Rick Francis
Tracksideview.com

Tracksideview.com offers a bonus this week with a chance to make money on Friday with the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga Race Course. Good luck with your picks.

Saratoga, Race 9 – Bernard Baruch G2, 1 1/8 miles on turf for three-year-olds and up

Baletti (1), six-year-old gelded son of Gulch, scored his most impressive win in some time two back in the Grade 3 Ft. Marcy.   That victory came at a sixteenth shorter than Friday’s distance. Therein lies the problem – five starts at a mile and a eighth – no winner’s photo.  Don’t expect that to change today. Has fared well off the layoffs, and that could get him a minor share.   Irish bred Whatsthescript (2) has gone two years since his last winner’s check. In that time span, he is four-for-four money finishes at today’s route.  Trainer Gary Contessa is having what can be only described as a brutal meet.  Another minor check eases some of his pain.  Sudden War (3) – last three starts were at the mile and a half haul have accounted for a couple show finishes. Four month layoff since Grade 2 Elkhorn debacle could have healed this guy. Still, he’s a little light in the speed department with this group.

Nownownow’s (4) really last solid turf try was the 2009 Grade 2 Muniz at Fair Grounds.  On a track listed as good, but should’ve been classified as wetwetwet, he just missed by a head. There’s a chance, with all the rain expected at the Spa this week, to have another go at a “good” track.   Keeping in the exotics mix.   Get Stormy (5) is a money making machine on the Saratoga sod.   Stumbled at the break in the Fourstardave and still won wire to wire. Three quarter times have gotten increasingly faster, culminating with a 1:10 in the above affair. Extra 110 yards today only question. If they don’t catch him early, they won’t catch him.   Rogue Victory (6) – victory here earlier this month gave reason for excitement to his connections. Average pace, stalk, close, textbook.   The ol’ saying “the company you keep” applies here. Graded stakes company hasn’t let him up the driveway. Expect same results today.

National Kid (7) – lightly raced five-year-old has three wins from four starts. Somehow, someway, you knew trainer Rick Dutrow would get his hands on this guy. This is a scary spot. Don’t keep him out of your wagers. Radical Sabbatical (8) has nine of ten money finishes in the last twelve months, all at the allowance and optional claiming level. Graded stakes company has owned him. Had nothing for Stormy last out, and don’t see where that’s going to change.

The only sad thing about this race is the fact trainer Kiaran McLaughlin won’t be able to shoot for a four-peat. Nevertheless, Get Stormy looks the best. He’ll hold off National Kid, Nownownow and Baletti for what should be nice exotic payouts.   Rick’s picks: 5-7-4-2