Alabama Stakes – Race 9 at Saratoga – Post Time 5:40 PM Eastern

Talk Veuve to Me finished second to Monomoy Girl by two lengths in the Acorn Stakes on 6/9, earning a 99 Equibase figure. Midnight Bisou finished second to Monomoy Girl by three lengths in the CCA Oaks on July 22 earning a figure five points lower (94). On that count, Talk Veuve to Me is the faster horse.

Midnight Bisou has been off a month, which is fine, as Talk Veuve to Me has been, but one of the big differences between the two fillies is Talk Veuve to Me improved MARKEDLY off her Acorn effort to crush the field in the Indiana Oaks by nearly five lengths on 7/14, earning a field high 102 Equibase figure in the process. On that count, Talk Veuve to Me is the faster horse.

Ridden out to that easy win with gas left in the tank and with Leparoux riding back after being up for the first time, the filly’s first try around two-turns, Talk Veuve to Me at 5/2 on the morning line has more improving to do than Midnight Bisou, who opens as the 8/5 favorite. Although there is no Monomoy Girl facing Midnight Bisou here, and no Wonder Gadot (who beat her for second in the Kentucky Oaks) either, Midnight Bisou’s breeding suggests 10 furlongs is beyond her limits and the horses she beat in between the Kentucky Oaks and CCA Oaks in the Mother Goose aren’t anywhere near as good as Talk Veuve to Me. Last but certainly not least, Leparoux can control the pace if he chooses to let Talk Veuve to Me run to the front early, or he can sit second early if another horse goes, the same tactics that lead to the filly’s easy win last month.

For the exacta we will try to keep Midnight Bisou out of second with three horses – Figarella’s Queen, who finished second to Talk Veuve to Me in the Indiana Oaks and who opens at 15/1, She’s a Julie (who won the Iowa Oaks with a 98 figure) and Coach Rocks (who likes to run second). We’ll play a trifecta with Midnight Bisou finishing second.

Bets: Talk Veuve to Me to win at 3 to 2 or higher.

Exacta: Talk Veuve to Me over She’s a Julie, Figarella’s Queen and Coach Rocks.

Trifecta: Talk Veuve to Me over Midnight Bisou over She’s a Julie, Figarella’s Queen and Coach Rocks.

Del Mar Oaks – Race 8 at Del Mar – Post Time 8:40 PM Eastern/ 5:40 PM Pacific

Ollie’s Candy would be undefeated if not for having drawn the 13 post last month in her turf debut in the San Clemente Stakes, resulting in going five paths wide into the stretch. Still, the talented filly rallied from 9th to come up a neck short on the wire. Likely to improve a ton off the experience of her first turf route and with a much better post, she’s the one to beat running back to a very strong 107 Equibase figure effort in the Summertime Oaks before that.

Undefeated if not for wide trip, inexperience on turf, particularly as the winner is passing this race.

Fatale Bere and Paved were separated by a half-length when 6th and 8th, respectively, in the tougher Belmont Oaks Invitational last month, at the longer 10 furlong trip. Fatale Bere won the Providencia Stakes at this 9 furlong trip two before with a 108 figure that while Paved won the Honeymoon Stakes at the 9 furlong trip before the Belmont Oaks with a 107 figure so both fillies have a big shot to return to top form back at a much more suitable distance.

Colonia is an interesting horse to use on exacta and trifecta tickets because she won a non-graded stakes on the grass in her U.S. debut last month. That effort yielded only a 98 figure but Graham Motion ships her in from the east and has a very good record the past few years when shipping into Del Mar. Animosity has early speed and a poor post for that running style but did hold 2nd very nicely in the Honeymoon behind Paved and may hang on for a share.

Bets: Ollie’s Candy to win at odds of 2 to 1 or more.

Consider win bets, for smaller amounts, on Fatale Bere and on Paved at odds of 5 to 2 or more.

To get the best return when wagering on more than one horse to win in a race, use a “Dutching” tool like the one at Amwager.

Exactas: Box Ollie’s Candy, Fatale Bere and Paved.

Play another exacta of Ollie’s Candy, Fatale Bere and Paved over Ollie’s Candy, Fatale Bere, Paved, Colonia and Animosity.

Trifecta: Box Ollie’s Candy, Fatale Bere, Paved and Colonia.

Pick 3: (Warning: Not an inexpensive ticket but worth the risk in my opinion)

Race 8 – Ollie’s Candy, Fatale Bere, Paved and Colonia.

Race 9 – Street Class, Taos, Asano, Istanbul, Dueling and Game Winner

Race 10 – Prime Attraction, Roman Rosso and Accelerate

Cost: $72 at $1

Pacific Classic Stakes – Race 10 at Del Mar – Post Time 9:43PM Eastern/ 6:43 PM Pacific

Prime Attraction is as good, and as fast, as likely favorite Accelerate (who has finished in front of him three times previously) based on the 123 Equibase figure earned last month when beaten a neck and a head in the Eddie Read Stakes on turf. Prior to that, Prime Attraction had been rested four and one-half months so he will likely be stronger physically for the Classic and to put that 123 figure in perspective, Accelerate has earned 119 and 120 figures in his last four races whereas the next best figure of any runner in the field is 117. Prime Attraction may have an edge in the area of pace as well because Kent Desormeaux can use the horse’s tactical speed to lead from the start. That tactic was the one used in the Eddie Read, in which Prime Attraction set a sensible pace then when engaged at the top of the stretch fought head-and-head down to the wire. He proved he belongs with these when second to Accelerate earlier this year and he opens at 8/1.

Accelerate has run consistently in four races at the top level since finishing second in the San Antonio Stakes in December, finishing first three times and second by a neck in the other, with 119 and 120 figures in all four races. However, it must be noted that after winning the 2017 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar last July, Accelerate finished a disappointing third in last year’s Classic. Trainer Sadler took a slightly different approach this year, scratching Accelerate from the San Diego Handicap (won by Sadler trainee Catalina Cruiser) to run in this race off an 84 day rest but Sadler does okay with horses going two turns off 60 to 120 days off, so the only real knock is from a win betting perspective as he will go to post at very low odds.

Roman Rosso has won five of eight career starts including three in a row, all in South America, and now resides in the Baffert barn on the heels of six local works since July. He won three straight, the first two on the lead and the last from off the pace, and he put in a strong seven furlong workout so he’s fit. With Del Mar’s leading jockey Flavien Prat in the saddle, Roman Rosso (ARG) may be first or second along with Prime Attraction in the early stages and he is ready to run off a five month layoff, as his workouts suggest, he could be a very strong factor in the race.

The Lieutenant is a decent horse who is the older half-brother to Justify and who enters the race off a well beaten 2nd behind Diversify in the Suburban, with the winner coming back to dominate in the Whitney recently. The Lieutenant is a decent sort who is good for a share, as may be Dr. Dorr, who was beaten four lengths when second to Accelerate in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita in June. I’m not interested in 7/2 second morning line choice Pavel on any level as I don’t think he can run this far based on breeding and because the Stephen Foster Handicap which he won in June hasn’t produced a horse that has finished in the top three off that race.

Bets: Prime Attraction to win at 3 to 1 or more.

For a slightly smaller amount, bet Roman Rosso to win at 3 to 1 or more.

Exacta: Prime Attraction, Roman Rosso and Accelerate over Prime Attraction, Roman Rosso, Accelerate, The Lieutenant and Dr. Dorr.