Saratoga, Race 1 – Sunday, July 14, 2024
By The 2YO EdgeMan
SAR1:071424 – 5 1/2f on the Dirt. Eight fillies are entered. The number of FTSers = 4, those with one start = 3, and gals that have started twice = 1.
#1 – Kimchi Cat (3/1) – Tom Amoss (M = 22.2%, ROI = $2.96) will tighten the saddle on this Twirling Candy (ALL = 18.5%) filly who will be making her second start. She earned the runner-up’s share of the purse at CD when she made her debut, beaten by five lengths by the impressive victor, Viggiedale on 6/14/24. Her Sky Mesa dam only won one time in 12 afternoon outings ($71,000), but that score was in her first start in August of her juvenile campaign right here at The Spa. She’s also foaled two other non-descript racing-aged horses. In the sales ring today’s filly brought $185K last year when she was a yearling (17/70). Tom has pumped two works into her since her last run, including a 5f spin on 6/26/24 that she completed in 1:00.4 (3/12). She’ll get the first-time services of Tyler in the saddle.
#2 – Elemiah (8/1) – First-Crop sire – Rowayton – will look to continue his perfect record (one starter, one winner) with this Yes It’s True filly. Mama was winless in five attempts and she’s thrown five other foals, nothing very exciting, however. Today’s runner has never been sold at public auction and she’ll be making her first start in the afternoon today for conditioner Melanie Giddings (M = 0/4). She’s drilled six times, all at four furlongs and all on the grounds here at SAR. Her last was brisk and earned her a bullet – on 7/4/24 she traveled a half mile in 47.04 (1/25). Johnny V gets the leg up.
#5 – She’s a Gamer (12/1) – Another Freshman sire – Game Winner (one winner from 11 starters) – sends out this filly tossed by a Distorted Humor mare who was unraced (but sold as a yearling for $435K). She’s responsible for one other foal of racing age – a 4YO gelding who is 2/4 with $41,000 in earnings. Today’s contestant sold for $130K as a yearling in 2023 (19/73). Trainer Mark Casse (M = 14.3%; FTS = 0/19) has been getting her ready for her debut performance by sending her out six, four furlong breezes with her next to last being a nice bullet of 48.04 (1/22). Eric Cancel gets the call from Mark to pilot her today.
#7 – Practical Lov (8/1) – The second of two entries from HOFer Bill Mott (M = 8.1%; FTS = 8.9%) is a filly from Practical Joke (ALL and FTS = 16.5%). This debutant’s broodmare sire is Speightstown and mom was unraced. This gal originally RNAed for $120K as a yearling, but was brought down to Ocala this past April and sold as a 2YO for $240K (10/29). She’s also thrown two other foals of racing age, but neither has cracked the $100K mark as of yet. The Ole Master has sent this gal out for seven morning drills, all here at The Spa on the Oklahoma oval, and that totals 25 furlongs. Her last work was likely her best going a half mile in 48.55 (4/43). Jose Lezcano will tickle the leather.
#8 – La Cara (2/1 ML fav) – The most experienced runner in this field comes as the second filly that Mark Casse will saddle (M = 14.3%). This one is a cross from Street Sense (ALL = 15.0%; Non-FTS = 17.1%) / Bernardini – that cross is 7/47 in 2YO MSW races with a purse of at least $30,000 over the past twelve years. (14.9%. Mama never found the Winner’s Circle in eight tries and this is her first foal and today’s filly is a Tracy Farmer homebred. After showing very little in her debut performance back in May, this gal led all the way at CD on 6/21/24 before getting clipped and running second, 2 ¾ lengths short. Mark has not had her out in the morning since her last run and he goes back to Jose Ortiz for the second time today.
Final Analysis – My pick is #1 Kimchi Cat. I like Amoss in this spot and this gal ran a nice race in her debut, only bested by a talented individual. I think that race will serve her well in her second outting today. Further, I like the fact that she put in a nice 5/8th mile work after her race and then has also breezed once here on the SAR grounds. Tyler always moves them up a bit and, although I’d prefer her not having to start next to the fence, I like her chances to get her picture taken.
This concludes the first week at Saratoga, but Ellis Park does have one of our races scheduled for Monday, so we’ll have a go at that and if we feel that it makes sense, we’ll put forward an article on www.PastTheWire – so please be sure to check back soon. I hope that all of my Wonderful Edgies have an outstanding, profitable and safe weekend – take good care!
