Saturday Quick Picks

Karakorum Holiday (4-1)....and I hate picking Karakorum horses but here we go....dropped to this level after some OK tries against better in his last.  He caught a muddy track, and didn't show the early speed that he had in prior starts at the Md 35K level.  Instead, he tried to catch up 3-4 wide on the turn, and then he had to be a good 7-8 wide turning for home despite what the chart comment says.  Tired from his efforts, but that was understandable, and he earned a field- and career-high figure despite the trip.  Shortens up here, not sure what jockey Alvarado will do with speed inside, but I think the level fits, and the price could be fair if there aren't 1,000 Karakorum partners who were given a "free" share (before all the cash calls) in the crowd and wagering on a Saturday at Saratoga.    Seghesio (7-2) caught a fast track for the first time in his career in his last at Finger Lakes, and ran his best career race, and figure.  He held well after a race long pace duel and figures to run well here, though he may encounter an early challenge inside from Raffie's Factor.  Was waffling between the two and will probably box in exactas depending on the tote.

In the 5th, Sonnyandpolly (5-1) starts for the third time in his current form cycle for Zito.  First off the layoff was a sprint, last time his preferred distance as he showed last year.  Got caught wide from the 10 post into the first turn, wider still on the 2nd, and a good six wide turning for home.  Didn't make much progress, but understandable again.  Slightly better post here, a couple of OK works, should be close with a better trip.  Moneyinyourpocket (20-1) was wide both turns in his turf debut and represents more than fair value at that price.  Post Position (5-2) has had has his chances for the sharp Dominick Schettino but has fallen short.  You may notice the trouble line for his last race, and he did have nowhere to go late....but Ramon had given this horse every chance with a perfect ride until then, and I'm not convinced that Johnny V will do any better; oppose as favorite here.

The 7th may be the deepest betting race of the day.  Prince Silver (5-1) shipped up from Churchill for trainer Merrill Scherer, three winners, a very close second and a third from his last six starters, got the rail and a 'good' track which looked wetter than that for his Saratoga debut last month.  This son of Silver Deputy doesn't seem to like breaking from the inside post as you can see from his running lines, and this time he found himself uncharacteristically far back.  He moved wide around the turn though, swung six wide turning for home, and unleashed a monster move to miss by 3/4 to a sharp one in Our Edge.  His final two furlong splits were 11.91 and 12.06.  Moves outside here to a post he prefers and I expect him to be able to make his closing run from a more advantageous position.  Hello Lover (7-2) cuts back to seven furlongs for clever connections and has the best figs in the race.  Shrewd One (3-1) is a sharp one for Phil Serpe, who we'll put in the sneaky sharp trainer category, most recently with Harbor Mist, who ran a gritty third in the Summer Guest stakes yesterday.    And then there's Que Posse (5-2), who runs well off layoffs for McLaughlin.  Tough heat.

And, in the Alabama, just for fun (and that's what this game is about, right?), what exactly was Kent Desormeaux and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer up to with Via Villaggio (8-1) in the Delaware Oaks?  "Rated," it says in the chart comment.  Looked more like a workout in her first dirt race since her first two starts, as the jockey laid back in 5th and last, casually rode her into the stretch, picked up the pace enough to ensure the place spot and then eased her home.  Looked like nothing but a prep for this to me, and she shipped back to Del Mar for four workouts in the interim.  Daughter of the mile and a quarter Travers/JCGC winner Bernardini is out of an Irish-bred mare who won, placed, and showed in three mile and a quarter races overseas and in California; could surprise stretching out to that distance here. Best of luck and have a great day!