Should be a Dandy weekend for horse racing

[FishFan]

Not sure if a discussion has already been started, but "Round 2" of the 3-year old season is getting ready to start. Back in action this week are many darlings of the Triple Crown series, including FUNNY CIDE, EMPIRE MAKER, and PEACE RULES in the Haskell and Jim Dandy Stakes. Also getting involved in the action are some of the game's top 3-year old sprinters like POSSE, TRUST N LUCK, and SCRIMSHAW, who tried his luck at longer distances in the Triple Crown series. On top of that is the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap featuring HARLAN'S HOLIDAY, VOLPONI, and MEDAGLIA D'ORO.

Here's a list of featured races this weekend:

Saratoga, Race 8, Saturday

1 SCRIMSHAW, 6-1
2 POSSE, 5-2
3 ZAVATA, 3-1
4 GREAT NOTION, 5-1
5 FIRST BLUSH, 6-1
6 TRUST N LUCK, 5-1
7 SUPER FUSE, 8-1

Saratoga, Race 9, Saturday

1 PUZZLEMENT, 15-1
2 SAARLAND, 12-1
3 NORTHERN ROCK (JPN), 15-1
4 EVENING ATTIRE, 10-1
5 MEDAGLIA D'ORO, 4-5
6 HARLAN'S HOLIDAY, 5-1
7 VOLPONI, 4-1
8 PROUD CITIZEN, 15-1

Monmout, Race 8(?), Sunday

1 PEACE RULES, 2-1
2 SKY MESA, 7-2
3 WILD AND WICKED, 5-1
4 MAX FOREVER, 15-1
5 FUNNY CIDE, 8-5
6 KOOL HUMOR, 20-1
7 EXCESSIVEPLEASURE, 12-1

Also on Sunday is the Grade 2 Jim Dandy which has not set its field yet. The likely runners are EMPIRE MAKER, DURING, TAFASEEL, NACHEEZMO, STRONG HOPE, and CONGRATS.

[FishFan]

Of these four races this weekend, I will be paying most of my attention to the sprint race on the Saratoga card. In my opinion, it will offer the most value with no clear favorite. The tote board will probably sway my allegiance, but right now I like TRUST N LUCK, who has great early speed, and POSSE, who has come on strong late.

EMPIRE MAKER will be a heavy favorite in the Jim Dandy and should whip this field with ease. If you are looking to beat the favorite here, you might want to take a look at DURING or the likely race colt, CONGRATS.

In the Haskell (race 8, Monmouth), FUNNY CIDE is the morning line favorite, but I am still not sold on this gelding. Sure, he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, but he received perfect trips in both and I don't like his chances with the early speed in this one. I'll probably throw my money behind SKY MESA, who was a highly regarded 2-year old before missing the Triple Crown series with an injury. He's had his race and I think he's ready to fire. If the price is right, I'll commit a sizable amount of my bankroll to this colt.

Finally, in the Whitney Handicap (race 9, Saratoga), MEDAGLIA D'ORO is a heavy favorite and trained by the hottest trainer in the game, Mr. Bobby Frankel. He has not raced since the spring and could be vulnerable, setting the stage for VOLPONI to get an elusive stakes victory. VOLPONI has faced the top older horses in the country and has a few races under his belt. I might key VOLPONI on top in my exotics with some combination of the favorite, SAARLAND, HARLAN'S HOLIDAY, and PUZZLEMENT.

[QuikSand]

I like POSSE and SAARLAND in the first two you list, and I just don't know about the third. I doubt I'll bet the last race - but WILD AND WICKED might be the best price on that board.