Saratoga Race Selection: Grade 1 Test Stakes

By Rick Francis —-

Saratoga

Race 8) Grade 1 Test Stakes 3yo Fillies 7 Furlongs Post Time 4:06 EDT

1) Serengeti Empress (Amoss/Ortiz, J.); gave way last out in the G1 Acorn after setting blistering fractions, thos fractions and distance cutback will be enough to get it done here.

2) Bellafina (Callaghan/Prat); 3-time Grade 1 winner is the “Queen of the West”, however east of the Mississippi not so much as she’s been soundly beaten in her two previous attempts in the eastern time zone; that trend continues.

3) Covfefe (Cox/Rosario); Into Mischief filly has the early speed to pressure Empress, but it’s that pressure that does her in late.

4) Trenchtown Cat (Crichon/Ortiz, I.); really liked her place effort last out in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney where she made a solid bid late at today’s route; brings value to exotics.

5) Royal Charlotte (Brown/Castellano); it’s hard not to like a Chad Brown starter at Saratoga; especially an undefeated starter; nevertheless her last two wins, as dominating as they were, came against just four foes in each; trouble finds her in this.

6) Please Flatter Me (Reid/Velazquez); if there’s going to be an upset in this contest look for this filly out of Munnings to be the one. Exits a game win at Laurel against stakes girls, also at today’s distance; addition of Hall of Fame rider Johnny V adds intrigue.

7) Jeltrin (Delgado/Saez); has finished third in each of her last two, the G1 Acorn and the Grade 2 Mother Goose, an effort that showed signs of her grueling sophomore campaign; a show finish here would be a surprise.

Selections: 1, 3, 6, 5