August 7, 2024
NEW YORK — By Ed DeRosa
Don’t oversleep if you want to catch the stakes on Thursday at Saratoga Race Course, as the John Morissey Handicap for New York-bred older male sprinters goes as race 3 on the 10-race card (2:18 p.m. ET post).
And you won’t want to miss it because I think it presents a tremendous wagering opportunity against favorite #5 Rotknee, who I see as just marginally better than three of his five rivals while having 6-8 pounds to them because this race is a handicap.
In a handicap, the racing secretary assigns weight to each of the nominated horses with the goal of leveling the competition. The more weight, the more accomplished you are. Rotknee has earned his high impost by virtue of winning a trio of state-bred stakes, but numbers wise the 126 pounds absolutely is a handicap.
I like #2 Sheriff Blanco and #3 Light Man to upset this race. They are the third and fourth choices, respectively, on the morning line, but I will not split hairs between them. I think both will offer value against the favorite and plan to use both in equal strength.
Sheriff Blanco is 4-for-7 at the six-furlong distance of this race and 2-for-25 otherwise. He also reunites with Jose Ortiz and will be coming from off the pace against Rotknee, who is a forward type who should have some company.
Light Man is making his stakes debut and will have to relax off the pace but could be a factor as the one to make first run against the leaders.
#6 Looms Boldly is the second choice, and while I prefer him to the favorite, I would want a much higher price than we figure to get.
The Bet:
I will play #s 2 and 3 in multi-race wagers and in the exotics for race 3 will play 2,3 with 2, 3, 6 and a 2-3 exacta box.
Good luck!