Harrod's Creek looks to defend his title in Wednesday's John's Call at Sartoga © Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com
Trainer Bill Mott will saddle defending champion Harrods Creek, who will be looking for a repeat victory in the Wednesday feature at Saratoga, the $100,000 John’s Call.
The 1 5/8 mile marathon on turf drew a competitive field of 10, with Harrods Creek the 6-1 fourth choice on the morning line.
Mott won his fifth race of the meeting on Monday to move into second place in the trainer standings behind Todd Pletcher, who has saddled 12 winners as he is on his way to winning his fourth consecutive trainer title at the Spa.
Monday was Mott’s birthday, and the Hall of Fame trainer won a race on his birthday for the seventh year in a row at Saratoga. Horseplayers can go to the windows and back him on his special day, as he has won at least one race on his birthday in 15 of the past 19 years.
Mott’s streak almost ended if it was not for Revenue in the ninth race, who returned $5.50. Mott’s first four starters on the day failed to get to the winner’s circle.
Bill Mott picked up his fifth win at the Spa meet on Monday.
Earlier on the card, Mott was second in the second race with Flores Island, fifth in the third race with Fevered Kiss, fourth in the fourth race with Tech Fall, and seventh in the eighth race, with Glorious View.
We ended up with a nice day on Sunday that featured Miss Lamour ($29.40), Winning Cause ($9.20) and Mike and Rob ($9.30) as top picks.
Monday got better with five winners on top including Jade Run ($17.00) who was courtesy of a disqualification to the favorite Ultimate Empire.
The Pick 6 was hit on Monday, with each lucky winner taking home $53,212.00.
We were close to hitting it. I had three top picks win: Jade Run ($17.00) Dance in Bristol ($3.70) and Revenue ($5.50). My second choice won two races: Hyman Roth ($9.60) and Typhoon Teri ($6.20).
However, Bizzaroworld ($16.40) in the 6th was nowhere on my radar. The winner was not among my top five contenders. I did not play the Pick 6. Had I played it, the best I would have done would have five of six, and that paid $272.00.
Let’s head out to Saratoga for Wednesday’s featured race of the day:
Saratoga Race 6 The John’s Call (3:41 ET)
10 Harrods Creek 6-1
2 Hyper 5-2
1 Quick Casablanca 7-2
8 Royal Bench 12-1
Analysis: Harrods Creek was beaten double digit lengths in his last two starts he hit the bench after winning this race last year. Two back off a nine month layoff he was eighth in the Louisville Handicap (G3) behind repeat winner Dark Cove, who came back to win the Stars N Stripes (G3) in his next outing on July 13 at Arlington Park. he then was placed in a tough spot in the United Nations (G1) where he was never a threat while racing wide much of the trip in a seventh place finish. he came into last year’s race riding a six race win streak and he is going from graded company to this restricted race for non-winners of a graded stake on turf this year. Mott has been sending out live runners at the meeting (23-5-4-2) and the six year old has shown already he can handle the distance. Decent value if he goes off near his 6-1 morning line.
Hyper is coming off a solid effort in the Colonial Turf Cup (G2) last out when he came with a six wide run to rally for the runner up spot going 1 3/16 miles. The fifth place finisher Roadhog came back to win the state bred Leemat in his next start at Presque Isle. His win over the turf here was against $50,000 starter allowance foes back in 2011. He comes in here off his career top speed fig and he has landed in the exacta in 13 of his 19 career starts.
Quick Casablanca is a multiple Group 1 winner who is 0 for 2 since arriving in the U.S. and landing with the Christophe Clement barn. he put in a good effort in a third place finish two back off an off a year layoff in the Rood Reward. he did not handle the sloppy going in the Brooklyn (G2) where he tracked the early pace while down along the inside and faded to finish a well beaten eighth. His group 1 wins including one at 1 1/2 miles in Chile and at 1 5/16 miles in Argentina. Rosario sticks for another go and the return to turf should get this guy back on track.
Wagering
WIN: #10 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 2,10 / 1,2,8,10
TRI: 2,10 / 1,2,8,10 / 1,2,3,8,10
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