Saratoga play for Sunday (8/5) Saratoga - Race 6
#9 Tap Twenty One (6/1 ml)
Been waiting on this filly to run back for about a month now. In her debut @ Churchill back on June 30, she absolutely butchered the break to be off dead-last, then was some 15 lengths off the lead while racing down the backstretch. Looked like the rider just threw in the towel after the tough start. That being said, she came into the stretch still waaaay behind, at which point the rider seemed to let her run a little bit just to see what she had. Just took off running at that point, passing most of the field thru the stretch to somehow get up for 4th, and then, shockingly, blew right past the winner on the gallop-out not too far past the finish line. Stretches out to two turns today, and certainly seems equipped to handle it. Also may have a good bit more speed than she showed after the horrible break last time. Just lots to like about this one, as her running line in the form just doesn't do her any justice, and she figures to be overlooked here.
As for Tap Twenty One's competition, the one that sticks out the most is the Chris Clement firster (#2 Win For Kitten, 12/1 ml). First off, i have no idea how this one is being listed @ 12/1, because Clement is hitting 23% with first-time starters going a mile-or-longer (from 65 such starters), for a huge flat-bet profit of nearly 80%. Aside from that, she also happened to work heads-up (on grass) with Da Mi Basia Mille back on July 9, and Da Mi Basia Mille emerged from that drill to win a two-turn maiden turf race (just like this one) on July 23, with this same rider (Lezcano) aboard. Looks like good value also, and seems like the main threat to Tap Twenty One. Would probably make for a nice exacta box, too.
