Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Saturday, July 27
Best bet: EZ ROLL (11)
Best value: FLINT RIDGE (3)
FIRST: West Beach was a willing second in debut; three works in the interim seal the deal. Atomic Age debuts for Chad Brown; obvious player. Barricade concluded work tab with crisp half-mile; must consider.
SECOND: Twirling Vine could get ideal setup in field that's jammed with speed. Executive Move was gelded and adds Lasix since debut; very interesting. Sorority Prank and Iron Man Ira both own speed and must avoid front-end duel.
THIRD: Flint Ridge drops and owns win on Spa loam. Perfect Flight also gets class relief and should pack enhanced kick at 7 furlongs. Natural Harbor gets confident price boost for Linda Rice.
FOURTH: General Banker packs potent late kick on best efforts. Be the Boss is training swiftly for first start since April. Speak Easy was a fast-figured winner in debut at Gulfstream this past winter; likely underlay.
FIFTH: Have You Heard wheels back in a hurry after clear-cut score at Colonial Downs on July 13; pairs up. Unstable Prince was a last-race winner over the Spa surface the first week of the meet; very dangerous. Who's the King exits fast-figured placing at Churchill Downs last time; right in the thick of this.
SIXTH: Skelly looks hard to beat at a short price; good race to pass. Nakatomi is training swiftly for first start since March. Subrogate is riding a three-race winning streak.
SEVENTH: Fiddling Felix was a useful fifth in debut; experience edge in field with mostly newcomers. Invictus was bought for $1.2 million as a yearling; could be the goods. Tiztastic is from a dam that has produced a stakes winner; charting a must.
EIGHTH: Lamorna endured tough trip in last; forward move predicted. Scarlet Poppy could play out as the main speed. Satin Blue would be aided by fast fractions.
NINTH: Navy Seal gets Lasix and returns to turf; improvement expected. Main Beach has delivered strong efforts in both grass starts. Dancing Groom could impact late at fat ticket.
10TH: Fierceness is 1-for-1 at Saratoga and could be set to rebound from Derby debacle. Batten Down is riding a two-race winning streak; very interesting. Sierra Leone is more than good enough on best efforts.
11TH: Ez Roll was compromised by slow splits last time; better setup today. Whistler's Honor logged only win on Spa sod; very dangerous. Willintoriskitall makes third start of form cycle; worth long look.
12TH: Summer Whirl tallied fast late-pace figures in both starts. North End Lady is fresh and owns fast numbers. Miss City Girl was a game second in last; must consider. She Is All Business gets Lasix for first start since moving to Linda Rice barn; must be factored into the mix.
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