Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Friday, Aug. 23
Best bet: RARE ART (7)
Best value: SCAT TU TAP (8)
FIRST: Spun Candy was an improved third in last; more to come. Hay Evabody outworked 108 rivals in final two drills; could be the goods. Stunner is another that's firing bullets for debut.
SECOND: Just Music should pack enhanced kick with cutback to mile. Enigmatic is another that will be aided by today's shorter trip. Princess Becca bounced last time after front-running score in prior; rebound threat.
THIRD: Be Like Clint tallied fast final fraction when third in last; rail draw seals the deal. Harry Hood is circling back to best numbers; dangerous. El Rezeen broke maiden at 12 furlongs last out; worth long look.
FOURTH: Castle Chaos needed last and stretches out to more favorable distance. Power Seeker exits fast-figured front-running score; very dangerous. Untreated packs potent kick on best efforts.
FIFTH: Roses for Debra owns a stalker's style that should be well served in probable pace dynamics. Dontlookbackatall, an uncoupled barn mate of top pick, owns six wins and five seconds from 13 starts; serious threat. Lady Milagro's speed gives her a puncher's chance.
SIXTH: Going for Glory logs field's fastest late-pace figures on "A" efforts. Inflammabelle drops and makes third start of form cycle. Dream On Cara fired swift 5-furlong drill for first start since April; worth long look.
SEVENTH: Rare Art tallied swift final fraction when a strong third in debut; more to come. Good Conduct hails from potent second-out stable; dangerous. Rescue Me and Leaner and Meaner are uncoupled newcomers from Chad Brown barn; care to flip a coin?
EIGHTH: Scat Tu Tap was compromised by soft splits last time; forward move predicted. Kick a Buck made sustained rally to break maiden by four lengths in first start on Spa sod; big-time threat. Transactional makes first start with claiming tag; must be factored into the mix.
NINTH: Edified was a change-of-pace third in last; set for career best. Cold as Hell was a clear-cut winner in last and owns faster back numbers. Daufuskie Island endured rough trips in last two starts; right in the thick of this.
10TH: Soul of an Angel can upset small Personal Ensign field with repeat of effort in Ruffian three starts back. Idiomatic bested top pick by a hard-fought head last time; paltry price is the problem. Randomized got better of top two in Ogden Phipps on June 2; obviously can take this.
11TH: Linarite drops back in with NY-breds; breaks through today. Mybronxbaby could play out as the speed of the speed. Supers Lucky Lady can win from the stalker's seat; worth long look.
12TH: Dazzling Cruiser has trained consistently since sharp third in debut; more to give. Save Time moves to turf for Chad Brown but has finished second in last three starts; must take the good with the bad. Silvology is from a dam that has produced three grass winners; very interesting. Strife owns three starts and three placings; runner-up again?
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