Betting the Sanford Stakes on a $20 Budget
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Paynes Prairie is out to avenge his June loss to Cocked and Loaded in Saturday's Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. (Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photo)
Saratoga is one of America's premier race meetings, and oftentimes it is said that the races for 2-year-olds held at Saratoga are what makes the place so special. Thoroughbreds often begin racing at 2 years of age, and things really start heating up for the "babies" once the summertime Saratoga and Del Mar meets come around.
Expectations are high for many of the 2-year-olds stabled at Saratoga, and the connections of the 11 colts signed on to compete in the Sanford Stakes (which is restricted to 2-year-olds) are hoping to move toward the top of the juvenile rankings with a big win on Saturday.
From my perspective, it seems that there are quite a few horses entered in the Sanford Stakes that have a legitimate chance of winning the race. With that in mind, below are some of the main contenders in my eyes:
#6 He’s Comin in Hot: He’s won two consecutive races at Churchill Downs in Kentucky, so he is riding a win streak moving into the Sanford. His early speed could be very dangerous on Saturday.
#7 Paynes Prairie: This colt has never finished worse than second in three career races, and Paynes Prairie won his most recent race in impressive fashion at Belmont Park. Standout jockey Javier Castellano rode Paynes Prairie to his most recent victory, and he is scheduled to ride him again in the Sanford.
#8 Cocked and Loaded: Undefeated in two career races, including a victory in the $246,000 Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park last month, Cocked and Loaded appears to have been training well at Arlington Park since his most recent victory and will look to make it three-for-three in the Sanford.
#11 Uncle Vinny: Uncle Vinny won his first career race in dominant fashion on May 21, but did not have the same fortune when being defeated by Cocked and Loaded in the aforementioned Tremont Stakes. Trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez have teamed up for many victories at Saratoga over the years, including with Uncle Vinny’s sire Uncle Mo, and it’s risky counting them out.
Betting Strategy: $10 win, $10 place on (7) Paynes Prairie
$150,000 Sanford Stakes
Saturday, Saratoga, Race 9 at 5:32 p.m. ET
6 furlongs, dirt, 2-year-olds
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
ML Odds
1
Awesome Slew
Paco Lopez
Eddie Plesa Jr.
Live Oak Plantation
TBD
2
Save the Drama
Taylor Rice
Kevin Rice
Clyde Rice
TBD
3
John Q. Public
Luis Saez
D. Wayne Lukas
Holy Cow Stable
TBD
4
Magna Light
Jose Ortiz
Rudy Rodriguez
M. Dubb, M. Imperio, E. Alexander and Bethlehem Stables
TBD
5
Sunny Ridge
Jose Lezcano
Jason Servis
Dennis Drazin
TBD
6
He's Comin in Hot
Joel Rosario
Bret Calhoun
Doug Scharbauer
TBD
7
Paynes Prairie
Javier Castellano
Steve Asmussen
Norma McKathan
TBD
8
Cocked and Loaded
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Larry Rivelli
Richard Ravin and Patricia’s Hope LLC
TBD
9
Twirling Cinnamon
Julien Leparoux
Brad Cox
Steve Landers
TBD
10
Percolator
Kendrick Carmouche
John Servis
Main Line Racing Stable and John Servis
TBD
11
Uncle Vinny
John Velazquez
Todd Pletcher
Starlight Racing
TBD