Just missed it.] My pick is Chatain, 5-1 morning line for Angel Penna Jr. After winning the one-turn one-mile Hal's Hope at Gulfstream earlier this year, he was stretched out to two turns. He ran fine in the Donn, checking in 4th, just 2 1/4 behind Invasor; subsequently he ran poorly (as the 6-5 favorite) in the Ben Ali on the Poly at Keeneland. Penna then gave him some time off, and brought him back in a six furlong allowance at the Spa on Aug 6. I watched the replay, and this was a very stylish win. Cornelio Velasquez had his hands full restraining him early, but horse and rider were relaxed and settled rounding the turn. The jockey waited patiently behind horses, saving a bit of ground on the turn, and angled out for room turning for home. I love seeing a horse respond as if by push button command, and that's exactly what Chatain did, powering past the field without being shown a whip, and easing up at the wire. It was a perfect prep. He's never been seven furlongs, but as mentioned, he's been a flat mile, so he'll have no problem with the distance.

As for High Finance, there's no doubt he looks imposing, but he could have his hands full with Atilla's Storm up front. And besides, the favorites are dropping like Republicans in Washington, so why not take a shot?

- Two more winners for Linda Rice on Friday, and she's arguably the hottest trainer on the grounds now. That gives her ten, and don't look now but she's just one win behind the Toddster, who's currently tied with Contessa for third in the trainer standings. Leading trainer Bill Mott added his 21st win of the meeting with 8-1 Namaste's Wish. Kent Desormeaux was on board again, and you might wonder how they could let any horse with that combo go off at that price. But Namaste's Wish disappointed in two well-bet dirt efforts, losing by a combined 37 lengths. You can't bet a trainer's horses just blindly, and I guess there was little enthusiasm for a full sister to Purge trying the grass for the first time.

As mentioned in the prior post, Biancone took the With Anticipation with Nownownow. It was the first grass try for the son of Whywhywhy, and the first stakes winner for that Mr. Greeley first-year sire, standing for $7500 at Gainesway. This colt still had a lot of ground to make up entering the final turn, and seemed hopelessly boxed on the hedge. It took Julien Leparoux until midstretch to finally find a seam, but Nownownow really exploded once clear and won by a widening three lengths in a very nice effort.