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SARATOGA NOTEBOOK JULY 28, 2011 by John Mucciolo A trio of graded events headlined the opening week at Saratoga Race Course. Coaching Club American Oaks (G1): Godolphin's IT'S TRICKY (Mineshaft) picked up her second straight Grade 1 win in wearing down Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro) in the late stages. The once-beaten three-year-old filly negotiated 1 1/8 miles on the fast main oval in 1:49 under Eddie Castro for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Sanford S. (G2): Repole Stable's OVERDRIVEN (Tale of the Cat) lived up to his 1-5 odds with a strong tally in this one for Pletcher. The unbeaten juvenile colt went six furlongs in 1:10 3/5 in posting a four-length win under John Velazquez. Schuylerville S. (G2): Sheffer Racing Stable's GEORGIE'S ANGEL (Bellamy Road) tracked in third early before sweeping to the lead in early stretch, and rove home a solid, 1 1/2-length winner on this day under John Velazquez. The juvenile filly endured six panels in a useful 1:10 3/5 on the fast main oval for Pletcher. Track Stats From a total of 40 races held over the Saratoga Springs, New York, racetrack during the four-day race week, favorites won at a 32 percent clip and the top two betting choices combined for 55 percent of the wins. From 24 frays contested on the dirt oval, seven animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (29 percent), while seven of the 16 grassy tussles went all the way on the lead (44 percent). The main oval was good to speed types for the first three days of the week, but wasn't so much so on Monday, on the sloppy, sealed oval. Many horses breaking from inner posts got the job done during the short week, whereas horses breaking from slots seven and wider accounted for just two wins from 24 races. Racing on the turf was quite conducive to early leaders, with seven coming home in front from just 16 grass events. Six of those came in route events, five of which were on the outer grass oval. In addition, a trio of early leaders hung on to finish second. With the rain that fell on Monday, we will see if the turf gives more hope to late runners this week. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Friday (7/22) 2ND -- POLIZIOTTO (Giacomo) put in a big effort at first asking here, leading until late in a sharp runner-up performance under Javier Castellano. The Chad Brown charge should be tough next time. 4TH -- VALIANT PASSION (Lion Heart) has run well here in the past and it showed, as the sophomore filly ran off to a fine allowance tally in this one for conditioner Graham Motion. The filly made good in her sophomore debut here and should be stakes-bound. 5TH -- The Mark Casse-trained DELIGHTFUL MAGIC (Mineshaft) was well backed in here and ran a big second behind a potentially good one. She'll be a winner soon. Saturday (7/23) 5TH -- DEPOSIT SLIP (Elusive Quality) was last in the lane but closed with a fury and barely missed in a fine debut for trainer Doug Fout. The gelded sophomore is an obvious contender next out for a conditioner that is more successful with experienced runners. 7TH -- R KING OF THE ROAD (Trippi) came off of a good try at Gulfstream to crush this group for Pletcher and Velazquez, sprinting clear to an 8 3/4-length decision here. The gelded sophomore went six furlongs in a fast 1:09 and could turn out to be a fine one-turn horse, possibly on the lawn, too. Sunday (7/24) 2ND -- TUG OF WAR (Smarty Jones) was a clear third in what we think could turn out to be a key race for Ramon Hernandez. The two-year-old gelding should be much tighter in his subsequent test. Monday (7/25) 3RD -- SPARE CHANGE (Bernardini) was a good second while never threatening the winner, and should turn out to be a good one for Shug McGaughey, who is better with second timers. The well-bred filly should improve with added ground, too, as top and bottom she is cut out to handle a route of ground. A Look Ahead Another big weekend of racing is on tap at Saratoga, with the $500,000 Diana S. (G1) and $500,000 Jim Dandy S. (G2) leading the way on Saturday. Sunday's headliners are the $250,000 Ruffian Invitational H. (G1) and $150,000 Fourstardave H. (G2), while three-year-old sprinters will test the $150,000 Amsterdam S. (G2) on Monday.
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