Saratoga Saturday Shines with Stars

Saratoga Saturday Shines with Stars: Saratoga opens it’s doors today, Friday July 19th, for the 2013 summer meet. Sure the race card is packed full of stakes races worthy of a write-up, but for us the Saratoga excitement really begins on Saturday when a few of our favorite superstar fillies take the field for the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks and the Shuvee Handicap.

The TVG Coaching Club American Oaks is a $300,000 1 1/8 mile dirt race for three-year-old fillies. Five talented fillies are set to take the Saratoga track for the Coaching Club, which is the 10th race of the day at Saratoga with a 5:45 PM EDT post time.

Experts like the Todd Pletcher trained filly Unlimited Budget, who recently finished in 6th place in the Belmont Stakes against the boys. Unlimited Budget placed 3rd in the 2013 Kentucky Oaks but prior to that won all four of her races at the beginning of the year. Jockey John Velazquez will break from post position #3 and lead Unlimited Budget across the finish line with 2/1 odds.

The 38/1 2013 Kentucky Oaks winner Princess of Sylmar comes in with 9/5 odds. Jockey Javier Castellano will break from post position #4 with the Todd Pletcher trained filly in the 2013 Coaching Club American Oaks. Princess of Sylmar hasn’t raced since the Kentucky Oaks. Trainer Todd Pletcher has recently stated that the Coaching Club is somewhat of a prep for Princess of Sylmar after owner Ed Stanco (of King of Prussia Stable) expressed interest in winning the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on August 17th. Personally, I think Princess of Sylmar is a monster. She’s won four out of seven races throughout her career so far. But, there is something lacking from this beautiful Princess. I haven’t figured it out yet which makes Saratoga all that more interesting on Saturday!

My Happy Face is a fan-favorite filly with a solid win/place record throughout her career. She recently won the Lotka Stakes on June 16th. I would bet with hotshot jockey Joel Rosario on the mount My Happy Face has a pretty good chance at the very least coming in the money on Saturday. My Happy Face currently has 3/1 odds and will break from post position #1 in the Coaching Club.

Cue The Moon has cost me a lot of money this year. I can’t help myself and always put way too much money down on the H. James Bond trained filly. Cue The Moon’s track record is steadily on the downward slope. Despite the longshot 10/1 odds and expert opinions, I’m still in love with Cue The Moon. Jockey Luis Saez will take the mount this trip, which I think is a favorable change for the filly. I’d take Cue The Moon over Marathon Lady, who comes in with 5/1 odds.

TVG Coaching Club American Oaks 2013 Post Positions & Odds
1 My Happy Face 3/1 Rosario/Brown
2 Cue The Moon 10/1 Saez/Bond
3 Unlimited Budget 2/1 Velazquez/Pletcher
4 Princess of Sylmar 9/5 Castellano/Pletcher
5 Marathon Lady 5/1 Albarado/Hobby
Updated Results: 4, 1, 5, 2, 3

 

In related news, the 2013 Shuvee Handicap is set to take place just before the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks on Saturday July 20th. The $200,000 Shuvee is for fillies and mares three-years-old and up and run on Saratoga’s 1 1/8 mile dirt track. The Shuvee is the 9th race of the day with a 5:12 PM EDT post time.

What makes the 2013 Shuvee Handicap so special to us? Eblouissante! Eblouissante is a four-year-old filly that has only raced twice throughout her career. She won both of those races the last being on January 17, 2013. What makes Eblouissante so special? Eblouissante is half-sister to the great Zenyatta and her name means “Dazzling” in French! What else could a girl ask for?

Eblouissante is trained by John Shirreffs. In a recent interview John Shirreffs stated, “After she arrived here she has started to fill out. She has grown a lot and has put on a significant amount of weight, so I’m really happy with the way she has developed over the last month. She looks strong. I think time is the most important ingredient in a horse’s development. Their bodies need a chance to catch up.”

Eblouissante will attempt to win her first stakes race against six other talented fillies and mares. Some experts like the look and style of Moon Philly, with 15/1 odds. Moon Philly will break from post position #4 with jockey John Velazquez.

Lady and The Track would like to wish all of the contenders in the 2013 Shuvee Handicap the best of luck. Good Luck! Safe Run!

Shuvee Handicap 2013 Post Positions & Odds
1 Royal Lahaina 15/1 Ortiz/Rodriguez
2 Flashy American 12/1 Rosario/McPeek
3 Eblouissante 7/2 Napravnik/Sherreffs
4 Moon Philly 15/1 Velazquez/Trombetta
5 Sea Island 10/1 Lezcano/McGaughey
6 Summer Applause 5/2 Castellano/Brown
7 Authenticity 7/5 Velazquez/Pletcher
Updated Results: 7, 2, 5, 4, 1, 3