Steve Matthews' Saratoga selections for Thursday, July 14
Best bet: HIGH TIDE (3)
Best value: ABUSE OF POWER (10)
FIRST: Giocare could be ideally positioned in stalker's seat in field with ample speed. Auburn Hills owns a win and a second in two starts at Saratoga; price will be tempting. Bear Alley has won two in a row at Churchill; right in the thick of this.
SECOND: Half a Chance was a game second in debut; experience edge in field of newcomers. Chocolate Gelato was purchased for $475K earlier this year; could be the goods. Two Minute Drill debuts for capable Kentucky-based barn; don't ignore.
THIRD: High Tide is fresh, drops and owns a win on Spa sod. Attentive fired 5-furlong bullet for first start in eight weeks; very interesting. Tiberius Mercurius owns speed and should be aided by cutback to shorter trip; worth long look.
FOURTH: Afjan moves to grass in third start of form cycle; dam produced a turf winner. Remote was a clear-cut second in last; logical. Vintage Year logged three tight works since last start; don't overlook.
FIFTH: Majority Partner is fleet-footed and fired half-mile bullet for return; ready. Sensibleconclusion should pack intensified kick with turnback to 6 furlongs; very dangerous. Tommy Gun owns speed and adds blinkers; front-end threat.
SIXTH: Dark Timber projects as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Cold as Hell also is quick from and should move forward in second start since four-month layoff. U.S. Steel could get the pocket trip in ultra-contentious dash.
SEVENTH: Gina Romantica fits the quintessential Chad Brown pattern; winning effort predicted. Angitude owns sprinter's speed and could play out as the dominant front-runner. Tarabi owns a favorable sit-and-pounce style; must consider.
EIGHTH: Bravo Kitten was compromised by slow pace and wide trip in last; rates close call in wide-open group. Myriskyaffair tallied swift final fraction when a sharp second in last; big-time player. Missy Greer is a front-running threat on "A" efforts; price will be tempting.
NINTH: Adora lived up to heavy tote support when a wire-to-wire winner in debut; more to come. Sweet Harmony, another front-end victor in first start, is worth long look if price is generous. Janis Joplin could be in the garden spot if top pair hook on the lead.
10TH: Abuse of Power should pack amplified kick with cutback to abbreviated sprint. Rigby is quick from gate and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Fast Corey, another that's speedy, hails from Brad Cox barn; hard to toss. Highway Queen would be aided by pace meltdown.
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