SARATOGA SPRINGS – The lock of the meet, take two.
Divine Fortune went down in flames (at 7-2!) in Week 1, rallying from far back to take the lead at the last fence only to run out of a steam in the final yards. Today, he faces a much weaker group and won’t be near the price. Oh well.
He is still the horse to beat as steeplechasers stretch out to 23/8 miles (and one more fence) in today’s first, an optional claimer. Expect a sharper run from the 4-year-old favorite, who prepped with a workout of 59.2 seconds for 5 furlongs (and no jumps) Monday. He won’t be so far off the pace today, though he’ll need to save a little for the finish against a fairly seasoned group.
Looking beyond the favorite, the Tom Voss entry is better than it appears on paper – which makes it tempting at what could be a decent price (though the 5-2 morning line is a little short). Jazzichance last time as the saddle slipped early and he was pulled up. Dynaway’s race here last year would win this, but he should have won that last race at Colonial easily and was dull. Is today the day the barn breaks out?
Trainer Jack Fisher ships Super Fame from Maryland as the lone horse in the field starting for the $30,000 claiming price. The 8-year-old looked like a future star in 2004, only to be sidelined by injury. The Colonial race (fifth in a stakes) had to help, and he gets streaking jockey Xavier Aizpuru. Cat’s Revenge and Orchid Princess should improve from the Week 1 race but are far more likely for minor shares.
THE PLAY: Swallow the short price and bet Divine Fortune to win. He’s just better than this group. Key him over the Voss entry and Super Fame in exactas. Keep going down that route in the trifecta with Divine Fortune on top; Voss and Super Fame in second and third; plus Cat’s Revenge as another in the show spot. Back all that up with Super Fame on top of the favorite in an exacta.
THE RECORD: Still looking for the first winner after three races, but cashed a $15.80 exacta and $96 trifecta last week.