Saratoga, Race 7 – Saturday, July 13, 2024
By The 2YO EdgeMan
SAR7:071324 – 5 1/2f on the Dirt. Open Company. 9 colts entered. The number of FTSers = 6 and those with one start = 3.
#1 – Tough Catch (8/1) – This FTS colt is sired by the co-leading Freshman sire by winners (10) – Complexity – and he is from a Broken Vow mare that was only 1/9 with $35,000 in earnings on the track. This guy sold for $110K last year as a yearling (19/84) but was pinhooked back nicely when he sold for $280K in April down in Ocala as a 2YO (4/42). Trainer Dallas Stewart (M = 7.1%) has had him out for seven morning works (26 furlongs) and he’s had some rapid ones. On 6/11/24, this dude peeled off a half mile in 47.4, earning him a bullet (1/23). In his next move, he stepped back to 3/8th of a mile and fired another bullet – 35 seconds flat from the gate (1/11). Then he went 5f, and most recently he sped through 4f in 46.8 from the gate (2/27). Luis Saez will climb aboard.
#2 – Moments Notice (8/1) – Christophe Clement (M = 23.7%, ROI = $2.32; FTS = 23.4%, ROI = $2.67) will sling the saddle across this colt who comes to us from the cross of the late More Than Ready and a Haynesfield mare who was 5/15 ($180K). In the breeding shed, she has produced two foals, one that won in their first outing at Remington Park in September at two, however, this runner never won another race. Today’s fella was also a productive pinhook, originally being sold as a yearling for $160K and then hammering for $310K as a 2YO this past April. Six workouts for a total of 24 furlongs is the base that this dude has under him. His times have not been impressive, but it’s always good to see a drill at 5f and he completed one on 6/24/24. Manny Franco will be the guide for this guy’s maiden voyage.
#3 – Tenacious Leader (5/2 ML fav) – Owned by Spendthrift Farms and Repole Stables, this is a Not This Time colt (ALL = 20.6%; FTS = 20.3%). His mama, by Curlin, was unraced and she’s thrown two other foals of racing age, but nothing to brag about. Today’s competitor was a $375K yearling purchase (15/62) and, as you likely already guessed, he’s being prepped for his first race today by Todd Pletcher (M = 19.6%; FTS = 17.0%). He’s put in 31 furlongs of work over the course of eight morning moves and he’s certainly done his work well. Three back, on 6/21/24, he sped a half mile from the gate in 47.11 earning a big-time bullet (1/74). Then, after his next spin of 5f, most recently he went a half mile even faster – this time in 46.6 from the gate (2/10). Of course, Irad will be his captain.
#4 – Floodlites (8/1) – Wesley Ward (M = 10.7%; FTS = 12.0%) will cinch the girth on this City of Light (15.2%) firster. His mom only cashed in for $30,000 on the track (2/9) and this colt is her first foal. Like the dude starting to his inside, he demanded $375K as a yearling (4/66). Ward has only worked him four times, all at a half mile and his initial prep was his best – on 6/5/24 he went in 47 flat from the gate to earn a nice bullet (1/34). Jose will slip his toes into the irons.
#7 – Munson (6/1) – One of the three in here with experience, this colt made a big move in the stretch in his only afternoon effort (on 6/6/24 at CD), missing only by a half-length and earning the runner-up’s share of the purse. He’s a son of Ghostzapper (ALL = 13.6%; Non-FTS = 16.8%) and was thrown by a Distorted Humor mare that was 2/9 with $47,000 in purse money. She’s thrown four other foals of racing age, but nothing overly exciting. He ‘only’ brought $70,000 both as a weanling (5/7) and as a yearling (21/33). Tom Amoss (M = 22.2%; ROI = $2.96) has fit in two workouts since his last run, including his 5f drill on 6/19/24 when he went 59.8 seconds (2/14). Tyler gets the call to ride
Final Analysis – Pletcher’s horse (#3) is going to likely take a lot of money and he may win, but I’m going to look for some value. My pick is #7 Munson. He just missed last out and I like the morning effort he’s put in since that race. Amoss has a nice record at SAR in our baby races and Tyler is always a positive in the saddle. Let’s give him a shot at 6/1 on the Morning Line.
Eight juvenile fillies will go at it in an unrestricted MSW which is carded as the first race here on Sunday, so be sure to check back in soon at PastTheWire.com for my complete analysis of that one, too. Take care – enjoy Saratoga – and be safe and well, my Edgie Contingent.
