There was a three or four-year stretch in the early 2010s where a group of us rented a house for an entire Saratoga meet, minus the week of Labor Day.
From Opening Day thru Travers Monday. Four of us squeezed into a three-bedroom ranch on the East Side of town.
Walking distance to Saratoga Springs High School, Shirley’s Diner and The Local, among other spots.
We’d get there Thursday or Friday nights and leave Sunday or in some cases the still dark hours of Monday to get back to CT, MA and NY. There were a couple of “Mut and Merloni” shows where I was coming straight from the 12866 into the studios at 20 Guest Street to get ready to be on the air for 10 AM. Just absurd looking back at it.
The stories from “Bob’s House” are not the point of all this.
The point was that Alabama Week was awesome. Not quite the crush of Travers but still loaded race cards. Some of the best horses in the country. A night or two when the weather would get into the 50s and you’d get a little taste of fall.
They were also great because for a few years, I couldn’t lose betting The Alabama. I loved Royal Delta in 2011, and 5-1 was a sweet, sweet gift. A year later, 2-1 on Questing felt like stealing when Grace Hall was bet down to evens.
You wouldn’t know it based on my betting this summer, but I could pick a winner at one point.
Songbird and Elate going back to back in 2016 and 2017. Trainer Todd Pletcher doing the same for the last two years.
Writing about it I realize it’s one of my favorite races of the year.
They have Wet Paint to beat this Saturday, but it looks like a pretty good field for The Alabama. First of the final three Saturdays this summer at Saratoga.
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What are you waiting for?!? It’s Alabama Week!
Another race Sunday where our horse, Cigarette Boat, broke slowly and was taken out of his preferred running style of going to the front. Jockey Manny Franco actually did a really good job of getting position and then saving something for the drive, finishing third and paying $2.70 to show. The FS2 crew all noted how well the colt ran after the stumble.
Too bad they don’t pay you when you’re horse runs well but doesn't win.
The race came back fast - the winner got an 86 Beyer and the runner up an 82. So I’ll be okay betting the horse back.
Sunday saw our pick from Wednesday’s power-outage-canceled race, Shimmering Allure, come back and run a good second at 10-1.
In that race, there were only three horses that had experience - they ran 1-2-3 for a $104 tri for $1.
“Easy game,” to quote Establish the Run’s Adam Levitan.
Week 5: 4-0-1-1 (-$10.20)
Meet: 22-3-3-3 (-$47.30)
The numbers tell the story. No added context is necessary.
Sitting down early Tuesday to start the Wednesday/Thursday handicapping and once again the weather is effing with me. Rain Monday-Tuesday. More likely Friday in the form of thunderstorms.
Based on what happened a week ago Sunday, it’s impossible to try and guess what they’ll do with these turf races. As it is, five of them carded on a nine-race Wednesday card.
Without extensive turf racing, good betting opportunities are limited.
TURF: OFF 149. On for the stake. The 5th race moves to the Mellon turf.
Note the rails are out 27 feet on both turf courses.
Oh and there’s this, too.
Some Pick 6 thoughts:
Race 4: (OFF THE TURF) : Our Two Minute Pick to kick off the Pick 6!
Race 5: #10 Unleash the Power comes in here with good form. Maybe I’ll end up being wrong, but with these turf rails out at 27 feet, I am elevating horses who will be forwardly placed. Worth watching how the two turf races play out today. He would be an A for me, along with #7 Jarreau. Backups 2,4,9
Race 6: Another race where I think the ML favorite will be tough. # 7 Cupid’s Heart got a slow start last time and chased home a Chad Brown horse. Finger Lakes shipper #4 Cuz Your Pretty fits as a major pace player. #8 Portage, #5 Three Rivers on the backup line for me.
Scratch update: Ugh. 48/5
Race 7: On a day where speed was good, #3 Freeze Pop was off the pace at Ellis Park. With a win at the distance, he’s an A for me, along with #7 South Street. Yes, I have to use Linda here. #9 Happy Bob as a backup on deeper tickets.
Race 8: #5 Silver Skillet a new horse on turf and already a winner at the meet. Can sit right off the speed here and major win candidate. As is #8 Collaboration, who should be involved early and is 4-1-2-1 at the distance. Backups 1,2.
Race 9: (OFF) Man. #2, #11 for sure. That might be it for me - just no real dirt form in this race. Tough way to end the Pick 6.
Scatch Update: I can see many people singling #11 now and I have no argument. 11/10 I guess?
Tough sequence. Good luck if you’re playing.