Saratoga Stakes Week 2

By Kevin Gazzale

Welcome back for another weekend of stakes races at Saratoga. Last weekend was a bit of mixed bag, the rain really decimated some of the fields and really ruined full cards as we were off the turf for all non-stakes races. For us and the G-Line Index we had a solid weekend. We went 6 for 9 on top selection winners. We narrowly missed a huge exacta as Abientot couldn’t quite get up for 2nd in the Coronation Cup. The weather ruined the field in the Bowling Green, our top choice Far Bridge won, but at 1-4 in a very short field. She Feels Pretty finished a close second to Excellent Truth who the G-Line Index did not trust. So let’s move on to Week 2, we will cover every stake race, we get our first taste of dirt stakes action this weekend as well. 

Thursday 7.17

Race 3 The Rick Violette Stakes 1 1/16 Miles Turf

Again we get a decent field on turf, this looks to be a pretty formful race and the G-Line Index tabs another favorite, so we’ll forgo a win bet here and focus on some exotics. The G-Line circled the 6, Smooth Breeze, Flavien Prat up for Jorge Abreu. 2nd ranked was the 5/2 second choice 5, Leon Blue. We will toss him from exotics and hope he runs out.

G-Line Rankings

1. 6 Smooth Breeze
2. 5 Leon Blue
3. 4 Outsource
4. 2 Sounds Like a Plan
5. 3 I’m Due 

Recommended Wagers $42

$10 Exacta 6 over 2,3,4

$2 Trifecta 6 over 2,3,4 over 2,3,4

Friday 7.18

Race 8 The Shuvee Stakes Grade 2 1 ⅛ Miles Dirt

Raging Sea looking to repeat in this year’s Shuvee as she won last years rendition, she is also looking to get back into the winner’s circle after a rough go of it in the slop in the Ogden Phipps. She will likely be favored in here and the G-Line Index agrees. 

G-Line Rankings

1. 5 Raging Sea
2. 6 Dazzling Move
3. 7 Malibu Beauty
4. 3 Leslie’s Rose
5. 2 Gun Song

Recommended Wagers 

$10 Exacta 5 over 3,6,7

$2 Trifecta 5 over 3,6,7 over 3,6,7,2

Saturday 7.19

Race 9 The Caress Stakes Grade 3 5.5f Turf

This race shapes up similarly to the Intercontinental which was run during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Future Is Now went off favored in that race and was edged out by Pipsy who returns in this race as well. G-Line thinks that Future is Now can turn the tables on Pipsy and return to the winner’s circle. We’ll leave Pipsy off assuming she will be a tight second choice or favored. 

G-Line Rankings 

1. 7 Future is Now
2. 5 Pandora’s Gift
3. 6 Pipsy
4. 3 Twirling Queen
5. 1 Toupie

Recommended Wagers $55 budget

$25 Win Future is Now

$5 Exacta 7 over 1,3,5

$5 Exacta 1,3,5 over 7

Race 10 The CCA Oaks Grade 1  1 ⅛ Miles Dirt

La Cara returns off her win in the G1 Acorn. Immersive returns as well in her 2nd start of her 3 year old season. G-Line likes La Cara here, she will have less of a pace dynamics edge but lets see if she can take them all the way again. Immersive was ranked 2nd and will likely be a tight 2nd choice so we will toss, hoping she runs out. 

G-Line Rankings

1. 6 La Cara
2. 1 Immersive
3. 3 Scottish Lassie
4. 4 Take Charge Milady
5. 2 Sweet Seraphine

Recommended Wagers

$25 Win La Cara

$5 Exacta 6 over 2,3,4

$5 Exacta 2,3,4 over 6

Race 11 The AG Vanderbilt Stakes Grade 2 6F Dirt

Lots of returners from the True North that saw Bookem Danno wear down Mullikin. G-Line sees it playing out in a similar fashion, so we will go the with Jersey Bred and press some tickets around him. Mullikin will be a short price and just hasn’t looked the same early in this 2025 season. We will toss him and try and get Damon’s Mound into the exacta. 

G- Line Rankings

1. 5 Book Em Danno
2. 4 Mullikin
3. 6 Nash
4. 2 Full Moon Madness
5. 1 Skelly
6. 3 Damon’s Mound

Recommended Wagers $65 Budget

$25 Book Em Danno

$5 Exacta 5 over 1,2,3,6

$5 Exacta 1,2,3,6 over 5