Bet this race at Diamond SportsTop pick: #6 (SPARKLE FACTOR) (5-2) - Irish import has been freshened up since March 24. In a top barn (Dermot Weld) in her home country, she was what would be compared to a high-level allowance type by our standards. Mare has finished 3rd in all three starts in N. America since arriving last fall. Freshened up for the past 100-days, trainer Chris Clement has her working steadily on the Saratoga training track, and has her at her best distance (7-2-2-1).
2nd pick: #8 (Fair Point) (7-2) - Filly has taken some time to blossom, but appears to have found her best form. Daughter of 'Smart Strike' cost $310,000 as a yearling back in 2013 and has gone 9-2-5-1 so far. 4yo won her grass debut here May 27. It was at this distance and came in her second race back from a 4.5-month layoff. Working well for this attempt and she draws a nice outside post for the trip.
3rd pick: #7 (Roca Rojo) (2-1) - Undefeated (two-for-two) Irish bred import hasn't raced since May 27 of 2015. She won her first two starts by daylight in her native land and is in now in the barn of Chad Brown. He wins with 28% of Europeans making their first start in N. America and at a 27% clip off of long absences.
4th pick: #5 (Lady Kressa) (6-1) - New York bred mare has more wins on the Belmont turf (four) then the rest of the field combined (three). She's racing third back from a half-year's vacation and is nearing her best. Can factor at a square price.