Saratoga Stack 8.10.23

NYRA apologizes to the bettor

Interesting day in Saratoga Wednesday.

Off the turf. Almost 40% of the horses scheduled to run were scratched. The power went out. Race 5 was canceled.

Yeah.

Before the race day started, NYRA CEO David O’Rourke joined Andy Serling on Talking Horses and tried to explain what happened on Sunday when they took races off the turf at the end of the card without any advance notice to players heading into the Late Pick 5.

That’s just a small snippet but highlights Serling fighting for the horse player in that spot.

You can watch the whole interview here.

Andy asked the right questions. Good questions. To his credit, O’Rourke didn’t try and make excuses. He said over and over they messed up. And they did.

He also seemed to indicate that they knew well before they actually announced it, the races were coming off the turf. He could not quite explain how and why the betting public was not informed at that time. Or why they couldn't refund bettors, which he said they wanted to do.

He alluded to wanting to “give back” to the horse player in the second half of the Saratoga meet. That starts Saturday as NYRA announced they will seed the Late Pick 5 Pool with $100k to start.

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As often happens on off-the-turf days, there were not many prices to be found Wednesday. Venti Valentine showing her old form in the feature was the best price of the day, $12.40 on top. Not much to report from the rest of the card.

And with more rain expected Thursday, we are off the turf once again.

You try to stay stoic as a gambler and horseplayer. You can’t control the weather. I get that. But it’s been a frustrating run here if you’re playing seriously and putting in the work at Saratoga.

I’m trying to find ideas for races I’d bet myself for you guys here - that is much tougher on a day like today. Or yesterday.

I’m not going to be surprised when the non-stakes races are off the turf for the balance of the weekend.

It’s tough to have any confidence in what prices horses will be Thursday. Hopefully, there are not another 40% scratches.

Race 3: Landed here for our Two Minute Pick Presented by NYRA Bets - today from the backyard!

Maybe I’m dumb thinking we’ll get 4-1. We’ll see.

Race 4: Dust Devil looks like a stone single if you’re playing the early Pick 5.

Race 6: Good luck to Patriots fan and horse owner James Politano with #5 Twentyeighttothree

Race 7: Virtual Reality looks like a bigger stone single in the Late Pick 5 than Dust Devil early. Sharp MTO placement by Chad Brown.

Update - Match race. Still like the 1A.

Race 8: This is the right level for #5 Moving Pictures. Rudy good dropping in claiming ranks and might be a decent price. 5-2-9. No published works since February for the #9 Pine Valley.

Race 9: Impossible to guess how they’re going to bet this, but #7 Deputy Connect might be a bigger price than he should be. 3-1 would be fair.

Race 10: #13 Ride Up looks like a big favorite on the dirt and a likely winner.

Trainer Timothy Hamm has good numbers with 3 yo first-time starters on the dirt over the last five years.

10-11-4-6-2 all players on the dirt for the under spots. Like them in that order.

Tough sledding out there. Good luck if you’re playing.