We stay at Saratoga for today’s QPW, and we have another New York-bred stakes race to look at, as this is the Rick Violette Stakes for three-year-olds going a mile and a sixteenth on the Mellon (outer) turf course. Post time for today’s race is set for approximately 4:36 pm Eastern time.
There are 10 horses entered, but we have two entrants who are entered as main track only. The 9 Doc Sullivan (1/1 morning line) would have a major edge in this race if this race is run on the main track. He would be my pick if this is not run on the turf today.
The 10 Land d’Oro (8/1 ML) is not only a “main track only” entrant, he is also cross entered for the third race tomorrow at Saratoga. David Aragona comments on DRF that he will be scratched even if the race is off the turf since he is entered in a scheduled dirt race on Friday.
Saratoga Race 7 – Rick Violette Stakes
The 6 Russian Realm is favored amongst the runners entered for the turf in today’s race. He has shown closing ability on the dirt in his three-race career at Aqueduct. He has been pointed to the turf since that runner up finish in June and has been training on the turf here at Saratoga. His sire Constitution has a 14%-win rate on turf route races against an 11% average and gets a huge jockey upgrade from Katie Davis to Flavien Prat.
The 3 Instamatic (7/2 ML) won his last two races at Aqueduct closing well in sprint races. He ran closer to the pace last November at Aqueduct going today’s distance. He could be closer to the pace here at Saratoga today with the race going two turns.
The 4 Courtly Banker (4/1 ML) is still a maiden but has been very competitive in the New York-bred and New York Stallion Series races. He has been running near the front and has a chance at breaking his maiden here today against winners today at Saratoga.
The 1 Ez Roll (12/1 ML) did not show much last time out at Saratoga. He was bumped around at the start of that race and could be a factor in the colt’s poor performance. He has run very well at this distance (1 win, 1 runner up, 2 shows in 5 races). I’m expecting a bounce back effort here today.
I think Russian Realm is the best horse in this race. But I want to see this horse run on the turf before I put some money on him. Instamatic will need to prove that he can go two turns again. I’m guessing maturing from his race last year will be a major benefit for him.
Ez Roll had that bad race and should improve. But I am going to take a chance on the maiden here facing winners. Courtly Banker has faced winners the last two races and held his own. He has two seconds and two thirds in four starts, and I think he has a great chance of graduating today against winners. I will all this 4-1-3-6 and my play is $20 to win on the 4. Good luck everyone!
QPW Update Desk
- Kathleen O’Connell, the all-time winningest trainer in horse racing, won her 2500th race on Wednesday at Saratoga as Thirty Thou Kelvin won the third race paying $53.50 to win.
- Remington Park opens their 2024 thoroughbred meet on Friday night. They will have 67 days of racing this summer and fall through December 13 with a post time on most days at 7:30 pm Eastern/6:30 pm Central in Oklahoma City.
Check out my stream “The Joe Quills Show” on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 9 pm Eastern on my Twitch, X and YouTube talking about the latest sports news and whatever comes up; and catch my horse racing show every Saturday at 10 am Eastern on the Bleacher Brothers platforms.