Saratoga Thursday

Getting ready to head up to Saratoga for a couple of race days.  Hell, what good is it working in the industry if I don't take advantage and take a little excursion under the pretense of "business" at least once?  Will be attending Serling's radio show at Parting Glass this evening; TimeformUS is a sponsor, and our speed figure guy Craig Milkowski will be a guest.  So will Chris Kay.

A couple of horses at double digit morning line odds caught my attention on Thursday's card.  In the 8th, the West Point Stakes for state-breds, Mr. Vegas (10-1) goes second off a 413 day layoff.  Showed good form in his return at Arlington, tracking an honest and even pace set by the graded stakes winner Nates Mineshaft.  Had a clear shot at him in the stretch; no disgrace that he couldn't catch that one, who was had an uncontested lead and was showing his class in his first race on grass.  He earned as solid TimeformUS fig of 111, and has back numbers that would destroy this field.  Comes right back after just 19 days; something one can use an excuse in retrospect, but makes me feel as if his connections are confident shipping in for this NY-bred spot.  Truth be told, trainer Merrill Scherer is not having a great meet, but did have a little run here last year, so we can only hope.  Think Mr. Vegas has a shot here with a similar stalking trip behind the Pace Projected leaders Street Game and Mia Poppy.  Hangover Kid (6-1) comes off a nice third in the G1 United Nations for trainer Jason Servis; that was a mile and three eighths, and I think he's a bit slower than these at a more "normal" distance like todays 1 1/16 mile.

In the 9th, Roadhog (12-1) ships in for trainer Elizabeth Merryman, a 20% conditioner who rarely ventures to Saratoga; she brings the horse's regular jockey Horacio Karamanos along for the ride.  She's been very live of late out of town, with seven winners from her last 14 starters.  Six-year old gelded son of Bowman's Band returned from a 183 day layoff in April, and has raced OK since then.  Last grass try was a decent 5th in the G2 Colonial Turf Cup, in which Karamanos rode the 50-1 winner, and Roadhog appeared to move too soon.  Looking at this horse's pp's from last year, it took a few races for him to get going, but once he did, he was quite good, earning a big fig in a stakes win at Laurel.  He may have signaled his readiness to step forward again with a handy win on the synth at Presque Isle in his last.  Looks live at that price.  Teaks North (2-1) is clearly, in my opinion, the horse to beat.  Star Channel (8-1) wheels right back 15 days after an even try at 13 furlongs, with a sharp workout in between, and shows two good recent efforts at a mile and a quarter (today's race is 1 3/16ths); but caution, this barn is ice cold.  Best of luck and have a fantastic day!