Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Friday, July 26
Best bet: RUN CURTIS RUN (8)
Best value: HARD PAR (10)
FIRST: Valenzan Day gets confident price boost after winning two straight; takes another. Bourbon Calling could be the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues. Mason Mania is fresh and owns fast figures on best efforts.
SECOND: Superstarsusan will be aided by cutback to sprint. Generous Luva drops and gets blinkers and Lasix; very dangerous. Inflammabelle is speedy and needed last; worth long look.
THIRD: Jefferson Street tallied fast final fraction when an eight-length winner at Saratoga during Belmont Stakes week; more to come. Valentine Candy is rested and logs swift numbers on "A" efforts. World Record adds blinkers and could play out as the main speed.
FOURTH: Stonewall Star projects as the controlling speed with proper handling. Chi Town Lady will be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues. Bustin Bay is competitive on best efforts.
FIFTH: Dyna Point tallied rapid late-pace figures in both turf starts. Royal Browne should be favorably positioned near the front in grass debut; very interesting. Tony O could land in exotics at fat number if pace meltdown ensues.
SIXTH: Miss Welch owns win-early bloodlines and sneaky-good work tab. Valtellina also is training swiftly and is from a dam that produced two winners from two foals to race. Off Script debuts for Chad Brown; obvious threat.
SEVENTH: Harry Hood drilled three times since subpar effort in last; forward move predicted. Au Paradis was a determined maiden winner in last; dangerous. Be Like Clint has finished third in last three starts; more show dough?
EIGHTH: Run Curtis Run took backward step in last after fast-figured placing in prior; rebounds. Fore Harp should be aided by cutback to abbreviated sprint. Surveillance drops and returns to turf; right in the thick of this.
NINTH: Castle Chaos is rested and gets class relief; big effort on tap. Disarmed could prove very tough on a soft lead. Scotland would be aided by fast fractions.
10TH: Hard Par tallied rapid late-pace figure when a tough-trip third in last; three works in the interim seal the deal. Sebastianthe First owns sprinter's speed; worth long look. Ferris Muler has benefit of rail with short run into first turn; very interesting. Mission Hill has failed to get job done as the favorite in last three; you've been warned.
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