RACE 1
WIN – Start a fantastic program with a price for top connections. GOT THE LAST LAUGH lost all chance most recently when shut off along the fence. Should prove tough versus similar with a trip.
PLACE – MATHEMATICIAN has disappointed with a just a third-place finish to show from four stateside starts, but may appreciate stretching back out to two turns.
SHOW – LOCONIA defeated several of these earlier this meet, but will need to duplicate that career best to repeat. If run on Main Track: 1. Dancing Forever; 2. Mint Slewlep; 3. Loconia.

RACE 2
WIN – Travers Day juvenile dash usually unveils a good one, and HE’S SOLID GOLD has seemingly been pointed to this spot by Zito having scratched from a start on Aug. 17.
PLACE – GRAND MINSTREL didn’t run poorly in the Maimonides race, and now gets Gomez and Lasix for his second start.
SHOW – COWBOY CAL trained very nicely all spring at Oklahoma for Seth Benzel, and put the finishing touches on recently downstate for Pletcher. Will likely flash speed from the far outside.

RACE 3
WIN – PEACE MON rebounded from a dull effort as the chalk two back with a nose loss in his last to the Frankel-trained Tight Grip. Added ground won’t hurt.
PLACE – BOROBUDUR was never able to threaten here on opening day, but has a right to improve in his second start this side of the pond.
SHOW – VIRGINIA MINSTREL has finished second in four of six career starts, and figures to earn at least a share again. If run on Main Track: 1. Unrestricted; 2. Do I Havea Witness; 3. Peace Mon.

RACE 4
WIN – Very evenly-matched group. FORGET THE JUDGE was checked back early in his last, and ended up only missing by a nose. Call despite Luzzi.
PLACE – WALLSTREET SCANDAL steadied briefly turning for home in his last, and closed nicely to just miss third. Last victory came at this claiming level.
SHOW – TAMING THE TIGER put in a pair of solid efforts with Prado up earlier this year, and now gets reunited on the drop in class. Klesaris has struggled at this meet. MILITARY MAJOR would be a factor if able to draw in off the AE list. If run on Main Track: 1. Taming the Tiger; 2. Military Major; 3. Wallstreet Scandal.

RACE 5
WIN – SOPHIE’S SALAD’s last effort was very good and the third-place finisher from that race has sicne returned to win. Must work a trip from an outside post.
PLACE – DOUBLE DOWN DIXIE will be too good a price to pass up for Anthony Dutrow and Prado. Has hit the board in four of five sprinting this distance on turf, and logged works at Aqueduct and Delaware prior to shipping in.
SHOW – ENCHANTAL returns to a sprint for Hough, and began this season with a pair of good races. If run on Main Track: 1. Forest Jazzy; 2. Genuine Devotion; 3. Motor City Mama.

RACE 6
WIN – SALZBURG flashed good early speed in his only prior start at Monmouth, and can envision improvement here for Dutrow.
PLACE – NOW A VICTOR debuts for Trombetta, and this guy worked in company with stablemate Cave’s Valley on Aug. 10, who made a successful debut here last week.
SHOW – INTEREST RATE ran second when finally making his career debut most recently. Tagg-trained 4-year-old has worked very well since, and like the presence of Castellano.

RACE 7
WIN – Not overly confident, but COSMONAUT should prove best. Cuts back to preferred distance in a race without much early speed. Has been consistent all season, beating John’s Call winner Revved Up handily last out.
PLACE – SHAKIS finished ahead of the top choice in the Manhattan, and McLaughlin feels he is better with more speed to run at. Must rebound off last.
SHOW – BALLAST won over this course last year, and has a reasonable chance to earn a piece if Dominguez can negotiate a trip from the tough post. LINDA’S LAD held good company overseas. If run on Main Track: 1. Cosmonaut; 2. Outperformance; 3. Evening Attire.

RACE 8
WIN – FIRST DEFENCE won going this distance two starts back as easily as could be, and still ran extremely fast doing it. Took Long Branch out, but now cuts back to what jock believes is his best game.
PLACE – KING OF THE ROXY has won a pair of Grade 2 events in his last two tries sprinting, and will be overlooked.
SHOW – HARD SPUN is simply a talented runner at a number of distances. Just wonder how much this campaign has taken out of him. TEUFLESBERG for the super.

RACE 9
WIN – STREET SENSE has had everything fall into place since arriving in Saratoga, and just lays over this field, essentially making an extremely difficult all-stakes Pick 4 a just as difficult Pick 3.
PLACE – SIGHTSEEING has been very slow to come around for Shug, although this is the spot he has pointing for an awfully long time.
SHOW – GRASSHOPPER really jumped forward when trying two turns here earlier in the meet, but this is quite a leap. C P WEST ran his eyeballs out in the Dandy, and may regress here.

RACE 10
WIN – Although she steps up in class here, LA TRAVIATA has given the impression of something special. Victorious in both career starts by a combined 18 lengths, she looks capable of relaxing off an expected hot early pace.
PLACE – ALLUDE took a couple of cracks at Featherbed last out, and was coming again at the wire. On the improve, and gets a break in weight.
SHOW – FEATHERBED came up a head short of becoming a Grade 1 winner last fall, and will be pressing the front from the outside.

RACE 11
WIN — Dubai connections won four races on this card one year ago, and one of those was a debut score by INCRIMINATE, who goes second off the break following a troubled trip on opening day. Mate BLUE SKY GOD can also improve second off the layoff.
PLACE — VICARIAN was forced to alter course at the head of the lane last out, and may appreciate an outside draw here.
SHOW — SOUTH PACIFIC made a good looking return to the races at Monmouth in his last, but will need to step up while winners for the first time here. May get a read as third-place finisher Salzburg runs earlier on this card.

RACE 12
WIN — ALRIGHT NOW was bet like a good thing for his debut, and ran like it winning off by nearly seven lengths. That race came 13 months ago, but he has trained nicely for this and the barn tabs main man Prado.
PLACE — ZIPPEROO looms the one to beat on paper, but Bond is still winless at this meet despite several that looked just as strong.
SHOW — WALLY WORLD cuts back to a sprint for Valente and Levine, while MOR CHANCES could close late to complete the superfecta as he broke his maiden last out here from off the pace.

BEST BET
First Defence (Race

PICK 4 PLAYS
Early: 5 with 2,3 with 1,6 with 4,11
Stakes:1,3,6,7,11 with 9 with 4 with 6,8,10
Late: 4 with 6,8 with 1,8 with 1,6,7,13

Meet Record: 255-66-34-42
$2 Win Total: $447.50