Saratoga Saturday

- Just a fantastic card at Saratoga today, the kind that makes us anticipate the meeting all year long. Even the state-bred race in the opener is of interest, with Rollers, an impressive juvenile last year for Barclay Tagg, making his return to the races. We last saw him running second in an open stakes last fall. Rollers is by Stormy Atlantic, out of a Distinctive Pro half-sister to the Grade 1 winner Without Feathers, and NY-bred stakes winners Copper Mount and Currency Arbitrage.

DiscreetCat checks in with some comments and video on Munnings, the $1.7 million Speightstown baby who wowed the Ocala sale in February. Mott has a pair in here, and yes, he will win with a first-time starter at some point, probably during this meet. But until he does, his recent string of futility with them, and the public's affinity for rewarding past Saratoga success, will create value on others. Kent D is named on both, so we can look for one to scratch; but Prince of Wealth is by Empire Maker out of G1 winner Dreams Gallore; and Successful Mission is a Successful Appeal half to Keyed Entry. Talk about bred for speed!!!

In the third (at least scheduled for the grass), you have a bunch of horses who have burned more money than the NY Knicks - Oceanography, Uncle Indy, Open Sleigh, Mask and Wig, and Calbo, man!! A couple others perhaps worth watching - Counterspy (unfortunately coupled with Open Sleigh), stretches out for Allen Jerkens; The Chief knocked out many a Pick Four player when his So Glitzy upset Hamsa and Mushka at 18-1on Friday. He went well for third in a turf sprint two races back, and should like the stretch out here. Counterspy is by Hennessy, and he's a half to Vestrey Lady, a stakes winner at a mile and a sixteenth. His dam, by Kris S, is a half sister to Mr. Greeley and Majestic Legend, the latter being the granddam of Street Sense. And Mott debuts Intercoastal, a three year old by Dynaformer, out of a Pleasant Colony mare, who's inbred 3x3 to His Majesty; interesting pedigree there.

Unbridled's Heart is back in the 5th, trying to re-establish the dazzling form of his debut after his defeat to Mint Lane, who we'll see in a sparkling edition of the Jim Dandy on Sunday.

The sixth is another race featuring money burners, and one of them is Tiz It, who I mentioned in the last post. Hmmm. Still, I'll stick with him and White Tie to start some rolling doubles to the Diana. I like all of the ideas in this comment thread - Bit of Whimsy, Forever Together, and Lady Digby - and we'll look for some prices there, even if Wait A While runs. Then we can go on in Pick Threes to the Vanderbilt with Abraaj. Bustin Stones looks up against it to me (scratched with a bruised foot); unless he proves able to rate, he'll have to contend with the likes of Black Seventeen, First Defence, and EZ Warrior early on; the race would certainly seem to set up for McLaughlin's horse.

That's it for now; gotta do some more handicapping, as the Head Chef and I frittered Friday evening away up on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a preciously gorgeous New York City night! Best of luck, and have a fantastic day!