Spa on Saturday: The Hits Just Keep On Coming

[Silver Charm]

Another really good card.

Been a tough meet I know numbers wise with lots of rain-offs and expensive gas reducing traveling and the economy reducing excess spending. But this is not reflected in the weekend racing product.

A couple of NY-bred races here and there is not a big problem because the fields fill and they make for good betting in Pick Threes, etc.  

Pletcher has been warming up a little (not flaming hot) and he has a couple of 2YO\'s in who might be tough. Fairbanks last week and a couple of Stakes wins on the Million Card. Not exactly Grade One a week like it used to be but wins are wins when you have been a little down. By his high standards.

Dancing Forever returns after Manhatten win and gets to prove he is a legitimate Grade One horse. Or prove he is not.

Music Note needs to scratch. The Travers next week would go from good to really good. The rest of the card is good enough to go on without her.

[richiebee]

Silver:

\"Another really good card?\"

Respectfully disagree.

3 CONSECUTIVE maiden races.

Followed by 2 claiming races, including a NW2LT.

These may all turn out to be great betting events, and might yield boxcar
mutuels, but this is a SUBPAR Alabama card. Lets be honest.

The price of gas and the heavy rains are only masking a couple of truths which
are undeniable:

1) The breed is not being improved and a horse who starts between 10-12 times
in a year is considered an \"iron horse\".

2) Racing in New York is being held hostage by the New York \"Greeders\" and
their co-conspirators, the pinhookers.

3) NYRA\'s Racing Department is doing a very poor job year round in bringing
quality racing to New York

[RICH]

and check out fridays disaster, four 5 to 5 1/2 f races races 4-7. They must be kidding. What\'s with all the 5f races, that\'s crap.

[Michael D.]

today\'s card is a mockery.

they are forced to card these crappy races because they usually get 9-12 runners, and the take helps cushion the blow from the negative cash flow at Aqu and Bel. if they don\'t cut the Spa loose from the two bankrupt downstate tracks, they are going to do irreversible damage to the Saratoga brand.  there are only so many state bred and 5.5f races you can card before people start to view Saratoga as a place to watch state bred and 5f races.


Red Rocks and the Frankel out of the Sword Dancer, making that one a 6 horse race. little reason to handicap that card either. in fact, there is none. I\'m going biking.

let\'s hope they scratch Music Note, make a pretty good Travers a great one.

[RICH]

I agree, I love saratoga, but with the rain and the NYB rats and 5f turf races, you can have it, your lucky to get a solid play or two. The money stays in the pocket this weekend.

[marcus]

Deluge from above not withstanding , the Sword Dancer looks like one of the best of the meet so far  - though Red Rock\'s scratch imo probably saps a bit of value from a few of these in the field .