Saratoga Friday Stakes Preview

Jackson Bend Looks to Repeat in the James Marvin

James Marvin Stakes (Grade 3)

Racing Dudes Top Pick:#1 Caixa Electronica

Racing Dudes Value Play: #4 Crossbow

Analysis: This race didn’t come up as strong as it was last year, but it still has drawn in two very solid horses in Jackson Bend and Caixa Electronica. Both of these horses look to be the class of the field, but picking between the two will be a tough chore. Jackson Bend won this race last year, and has had more success over the Saratoga track, but you can never count out Pletcher at Saratoga. The best bet might be just to box these two in an exacta, or play them over the field in trifecta’s and superfecta’s. Speaking of the rest of the field, the other five look evenly matched. Crossbow and Pacific Ocean both come into this race after a poor performances in the True North Stakes at Belmont, but they are the logical third and fourth place finishers of this one. Scotus, Golddigger’s Boy, and Zero Rate Policy round out the field. These three are look somewhat out-classed, but any of them running big and hitting the board isn’t out of the question.

Brown Eyes Blue was the First US Winner Sired by Big Brown

Schuylerville Stakes (Grade 3)

Racing Dudes Top Pick:#4 Can’t Explain

Racing Dudes Value Play:#7 So Many Ways

Analysis: While the James Marvin didn’t come up as strong, the Schuylerville looks to be stacked. Handicapping this race is extremely difficult, as six of the seven horses in this race have made only one start. I’ve settled on the only horse in the field to make two starts, and that is Can’t Explain. In a race where you can’t tell much difference between any of the starters, the extra race experience might be the determining factor in this race. Can’t Explain’s biggest challenge will come from a horse that has already beaten her once, and that is Fully Living. These two horses battled down the stretch at Belmont in their debuts, before Fully Living put away Can’t Explain by a half-length. Another interesting filly in this one is Brown Eyes Blue. She was the first United States winner sired by Big Brown. Big Brown’s runners have looked sharp early on, so she’s one to watch. Sweet Shirley Mae, Baby J, Mr Hall’s Opus, and So Many Way also are coming into this race with a lot of hype, so you certainly can’t count them out. All four are coming off impressive maiden victories, and could be capable of getting to the winners circle. Baby J and Sweet Shirley Mae are actually the two favorites in this race. Sweet Shirley Mae beat the boys in her debut, defeating Bern Identity who came back to win next time out by twelve lengths. This should be an excellent betting race, and one that horse fans will enjoy.