Yesterday, Caleb continued to show that he is not just a pretty face with his pick Chasing the Crown briefly looking like a winner but eventually settling for place money. Mark and Josh need to just do better.

Caleb @CalebWVU

Race 8 – #1 Curbstone: This optional claimer came up extremely salty for the level, with a few horses dropping out of graded stakes company. I will concede that Speed Bias is the most likely winner, as he gets tons of class relief and should be controlling speed. However, he did regress last out at Churchill, and I’m concerned he still may not be back to 100% after his extremely taxing effort in the Pimlico Special. That brings me to Curbstone, a horse who doesn’t have flashy credentials but is in extremely good form right now. He has hit the exacta in all five of his previous starts, and his lifetime record looks a lot better when you discount all of the turf races. He owns enough tactical speed to be able to sit a stalking trip or even go to the lead if Speed Bias misses the break, and he’s proven to relish an off track in his only start in the slop. A repeat of his last race makes him tough in here, and any forward move from this very progressive gelding will make him a major win threat.

Josh @CherryDrank

Race 9 – #5 Revalita: With most of the card off the turf today, I’m looking at the lone race still listed as on the turf for now, the Lake George. Chad Brown sends out 5 of the 10 runners here, and I landed on one of his runners that is 5/1 on the line, Revalita. She started her career in France over Soft going and was able to get 2 wins out of 3 starts. I’m hoping that her experience over Soft going elevates her to win here. Chad has entered her into three straight graded stakes and she has improved in each start. Also of note, she has run at three vastly different turf tracks in Gulfstream, Churchill, and Belmont, and really think she will relish the Saratoga turf with some cut in it. I think this is a great spot for her and the price should be right.

Mark @Two_Turns

Race 6 – #8 O Captain: Mother Nature has once again decided to greet us with her presence and we’re expecting a washout with thunderstorms come Friday. With that said, I wonder if Gustavo Delgado may have seen the weather forecast and been a little “cute” with this entry. This 4-year-old son of Carpe Diem has never been on turf his entire career, broke his maiden over off going, and ran huge in his last race at Ellis in a rained-off affair. I expect a ton of scratches in this one so watch the board and don’t accept anything below about 5-1, but if he stays in with a field of horses who either don’t want dirt or are complete unknows over it, at least he’s a known quantity.