We stay at Saratoga for today’s QPW as we will take a look at an earlier race today as we will take a look at the third race on the Thursday card which is the Morrissey Handicap, a New York-bred race going six furlongs on the main track. Post time for this race is scheduled for 2:18 pm Eastern time.
Saratoga Race 3 – Morrissey Handicap
Favored is the 5 Rotknee (8/5 morning line) who weakened in the Grade 2 True North in Belmont Day at Saratoga. He returns to New York-bred company where he has been unbeatable. He has consistently been on the front end in his races and nothing suggests otherwise.
The 2 Sheriff Bianco (4/1 ML) is cross-entered for tomorrow’s second race, which is a mile stakes race. Rain is in the forecast for Friday at Saratoga, so he might be suited better for that race since he has three wins and three seconds in seven races on off tracks. If he runs here, he should be a couple of lengths off the pace and looking to close into a potential pace duel.
The 6 Looms Boldly (3/1 ML) will be right outside of the favorite and will look to duel on the front end. He just missed on Belmont Day in an optional claimer and steps up to state bred stakes company here. But he could be a candidate to bounce after that performance here at Saratoga two months ago.
The 4 Factually Correct (8/1 ML) will be on the inside of the favorite and will be running the same way. He did not show much here at Saratoga 11 days ago going longer. He could bounce back after that performance, but there is a ton of speed here.
The 1 Ocean’s Reserve (6/1 ML) returns to the races for the first time since last January at Aqueduct and comes back with a new trainer. He is a versatile sort who has won on the front end as well as from off the pace. But he will probably need this race.
The 3 Light Man (9/2) is a lightly raced four-year-old gelding who has won four of his first five races in his career. He has won his last two races at Aqueduct and did win at Saratoga in his debut two years ago. He is taking the logical next step forward in facing state-bred stakes company for the first time, but he is familiar with the New York bred races.
Rotknee is the horse to beat here, but it is very possible that he gets caught up in a speed duel here. I think he will win the battle of the speed duel since he is the classiest of the horses in this field. But you do have an up and comer in Light Man who could have a perfect trip to overtake the favorite in the stretch. I’ll call this 3-5-1-2 and my play is $20 to win.
Good luck to everyone as we will be back with another race Quills Picks Winnres race tomorrow!
QPW Update Desk
- Colonial Downs announced on Wednesday that their Arlington Million card has been rescheduled to Sunday due to the rain from Tropical Storm Debby. According to the Daily Racing Forn’s Marcus Hersh, several inches of rain would fall between Wednesday afternoon and Friday night. The weather will be sunny on Saturday and Sunday, with Saturday’s postponement allowing the course to dry for Sunday’s card.
- Saratoga has a contingency plan in place in the event that the once cancelled Saratoga Derby Invitational, and the regularly scheduled Grade 1 Fourstardave are postponed. According to David Grening of DRF, If these two races cannot be run on Saturday, they will be races 10 and 11 on Sunday, and will not be part of the late pick 5 or pick 6.
- The Troy Stakes, which also was postponed a week like the Saratoga Derby, will run on the dirt on Saturday if the weather forces the race off the turf. The rain should stop by Saturday morning and the main track and turf course will be drying the rest of the weekend.
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