Saturday At 'The Spa': Saratoga Race Course Picks For Diana, Sanford Stakes
A who's who in horse racing goes up to the Saratoga Race Course for the summer meet, which runs from July 11 to Labor Day, September 2 this year. I don't say this lightly, but going to Saratoga in the summer should be on everyone's bucket list. It’s both a family-friendly place and a possible Bachelor Party destination. Saratoga checks both boxes.
Granted, as a Saratoga native, I'm biased. However, I've partied in most of the big American cities and, believe me when I tell you, ‘Toga in the summer takes a backseat to no town. Between the track, restaurants in town, and nightlife on Caroline Street, the atmosphere is pure electricity.
There are "Graded Stakes" races every Saturday at The Spa where the sport's top trainers, jockeys, and breeders compete for the biggest purses. And every Saturday during Saratoga's 2024 summer meet, I'll be making my picks. Since I believe in transparency, I'll keep you posted on my results. Without further ado, let's get into the Diana Day card.
Saratoga Race Course Best Bets: July 13
Race 10: Grade 1 Diana Stakes, 5:34 p.m. ET post time
A 10-horse, one-and-one-eighth mile race on turf for fillies and mares four years old and upwards with a $500,000 purse.
3- Didia (ARG)
- Morning Line (ML) odds: 7-2
- Record (Starts-Win-Place-Show): 17-11-2-1
- Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Trainer: Ignacio Correas
- Best Beyer: 100
She is the rightful morning line favorite. Didia ran her fastest race in a win at the Grade 1 New York Belmont Stakes week in June. She's won both races at this distance and has hit the board in six of her seven Graded races with four wins over that span. Because of the price and talented field, I'll be USING #3 in exotics but won't have any winning tickets on her.
8- Neecie Marie
- ML odds: 12-1
- Record: 11-5-3-0
- Jockey: Luis Saez
- Trainer: Robert Reid
- Best Beyer: 97
This Reid trainee has taken a step forward as a four-year-old. Neecie Marie's two fastest races of her career are in 2024. After winning the Grade 3 Beaugay in her first time out this year at the Aqueduct, she lost by 1.5 lengths to Didia in the New York. Neecie Marie has hit the board in seven of her eight races on turf (4-3-0) and four of her five graded races. USING IN EXOTICS and WINNING TICKET.
10- Chili Flag (Fr)
- ML odds: 9-2
- Record: 19-7-6-1
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz
- Trainer: Chad Brown
- Best Beyer: 98
Cityscape's daughter has won three straight times (all Graded races) and has run six consecutive races faster than her previous time. Chili Flag beat the #3 Mission of Joy and the #6 White Beam (reigning Diana Stakes winner) in the Grade 1 Just A Game on the Saratoga turf last month.
Also, the Diana Stakes is pretty much the Chad Brown Invitational since the local trainer has won seven of the previous eight Diana's and has five horses in the field this year. Chili Flag is trending in the right direction and I'm USING HER EXOTICS.
Pick(s):
- $5 Win-Place Bet on #8 Neecie Marie for a $10 total bet.
- $1 Trifecta Box: 4-8-10 for a $6 total bet.
- $1 Exacta Box: 4-8-10 for a $6 total bet.
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Race 11: Grade 3 Sanford Stakes, 6:17 p.m. ET post time
A seven-horse, six-furlong race on the dirt track for two-year-olds with a $175,000 purse.
8- Mo Plex
- ML odds: 6-1
- Record: 1-1-0-0
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz
- Trainer: Jeremiah C. Englehart
- Best Beyer: 67
Complexity's son won by 10 lengths as the top betting choice in his debut at the Aqueduct in June. He pulled away at the 5.5-furlong distance, so I could see Mo Plex being helped out by this race going to six furlongs. With that in mind, Mo Plex has the second-fastest early pace in this race and none of these two-year-olds have shown a fast late pace yet.
Pick(s):
- $10 Win Bet on #8 Mo Plex.
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