SARATOGA SPRINT-COLTS
Distance 1400 Track England Yielding GOLDEN LINEAGE(PARIS HOUSE) - Golden Lineage has been supremely dominant this season. In many races, he has looked like a man against boys. This is the final championship race of his outstanding career, and he looks primed to go out like the champion that he is.COLT OF ARMS (KARL KHODER) Classy colt is one of the few horses to beat Golden Lineage this season. But his best distance has always been 1200. He does show the same level of performance at 1400. He needed a firm track to have any chance at an upset and didn't get it. .TOC BLACK MAGIC (BLACK LOTUS) On a yielding track, this is the guy who can pull off an upset. He won last season's Triple Crown Sprint in the mud. Big mid-season pick-up by the Lotus barn should be primed for a big race. BOB'S BIG BOY(BIGBOB) He lost all chance in last season's Triple Crown Sprint when he was sent out without shoes! He has had a run of poor racing luck this season, and that continued with a yielding surface for the finals.AP TOTAL CHAOS(BLACK LOTUS) He had a big 2nd on August 20th to Golden Lineage at today's distance . Came back to run a nice 3rd later in the season at 1200. Both races were on fast tracks, and today's yielding turf course is not to his liking. RITCHIES TITANIC(COLWELL'S END) -Late blooming 4 year old is in his first final. He ran a big 2nd to Golden Lineage in the final qualifier. He also ran a nice 3rd at this distance to Golden Lineage on August 20th with John Stewart aboard. Both were on a fast track. He would have had a serious shot with another surface.DIAMOND CROWN(KARL KHODER) -He finished 4th at 1200 in last season's Sprint Finals, and has had a couple of solid efforts this season. He ran a good 3rd to Colt of Arms at 1200 and 4th to Golden Lineage at the same distance. Both were on fast tracks. Historically, all of his best efforts have been at 1200, so he will have to prove he can put in a big effort at this distance.AP PUNISHER(FOGGYDAN) His made the finals thanks to a 3rd place finish in the last qualifier. That race was at 1400 on a fast track, and he benefitted from a great ride by Jack Ford. His chances would have improved on a firm or good track. COUNT DRAKULA(CHRISMAN) -He has had some success this season in Open Handicaps, but his best effort in the qualifiers was a 5th place finish with Jack Ford aboard at today's distance. You can never count out a horse from the Chrisman Barn, but he will need a lot of racing luck for an in-the-money finish. JACK T RIPPER(EVIL RACING LTD) -Lightly raced 7 year old came 3rd several seasons back in the Triple Crown Final at 1400 on a soft track. This season he won the 2nd division of the November 17th qualifier on a fast track, and came 2nd at 1600 to Golden Lineage. RUSTY'S SECRET(KARL KHODER) - Finished 4th in the same Triple Criwn Sprint in which Jack T Ripper ran 3rd.He has a 3rd on a good track at 1600 and a 4th at 1400 on a fast track. Part of a solid 3 horse Khoder Entry. LOVE GENERATION(BLACK LOTUS) -Squeezed into the finals thanks to a 2nd place finish in the 2nd division of the November 17th qualifier. That race was at 1400 on a fast track. His best chance would have been a good or firm turf course. MEGA TSUNAMI(DIME A DOZEN) -This tough old campaigner is really more of a classic horse than a sprinter. Had a good 3rd in the mud at 1200 to Toc Black Magic. He will love today's surface and could grab a share.AP SILVER STRIKER(MUDFLAPS) He ran 3rd in last season's Triple Crown Sprint at 1200 in the mud. He shows some good races on all surfaces, but was not better than 5th in his two qualifiers. He looks like an outsider, but any runner from this Hall-Of-Fame Stable must be respected. RACE ANALYSISGolden Lineage is the horse to beat. he is a true champion and has dominated throughout the season. But Toc Black Magic is a very talented contender and got a surface he loves. The yielding turf course has compromised the chances of most of the other contenders, so this looks like a two horse race. Golden Lineage will be tough to beat, but Toc Black Magic should be right there at the finish. Bob's Big Boy, Colt Of Arms, AP Total Chaos, Ritchie's Titanic, Jack T Ripper, Rusty's Secret, AP Punisher, and Love Generation are very talented horses that could have contended on other surfaces. But the yielding turf course is not to their liking. Diamond Crown does not seem to like today's distance or surface. AP Silver Striker and Count Drakula will need a lot of racing luck for a minor share, but did get surfaces that they like. Mega Tsunami is not a true sprinter but likes today's surface and could be a surprise. Good luck to all. Bob
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